John C. Oxley’s Catherinethegreat was hustled to the front at the start of the $150,000 Schuylervillle Stakes (G3) on Opening Day at Saratoga, led through a quarter in :21 3/5 and a half in :44 3/5, then drew away down the stretch to a 4-1/2 length victory in 1:09 4/5 for six furlongs. Fellow OBS graduate Congrats Gal (October ’17, April ’18) checked in third. It’s the second straight win for the 2-year-old Florida-bred daughter of Uncaptured, who came into the race off a 10-1/4 length score at Gulfstream. Consigned by Turtle Pond Farm, she topped the 2017 OBS October Open Sale of Yearlings, purchased for $170,000. Now 3-2-1-0 for trainer Mark Casse, she has earned $136,300 to date.
Phoenix Thoroughbred III’s Lyrical Lady went right to the lead in her debut in an $85,000, 5-1/2 furlong maiden special weight dash at Saratoga, shook loose turning for home and cruised to a 5-3/4 length victory. Fellow OBS graduate Winandyourin Gin (March ’18) checked in third. The daughter of More Than Ready, trained by Steve Asmussen, picked up $46,750 for her effort. Consigned to the 2018 OBS March Sale by Ocala Stud, Agent, she turned in an Under Tack quarter in :20 3/5 before she was purchased for $625,000. watch her under tack video