OBS graduates picked up a pair of graded stakes wins on Saturday at Fair Grounds.
Tom R. Durant’s Silver Dust successfully defended his title in the $200,000 Mineshaft Stakes (G3), rating off the leaders early, taking command turning for home and holding off a late run to score by three quarters of a length. It’s the third graded stakes win for the 6-year-old gelding by Tapit, consigned by de Meric Sales, Agent, to the 2016 OBS March Sale, where he turned in an Under Tack quarter in :21 2/5 before he was sold for $510,000. Now 26-6-7-2 for trainer Bret Calhoun, he has earned $762,277 to date. watch his under tack video
Gaining Ground Racing LLC’s Factor This took the lead at the start of the $150,000 Fair Grounds Stakes (G3) and refused to give it up, opening daylight in the stretch and cruising home a winner by a length. It’s the first graded stakes win for the 5-year-old gelding by The Factor, trained by Brad Cox, now 27-8-3-4 with earnings of $545,030. He was purchased for $11,000 out of the Niall Brennan Stables consignment at the 2017 OBS April Sale after breezing an eighth in :10 1/5 at the Under Tack Show. watch his under tack video
Breeze Easy, LLC’s well-traveled Karak went right to the front in the $75,000 Cincinnati Trophy Stakes on Friday night at Turfway Park and never looked back, opening up down the stretch and bounding to an 8-1/2 length victory. It’s the second stakes win for the 3-year-old daughter of Karakontie (JPN), a winner first time out at Belmont Park in May before returning from a trip to Royal Ascot to take the Tyro Stakes at Monmouth Park. The first stakes winner for her sire, she was sold for $365,000 at the 2019 OBS March Sale by All Dreams Equine, Agent, after breezing an Under Tack eighth in :9 4/5. Trained by Wesley Ward, she’s now 6-3-0-1 and has earned $160,175 to date. watch her under tack video