OBS graduates posted a pair of graded stakes wins at Belmont Park on Saturday.
Michael Imperio, Medallion Racing, Sofia Soares, Vincent S. Scuderi and Parkland Thoroughbreds’ Bella Sofia pressed the pace in the $145,500 Vagrancy Handicap (G3), took the lead on the turn, battled Frank’s Rockette head-to-head down the stretch and was best by a nose at the wire. It was the 4-year-old debut for the grade one stakes winning daughter of Awesome Patriot, purchased for $20,000 out of the Grassroots Training & Sales consignment by Sallusto & Albina, Agent, at the 2020 OBS June Sale after breezing an Under Tack eighth in :10 2/5. A five time stakes winner for trainer Rudy Rodriguez, she has compiled a 7-5-1-0 career record and has earned $675,100. watch her under tack video
Dublin Fjord Stables LLC, Racepoint Stables, Kevin D. Hilbert and Thomas E. O’Keefe’s Drafted trailed turning for home in the $150,000 Runhappy Stakes (G3), but closed relentlessly down the stretch on the outside, took the lead in the shadow of the wire and scored by a length. It’s the fourth graded stakes win for the 8-year-old Florida-bred son of Field Commission, a two time OBS graduate, who went through the ring at the 2015 August Sale before he was purchased for $35,000 out of the Kim Harrison consignment at the 2016 March Sale after turning in an Under Tack eighth in :10 1/5. A graded stakes winner in the U.S. and Dubai, he has put together a 27-8-2-3 record, earned $939,193 and is now trained by David P. Duggan. watch his under tack video
Sonata Stable’s Arzak went right to the lead in Sunday’s $151,200 Jacques Cartier Stakes (G3) at Woodbine, opened a long lead in mid-stretch and coasted home to win by a length and a half. It’s the second straight stakes win for the 4-year-old colt by Not This Time, purchased for $575,000 out of the Julie Davies consignment at the 2020 OBS Spring Sale after breezing an Under Tack eighth in :10 flat. Now 13-5-1-1 for trainer Mike Trombetta, he has earned $253,378 to date. watch his under tack video
JFG Thoroughbreds and Maritza Weston’s Classicstateofmind took the lead at the start of Saturday’s $75,000 Roar Stakes at Gulfstream and never looked back, scoring by a length over fellow OBS graduate Capture the Time (April ’21). It’s the first stakes victory for the 3-year-old colt by Classic Empire, now 7-3-1-1 with earnings of $121,915 for trainer Francisco D’Angelo. After turning in an Under Tack eighth in :10 flat, he was purchased for $50,000 out of the Sequel Bloodstock consignment at the 2021 OBS Spring Sale. watch his under tack video Spring Sale walking video
Jesus J. Uranga’s Sigur Ros came from off the pace to take command of the $76,950 Sunray Park Stakes on Saturday at Sunray Park a furlong from home and held off a late charge to score by three quarters of a length. It’s the first stakes win for the 8-year-old gelding by Gemologist, sold for $20,000 by Select Sales, Agent, at the 2015 OBS August Selected Yearling Sale. Trained by his owner, he’s now 28-8-4-4 and has earned $207,907 to date.