Baoma Corporation’s Eda, up close early in the $300,000 Starlet Stakes (G1) at Los Alamitos on Saturday, took the lead on the backstretch, surrendered it briefly in the stretch, then came again late and scored by half a length. Fellow OBS graduate Tonito’s (March ’21) checked in third. That’s three straight stakes victories for the 2-year-old filly by Munnings, consigned by Eddie Woods, Agent, to the 2021 OBS March Sale, where she was purchased for $550,000 by Donato Lanni, Agent, after breezing an Under Tack eighth in :10 flat. Now 6-4-1-0 for trainer Bob Baffert, she has earned $370,000 to date. watch her under tack video March Sale walking video
Frank Fletcher Racing Operations, Inc. and Ten Strike Racing’s Lady Rocket took the lead at the start of Aqueduct’s $250,000 Go for Wand Handicap (G3) and never looked back, opening a big lead after turning for home and scoring by nine lengths while eased at the wire. Fellow OBS graduate Bella Vita (April ’19) settled for second. It’s the first graded stakes victory for the 4-year-old daughter of Tale of the Cat, trained by Brad Cox, now 11-6-4-1 with $530,508 in earnings. A two-time OBS graduate, she was sold by The Acorn at the 2018 October Selected Yearling Sale and then purchased for $420,000 out of the de Meric Sales consignment at the 2019 Spring Sale after turning in an Under Tack eighth in :10 flat. watch her under tack video Selected Sale walking video
OBS graduates posted a pair of stakes wins at Tampa Bay Downs on Saturday.
Gary Barber’s Strategic Bird is two for two and a stakes winner after leading all the way and turning back a late bid to take the $100,000 Sandpiper Stakes by a neck. The 2-year-old Florida bred filly by Noble Bird is a two-time OBS graduate, sold by Kelli Mitchell at the 2020 Fall Mixed Sale and then purchased for $40,000 out of the Royal Thoroughbreds consignment at the 2021 June Sale after working an Under Tack quarter in :21 flat. Trained by Mark Casse, she has earned $57,000. watch her under tack video
Corinne Heiligbrodt, William Heiligbrodt and Spendthrift Farm’s Cattin led a 1-2-3 OBS sweep of the $100,000 Inaugural Stakes, charging from just off the pace, taking command after turning for home and scoring by 2-1/2 lengths over Lightening Larry (March ’21), with Grand Valley (April ’21) completing the trifecta. It’s the first stakes win for the 2-year-old Florida-bred colt by Neolithic, purchased for $25,000 out of the Beth Bayer consignment at the 2020 OBS Winter Mixed Sale. Trained by Ralph Nicks, he’s now 4-2-0-1 with $164,550 in earnings.