Thirty OBS graduates are set to start in thirteen different races at the 2018 Breeders’ Cup World Championships, set for Friday and Saturday, November 2nd and 3rd at Churchill Downs.
A pair of OBS graduates will go in the newest addition to the Breeders’ Cup lineup, Friday’s $1-million Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Turf Sprint. Trainer Mark Casse sends out John C. Oxley’s Strike Silver, winner of the Indian Summer Stakes on the turf course at Keeneland in his last start after a second place finish in the Sanford (G3) at Saratoga. He’ll break from post one under Julien Leparoux. The 2-year-old colt by Violence, now 3-2-1-0 with $180,600 in earnings, was purchased for a sale topping $275,000 out of the Kaizen Sales consignment at the 2017 OBS October Selected Sale of Yearlings. Selected Sale conformation photo
Breeze Easy LLC’s unbeaten Shang Shang Shang will break from post seven under John Velazquez for trainer Wesley Ward. A winner of Norfolk Stakes (G2) against the boys at Royal Ascot in June, the 2-year-old Florida-bred daughter of Shanghai Bobby broke her maiden at first asking at Keeneland in April in her only other start. The two time OBS graduate was purchased out of the SBM Training & Sales consignment by Breeze Easy for $200,000 at the 2018 OBS March Sale after turning in an Under Tack eighth in :9 4/5. She had been sold previously as a short yearling by Summerfield at the 2017 Winter Mixed Sale. She has earned $101,524 to date. watch her under tack video
Two OBS grads will start in the $1-million Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies Turf (G1). Madaket Stables LLC, Steve Laymon, Martin Scheinman and Roger Kaplan’s Stellar Agent will break from post seven under Manny Franco. The 2-year-old daughter of More Than Ready comes in off a third place finish in the Miss Grillo (G2) at Belmont in September. A winner at first asking at Saratoga, she’s 2-1-0-1 for trainer Jorge Abreu. She was purchased for $150,000 out of the Niall Brennan consignment at the 2018 OBS April Sale after turning in an Under Tack eighth in :10 1/5. watch her under tack video
Todd Pletcher sends out Eclipse Thoroughbred Partners’ Pakhet from post ten. The 2-year-old Cairo Prince filly, who will be ridden by John Velazquez, was second last time out in the Jessamine Stakes (G2) at Keeneland. Now 3-1-1-0 with earnings of $84,850, she breezed an eighth in :10 1/5 before she was sold for $130,000 by Hoppel’s Horse & Cattle Co., Inc., Agent, at the 2018 OBS March Sale. watch her under tack video
The $2-million Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies (G1) has attracted two OBS graduates. Turf Stable Racing (Rusty Jones) and Hayward R. Pressman’s Cassies Dreamer, trained by Barclay Tagg and ridden by Manny Franco, will break from post five. The 2-year-old daughter of Flatter, claimed by her current connections out of a Saratoga maiden victory, comes in off a pair of third place finishes in the Frizette (G1) at Belmont and Spinaway (G1) at the Spa. Now 3-1-0-2 with earnings of $117,500, she was purchased for $85,000 out of the McKathan Bros. consignment at the 2018 OBS June Sale after an Under Tack eighth in :10 1/5. watch her under tack video
She will renew acquaintances with Leo Pokoik’s Sippican Harbor, who beat her while posting a two length victory in the Spinaway (G1). The 2-year-old daughter of Orb, trained by Gary Contessa, will break from post eight and be ridden by Irad Ortiz. Now 3-2-0-0 with $242,650 in earnings, she went through the ring at the 2018 OBS March Sale after turning in an Under Tack eighth in :10 1/5. watch her under tack video
In the $1-million Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Turf (G1), Bloom Racing Stable’s Henley’s Joy will break from post six under Tyler Gaffalione. The 2-year-old colt by Kitten’s Joy comes in off a game second by a nose in Keeneland’s Bourbon Stakes (G3) after a victory in the Kentucky Downs Juvenile Stakes for trainer Mike Maker. To date, he’s 3-2-1-0 and has earned $308,320 after he was purchased for $50,000 out of the Cary Frommer consignment at the 2018 OBS April Sale after an Under Tack eighth in :10 3/5. watch his under tack video
