Bloom Racing Stable, Madaket Stables LLC and Allen Racing LLC’s Midnight Bisou wrapped up a big weekend for the upcoming OBS April Sale and its graduates with a rousing victory in Sunday’s Apple Blossom Handicap (G1) at Oaklawn Park. Under Mike Smith, the 4-year-old daughter of Midnight Lute was last of six in the early going, but rallied to reach contention on the turn then ran down a stubborn Escape Clause in a stretch long battle and scored by a nose. Trained by Steve Asmussen, she picked up her eighth graded stakes win at six different racetracks. She’s now 14-8-3-3 for her career record and has earned $2,405,000. She was purchased by Jeffrey Bloom for $80,000 out of the Woodford Thoroughbreds consignment at the 2017 April Sale after she breezed an Under Tack eighth in :10 1/5. watch her under tack video
April Sale graduates were first and third in a pair of Saturday stakes races.
William & Corrine Heiligbrodt’s Mitole took the lead at the start of the $490,000 Count Fleet Sprint Handicap (G3) at Oaklawn Park, fought off an early and persistent challenge by two time defending champion Whitmoreand drew away in deep stretch to win by 2-3/4 lengths. Fellow OBS graduate Bourbon Cowboy (April ’14, August ’13) checked in third. It’s the first graded stakes victory and fifth straight win for the 4-year-old colt by Eskendereya, trained by Steve Asmussen, now 9-6-2-1 with $701,510 in earnings. Consigned by Grassroots Training & Sales LLC to the 2017 OBS April Sale, he was sold for $140,000 after turning in an eighth in :10 flat at the Under Tack Show. watch his under tack video
Altamira Racing Stable and Slam Dunk Racing’s Painting Corners led every step of the way in the $78,850 Mizdirection Stakes at Santa Anita, scoring by a length and a half, with fellow OBS April graduate Go On Mary (April ’16) finishing third. It’s the first stakes win for the 5-year-old Florida-bred graded stakes placed daughter of Pleasant Strike, purchased for $40,000 out of the Woodside Ranch consignment at the 2016 April Sale after breezing an eighth in :10 1/5 at the Under Tack Show. Now 18-6-2-4 for trainer Peter Miller, she has earned $265,227 to date. watch her under tack video