OBS graduates posted three stakes wins at Gulfstream Saturday on Sunshine Millions Day.
Blue Heaven Farm’s Starship Jubilee successfully defended her title in the $150,000 Sunshine Millions Filly and Mare Turf Stakes, coming from off the pace to take charge in the stretch and draw off to a 4-1/2 length victory over fellow OBS graduate Bitacora (August ’15) with Mrs. Ramona G. (March ’17, August ’16) completing a 1-2-3 OBS sweep. It’s the fifth stakes win for the 6-year-old multiple graded stakes winning Florida-bred daughter of Indy Wind, now 26-12-2-2 with $652,018 in earnings for trainer Kevin Attard. The two-time OBS graduate was sold by The Acorn at the 2014 August Yearling Sale and then consigned by Halcyon Hammock Farm, Agent, to the 2015 April Sale where she breezed an eighth in :10 2/5 at the Under Tack Show. watch her under tack video
Steve Landers Racing LLC’s Big Changes rallied to roll past the leaders in the final furlong of the $150,000 Sunshine Millions Turf Stakes, easing away late to score by a length and a half. That’s five stakes wins for the 7-year-old Florida-bred gelding by Midshipman, a two-time OBS graduate, sold by Crowe’s Nest Farm at the 2013 Winter Mixed Sale and then purchased by Steve Landers for $170,000 out of the Pick View LLC consignment at the 2014 April Sale after turning in an Under Tack quarter in :20 4/5. Trained by Brad Cox, he’s now 24-10-7-1 and has earned $520,620 to date. watch his under tack video
Midwest Thoroughbreds’ Quijote relaxed off a blistering pace in the $100,000 Sunshine Millions Sprint Stakes, but swung wide for the drive, ran past the leaders in the final sixteenth and drew off to win by 3-3/4 lengths, with fellow OBS graduate Sweetontheladies (April ’16) checking in third. Both the winner and third place finisher ran in the OBS Sprint Stakes in November. It’s the third stakes score for the 5-year-old Florida-bred son of Pomeroy, trained by Georgina Baxter, now 24-8-4-1 with $395,065 in earnings. Consigned by Kelli Mitchell, Agent, to the 2014 OBS August Selected Yearling Sale, he was purchased by Midwest for $25,000. Selected Sale conformation photo
Kallenberg Farms’ Forever Liesl scored her first stakes win in the $100,000 Ladies Handicap at Aqueduct on Saturday, trailing early but rallying to take command a furlong from home and drawing away late to win by 4-1/4 lengths. The 5-year-old Florida-bred graded stakes placed daughter of Mineshaft was consigned to the 2016 OBS June Sale by Tom McCrocklin, Agent, where she turned in an Under Tack quarter in :21 4/5. Trained by Michelle Nevin, she’s now 16-5-5-3 and has earned $289,564. watch her under tack video
Ruis Racing LLC’s Midnight Pleasure was last in the early going of the $50,000 Forego Stakes on Friday at Turfway Park, but came flying on the outside down the stretch and was up in the final strides to score by a neck. It’s the first stakes win for the 5-year-old gelding by Midnight Lute, who worked an Under Tack eighth in :10 flat before he was sold by Randy Miles, Agent, for $310,000 to Ruis Racing at the 2016 April Sale. Trained by Mick Ruis, he’s now 21-5-2-6 and has earned $247,298 to date. watch his under tack video