A pair of OBS grads are on the also eligible list for the Juvenile Turf. Calumet Farm’s Tracksmith, number 15, broke his maiden at first asking at Ellis Park and was second to Henley’s Joy in the Kentucky Downs Juvenile. Trained by Joe Sharp, he’s 3-1-1-0 and has earned $101,025. The 2-year-old colt by Street Sense, consigned to the 2018 April Sale by RiceHorse Stable (Brandon & Ali Rice), Agent, was sold for $130,000 after turning in an Under Tack eighth in :10 2/5. watch his under tack video
Bran Jam Stable and David W. Clark’s Laurel Futurity winner Order and Law is number 16. The 2-year-old son of Violence sped an Under Tack quarter in :21 2/5 before he was sold by Eddie Woods, Agent, for $30,000 at the 2018 OBS April Sale. He’s now 3-1-1-0 with $72,000 in earnings for trainer Louis C. Linder, Jr. watch his under tack video
Hollendorfer LLC, Pearl Racing and West Point Thoroughbreds’ Gunmetal Gray is the lone OBS entrant in the $2-million Breeder’s Cup Juvenile (G1). The 2-year-old son of Exchange Rate was second in the American Pharoah Stakes (G1) after breaking his maiden in a maiden special test at Del Mar in August. Trained by Jerry Hollendorfer, he’ll be ridden by Flavien Prat. He breezed an eighth in :10 1/5 at the Under Tack Show before he was purchased for $225,000 out of the Brick City Thoroughbreds consignment at the 2018 OBS March Sale. Now 3-1-2-0, he has earned $97,200 to date. watch his under tack video
Saturday’s first Breeders’ Cup event is the $1-million Filly and Mare Sprint (G1) and three OBS graduates will go to the post. Kent Spellman and Gatewood Bell’s Kirby’s Penny comes into the race after thirds in the Gallant Bloom (G2) at Belmont and Honorable Miss (G2) at Saratoga. Winner of the Vagrancy Handicap (G3) at Belmont in May, she’s trained by Wesley Ward and will be ridden by John Velazquez from post four. The 5-year-old daughter of Macho Uno, now 14-7-2-2 with earnings of $398,916, was consigned by Wavertree Stables, Inc. (Ciaran Dunne), Agent, to the 2015 OBS March Sale, and went through the ring after turning in an Under Tack eighth in :10 1/5. watch her under tack video
Post five goes to Juddmonte Farms’ Golden Mischief, winner of Keeneland’s Thoroughbred Club of America Stakes (G2) in her last start, posting her third straight stakes win. Florent Geroux has the mount on the 4-year-old daughter of Into Mischief, trained by Brad Cox, now 21-10-3-0 with $668,150 in earnings. Consigned by SBM Training and Sales, Agent, to the 2016 OBS March Sale, she turned in an eighth in :9 4/5 at the Under Tack Show. watch her under tack video
Conrad Farms’ Shamrock Rose, who scored her third straight stakes win last time out in the Raven Run Stakes (G2) at Keeneland, will break from post 14 under Irad Ortiz. Mark Casse trains the 3-year-old daughter of First Dude, sold for $120,000 by Best A Luck Farm LLC, Agent, at the 2017 OBS April Sale after breezing an Under Tack eighth in :10 flat. She’s now 9-4-2-1 with $367,867 in earnings. watch her under tack video
A trio of OBS graduates will go in the $1-million Breeders’ Cup Turf Sprint (G1). Ironhorse Racing Stable LLC’s Bucchero has drawn post two and will by ridden by Fernando De La Cruz for trainer Tim Glyshaw. The 6-year-old son of Kantharos picked up his seventh stakes win last time out, defending his title in the Woodford Stakes (G2) at Keeneland. Purchased for $43,000 out of the Southern Chase Farm (Greg & Karen Dodd) consignment at the 2014 OBS June Sale after speeding a quarter in :21 flat at the Under Tack Show, he’s now 30-11-6-3 and earned $937,936 to date. watch his under tack video
Rockingham Ranch and David A. Bernsen LLC’s Stormy Liberal, back to defend his title in the Turf Sprint (G1), comes in off a victory in the Eddie D Stakes (G3) at Santa Anita. It was the third straight win and seventh stakes victory for the 6-year-old son of Stormy Atlantic, who will break from post nine and be ridden by Drayden Van Dyke for trainer Peter Miller. Now 29-11-8-1 with $1,368,930 in earnings, he breezed an eighth in :10 2/5 at the Under Tack Show at the 2014 OBS June Sale before he was purchased for $100,000 out of the Wavertree Stables consignment. watch his under tack video
Michael Dubb, Madaket Stables LLC and Bethlehem Stables LLC’s speedy World of Trouble comes into the race off a pair of stakes wins for trainer Jason Servis. The 3-year-old graded stakes placed Florida-bred colt by Kantharos will be ridden by Irad Ortiz from post 11. Now 7-4-1-1 with $333,400 in earnings, he was consigned by Darsan Inc., Agent, and went through the ring at the 2016 August Yearling Sale.
