Michael Dubb and Michael J. Caruso’s Hot Peppers took the lead at the start of Belmont’s $145,500 Jersey Girl Stakes on Sunday and never looked back en route to a 6-3/4 length victory. It’s the first stakes win for the 3-year-old Florida-bred filly by Khozan, a two-time OBS graduate, sold at the 2020 October Selected Yearling Sale and then purchased for $16,000 out of the De Meric Sales consignment at the 2021 June Sale after breezing an Under Tack eighth in :10 1/5. Trained by Rudy Rodriguez, she’s now 6-4-1-0 and has earned $195,450. watch her under tack video selected yearling sale walking video
OBS graduates posted three stakes wins at Gulfstream Park over the weekend.
Sonata Stable’s Lovely Luvy, last early in Sunday’s $65,000 Ginger Punch Stakes, swung wide for the drive, took over an eighth from home and scored by half a length. It’s the second stakes victory for the 6-year-old Florida-bred mare by He’s Had Enough, purchased for $70,000 out of the Grassroots Training & Sales consignment at the 2018 OBS April Sale after breezing an eighth in :10 2/5 at the Under Tack Show. Now 33-5-6-9 for trainer Saffie A. Joseph, Jr., she has earned $308,333. watch her under tack video
Palm Beach Racing’s Hot Blooded trailed on the outside turning for home in Sunday’s $65,000 Soldier’s Dancer Stakes, but rallied down the stretch, caught fellow OBS graduate Mr and Mr. C in deep stretch and was best by half a length. It’s the second stakes win for the 4-year-old Florida-bred son of Declaration of War, trained by Carlos David, now 17-3-1-3 with $177,840 in earnings. Consigned by Beth Bayer, Agent, he went through the ring at the 2019 OBS October Selected Yearling Sale. selected sale walking video
Julian J. De Mora Jr.’s California Frolic led a 1-2-3 OBS sweep of Saturday’s $75,000 Not Surprising Stakes, coming from off the pace, taking charge a furlong from home and holding off a late rally by Treasure King (June ’21) to score by a neck, with Klugman (October ’20) another neck back in third. It’s the second straight stakes victory for the 3-year-old colt by California Chrome, purchased for $32,000 out of the de Meric Sales consignment at the 2021 OBS Spring Sale after breezing an Under Tack eighth in :10 4/5. Now 7-4-1-1 for trainer Armando De La Cerda, he has earned $153,050 to date. watch his under tack video