Medina Spirit became the fourth Kentucky Derby (G1) winning OBS graduate, with Colonel Liam and Du Jour adding graded stakes victories on Saturday at Churchill Downs.
Zedan Racing Stables Inc.’s Medina Spirit took the lead at the start of the $3-million Kentucky Derby (G1) and refused to give it up, gamely holding off a stretch-long challenge and scoring by half a length. The 3-year-old Florida-bred colt by Protonico finished second in the Santa Anita Derby (G1) in his last start after winning the Santa Anita’s Robert B. Lewis Stakes (G3) earlier in the year. Medina Spirit became the newest OBS millionaire with a 6-3-3-0 record for trainer Bob Baffert and earnings of $2,175,200. A two-time OBS graduate, he was sold as a yearling by Summerfield (Francis & Barbara Vanlangendonck), Agent, on behalf of breeder Gail Rice at the 2019 Winter Mixed Sale for $1,000. watch the auction ring video catalog page
He was then purchased for $35,000 by Gary Young on behalf of Zedan Racing Stables out of the Whitman Sales consignment at the 2020 June Sale after turning in an Under Tack three eighths in :33 flat. watch the auction ring video watch his under tack video catalog page
Medina Spirit joins Lil E Tee (1992), Silver Charm (1997) and I’ll Have Another (2012) in the OBS Kentucky Derby (G1) club.
Robert E. and Lawana L. Low’s Colonel Liam sat just off the pace in the $1-million Old Forester Bourbon Turf Classic Stakes (G1), battled to the front down the stretch and finished in a dead heat for the victory. It’s the third straight graded stakes win for the newly minted OBS millionaire, now 8-6-0-1 with earnings of $1,264,565 for trainer Todd Pletcher. At the 2019 OBS April Sale, he turned in an Under Tack quarter in :20 4/5 before he was purchased for $1,200,000 out of the Wavertree Stables consignment. watch his under tack video
Natalie J. Baffert and Debbie Lanni’s Du Jour came out for the drive to go after the leaders in the American Turf Stakes (G2), fought to the lead a sixteenth from home and was best by a length and a half at the wire. It’s the first stakes win for the 3-year-old colt by Temple City, purchased for $280,000 out of the Off the Hook LLC consignment at the 2020 OBS Spring Sale by Donato Lanni, Agent, after turning in an Under Tack eighth in :10 1/5. Now 5-3-1-1 for trainer Bob Baffert, he has earned $375,220 to date. Spring Sale walking video watch his under tack video