The $1-million Breeders’ Cup Dirt Mile (G1) has attracted three OBS graduates. West Point Thoroughbreds’ Seven Trumpets will start from post four and be ridden by Robby Albarado. The 3-year-old multiple graded stakes placed colt by Morning Line was third last time out in the Gallant Bob (G3) at Parx after a second in the H. Allen Jerkens Stakes (G1) at Saratoga. Trained by Dale Romans, he has compiled an 11-3-3-1 record and has earned $390,600 to date. He turned in an Under Tack eighth in :10 1/5 before he was purchased for $205,000 out of the Randy Miles consignment at the 2017 OBS April Sale. watch his under tack video
Charles Fipke’s Seeking the Soul comes into the Dirt Mile from a victory in the Ack Ack Stakes (G3) at Churchill Downs. A winner of the Clark Handicap (G1) at Churchill last November, the 5-year-old son of Perfect Soul (IRE), trained by Dallas Stewart, is now 21-6-4-5 and has earned $1,482,542 to date. He’ll break from post six and be ridden by Brian Hernandez. Consigned by McKathan Bros., Agent, he turned in an Under Tack eighth in :10 1/5 before going through the ring at the 2015 OBS June Sale. watch his under tack video
Exline-Border Racing LLC, Gatto Racing LLC & Garrett Zubok’s Giant Expectations brings a 16-4-3-2 record with earnings of $1,145,100 into the race for trainer Peter Eurton. He was third in Churchill’s Ack Ack (G3) in his return since he was fourth in the Santa Anita Handicap (G1) in March. He won the San Antonio Stakes (G2) at Santa Anita last December and the Pat O’Brien (G2) at Del Mar last summer. Julien Leparoux will ride from post nine. The 2015 OBS March graduate was purchased for $135,000 by Ryan Exline out of the de Meric Sales consignment after turning in an eighth in :10 flat at the Under Tack Show. watch his under tack video
Two OBS graduates will go to the post in the $2-milion Breeders’ Cup Filly and Mare Turf (G1). Ciaglia Racing LLC and Eclipse Thoroughbred Partners’ Paved was purchased by Eclipse Thoroughbred Partners for $320,000 out of the Hoppel’s Horse & Cattle Co. consignment at the 2017 OBS March Sale after breezing an eighth in :10 1/5 at the Under Tack Show. The 3-year-old daughter of Quality Road, second last time out in Santa Anita’s Rodeo Drive (G1), captured The Honeymoon Stakes (G2) at Santa Anita in June and beat the boys earlier in the year in the El Camino Real Derby. She’ll break from post four under Joel Rosario for trainer Michael McCarthy. Now 9-3-1-3, she has earned $322,985 to date. watch her under tack video
Carl R. Moore Management LLC and Brad Grady’s Mom’s On Strike was second in the Ramsey Farm Stakes at Kentucky Downs in her last start after an earlier graded stakes victory in Keeneland’s Bewitch Stakes (G3) in April. She will break from post 11 under Adam Beschizza. A two time OBS graduate, she went through the ring at the 2014 August Yearling Sale and then turned in an Under Tack eighth in :10 1/5 before she was purchased for $75,000 out of the Best A Luck Farm consignment at the 2015 April Sale. Trained by Joe Sharp, the 5-year-old Florida-bred mare by First Dude is now 18-6-6-1 and has earned $499,375. watch her under tack video
Two OBS graduates have entered the $2-million Breeders’ Cup Sprint (G1). Churchill Downs Racing Club’s Warrior’s Club was second in the Churchill Downs Stakes (G2) on Derby Day, and second in the Alfred G. Vanderbilt (G1) at Saratoga after a victory in Keeneland’s Commonwealth Stakes (G3) in April. Luis Contreras will ride from post four for trainer D. Wayne Lukas. The 4-year-old colt by Warrior’s Reward was consigned by Top Line Sales LLC, Agent, to the 2016 OBS April Sale, where he breezed an eighth in :10 1/5 at the Under Tack Show. Now 28-5-6-5, he has earned $704,104 to date. watch his under tack video
Trainer Peter Miller sends out Rockingham Ranch’s Distinctive B off his second place finish in the Santa Anita Sprint Championship (G1). The 7-year-old Florida-bred son of With Distinction will break from post seven under Drayden Van Dyke. The two time OBS graduate was sold by Kaizen Sales, Agent at the 2011 Fall Mixed Sale before he was purchased for $55,000 out of the Abbie Road Farm consignment at the 2012 August Selected Yearling Sale. He’s now 27-6-7-2 and has earned $295,285. Selected Sale conformation photo
William H. Lawrence’s Analyze It is the only OBS entry in the $2-million Breeders’ Cup Mile (G1). The 3-year-old colt by Point of Entry has two graded stakes wins to his credit, winning the Cecil B. DeMille (G3) at Del Mar at two and Keeneland’s Transylvania Stakes (G3) in April. He comes into the race off a fourth in the Shadwell Turf Mile (G1) at Keeneland and a second in the Secretariat (G1) at Arlington. Trained by Chad Brown, he’ll be ridden by Irad Ortiz from post 12 Now 7-3-3-0 with $579,4300 in earnings, he turned in an Under Tack eighth in :10 flat before he was purchased for $190,000 by Bradley Thoroughbreds LLC, Agent, out of the Hoppel’s Horse & Cattle Co. consignment at the 2017 OBS March Sale. watch his under tack video
Midnight Bisou and Wonder Gadot will carry the OBS banner into the star-studded $2-million Breeders’ Cup Distaff (G1).
