Eclipse Thoroughbred Partners and Madaket Stables LLC’s Speech tracked pacesetting fellow OBS graduate Venetian Harbor (April ’19) down the backstretch in Keeneland’s $392,000 Ashland Stakes (G1) on Saturday, then went after her on the turn. The pair turned for home on close to even terms, but down the stretch Speech was stronger, taking command a furlong from home and beating her to the wire by three lengths in a track record 1:41.26 for the mile and a sixteenth. It’s the first stakes win for the 3-year-old Florida-bred daughter of Mr Speaker, a two time OBS graduate, purchased out of the Summerfield consignment at the 2018 Winter Mixed Sale, then resold by SBM Training & Sales, Agent, for $190,000 at the 2019 March Sale after turning in an Under Tack eighth in :10 flat. Now 7-2-4-1 for trainer Mike McCarthy, she has earned $353,840 to date. watch her under tack video
Reeves Thoroughbred Racing. R. A. Hill Stable & Joseph E. Besecker’s Shippy went right to the front in Saturday’s $78,000 Blue Sparkler Stakes at Monmouth Park and never looked back, drawing away down the stretch and scoring by 4-1/2 lengths over fellow OBS graduate Fujairah (April ’19). It’s the first stakes victory for the graded stakes placed 3-year-old filly by Midshipman, trained by George Weaver, now 5-2-1-1 with earnings of $107,600. She was sold for $77,000 by S G V Thoroughbreds LLC at the 2019 OBS March Sale after breezing an eighth in :9 4/5 at the Under Tack Show. watch his under tack video