C T R Stables LLC (Calvert)’s unbeaten Positivity got off to a rough start in Sunday’s $100,500 Graduation Stakes at Del Mar, but circled horses on the turn, closed with a rush down the stretch and was up late to score by half a length. Two for two with $87,000 in earnings for trainer Luis Mendez, the 2-year-old colt by Paynter was consigned by Havens Bloodstock Agency, Inc., Agent, to the 2020 OBS March Sale and went through the ring after breezing an eighth in :10 flat at the Under Tack Show. watch his under tack video
OBS graduates posted a trio of stakes wins at Kentucky Downs Preview Day on Sunday at Ellis Park.
Gaining Ground Racing LLC’s Factor This defended his title in the $100,000 Kentucky Downs Preview Turf Cup Stakes, taking charge early after pressing the pace, opening the lead a furlong out and holding on to win by half a length. It’s the fourth straight stakes victory for the 5-year-old graded stakes winning gelding by The Factor, who turned in an Under Tack eighth in :10 1/5 before he was purchased for $11,000 out of the Niall Brennan Stables consignment at the 2017 OBS Spring Sale. Closing in on a million for trainer Brad Cox, he’s now 30-11-3-4 and has earned $902,780. watch his under tack video
William Branch’s Carotari circled horses on the turn to reach contention in the $100,000 Runhappy Preview Turf Sprint Stakes, took command leaving the eighth pole and went on to win by a length over fellow OBS graduate Tiger Blood (August ’14), who closed well for second. That’s two stakes wins for the 4-year-old gelding by Artie Schiller, trained by Brian Lynch, now 15-5-4-2 with $311,588 in earnings. At the 2018 OBS Spring Sale, he was consigned by TIP Thoroughbred Investment Possibilities, Agent, and went through the ring after working an eighth in :9 4/5 at the Under Tack Show. watch his under tack video
George Chris Coleman and Brad King’s Into Mystic tracked the pacesetter into the stretch of the $100,000 Kentucky Downs Preview Ladies Sprint Stakes, wore down the leader in the lane and eased away late to score by a length and a half. It’s the first stakes victory for the 4-year-old daughter of Into Mischief, purchased for $650,000 out of the Paul Sharp consignment at the 2018 OBS Spring Sale after an Under Tack eighth in :9 4/5. Now 11-4-1-2 for trainer Brendan Walsh, she has earned $188,023 to date. watch her under tack video