Gary Barber’s Wonder Gadot, who will break from post five under Irad Ortiz, comes into the race off a third place finish in the Cotillion (G1) at Parx and took two legs of the Canadian Triple Crown against the boys earlier in the year. The 3-year-old daughter of Medaglia d’Oro, winner of the Demoiselle (G2) and Mazarine (G3) at two, was purchased for $325,000 out of the Eisaman Equine consignment at the 2017 April Sale after turning in an Under Tack eighth in :10 2/5. Trained by Mark Casse, she’s now 15-5-4-4, has four stakes wins and has earned $1,492,461. watch her under tack video
Bloom Racing Stable, Madaket Stables LLC and Allen Racing LLC’s Midnight Bisou was awarded victory in Parx Racing’s Cotillion Stakes (G1) via the disqualification of Monomoy Girl in her last start. The 3-year-old daughter of Midnight Lute has four other graded victories on her resume, winning the Mother Goose (G2) in June, the Santa Anita Oaks (G1) in April, the Santa Ysabel (G2) in March and the Santa Ynez (G3) in January. Starting from post seven, she’ll be ridden by John Velazquez for trainer Steve Asmussen. Now 10-5-3-2 with $1,385,000 in earnings, she was consigned by Woodford Thoroughbreds to the 2017 OBS April Sale, where she turned in an Under Tack eighth in :10 1/5 before she was sold to Jeffrey Bloom for $80,000. watch her under tack video
Three OBS graduates are in the body of $6-million Breeders Cup Classic (G1) with one on the also eligible list. Shadai Farm, J Stables LLC, Head of Plains Partners LLC, Scott M. Summers, Daniel Summers, Chad Summers and Michael E. Kisber’s well traveled Mind Your Biscuits comes into the Classic (G1) off a 4-3/4 length victory in the Lukas Classic Stakes (G3) at Churchill Downs. It was the sixth graded stakes win for 5-year-old son of Posse, a list that includes the Belmont Sprint Championship (G2), Santa Anita’s Malibu (G1), Saratoga’s Amsterdam (G2) and back to back victories in the Dubai Golden Shaheen (G1). Tyler Gaffalione will ride from post 11. Consigned by SBM Training and Sales, Agent, to the 2015 OBS April Sale, he went through the ring after breezing an Under Tack eighth in :10 3/5. Trained by Chad Summers, he’s now 24-8-10-3 and has earned $4,279,566. watch his under tack video
Phoenix Thoroughbred III and Slam Dunk Racing’s Axelrod, who will start from post 12 under Joe Bravo, comes into the Classic (G1) off a second place finish in the Pennsylvania Derby (G1) after a pair of graded victories in the Smarty Jones (G3) and Indiana Derby (G3). The 3-year-old Florida-bred son of Warrior’s Reward, trained by Mike McCarthy, has compiled a 10-4-2-1 career record and has earned $732,925. He was purchased for $25,000 by Slam Dunk out of the Bobby Jones Equine consignment at the 2016 OBS Winter Mixed Sale.
Uriah St. Lewis’ Discreet Lover pulled off the upset of the year in the $750,000 Jockey Club Gold Cup (G1) at Belmont Park, getting up in the final yards to beat Thunder Snow by a neck at 45-1. It was the second graded stakes win for the 5-year-old Florida-bred son of Repent, who was consigned by Woodford Thoroughbreds to 2014 OBS August Yearling Sale. Trained by his owner, he has won or placed in five graded stakes, compiled a 44-7-7-7 record and earned $1,374,685. Manny Franco has the mount from post 13.
Speedway Stable LLC’s Collected, first on the also eligible list, was second to Gun Runner in the 2017 Classic (G1), and is back to try again if he draws in. He beat likely favorite Accelerate and champion Arrogate in the Pacific Classic at Del Mar last year and brings a resume of five graded stakes wins, a 15-8-2-1 record and more than $2.9 million in earnings into the race. Trained by Bob Baffert, the 5-year-old son of City Zip was consigned by SGV Thoroughbreds (Steven Venosa), Agent, to the 2015 OBS March Sale, where he was purchased for $170,000 by Speedway Stable after breezing an Under Tack eighth in :10 2/5. watch his under tack video