OBS graduates won both of the weekend’s graded stakes for 2-year-olds at Del Mar.
Michael E. Pegram, Karl Watson, and Paul Weitman’s Havnameltdown is two for two and a graded stakes winner after setting the pace in Sunday’s $202,500 Best Pal Stakes (G3), turning back a bid from fellow OBS graduate Agency (March ’22) after turning for home and beating him to the wire by 2-1/2 lengths. After winning his first two starts for trainer Bob Baffert, he has earned $168,000 to date. The 2-year-old Florida-bred colt by Uncaptured is a two-time OBS graduate, sold first by Beth Bayer, Agent, at the 2021 October Yearling Sale and then purchased for $200,000 out of the Blas Perez Stables consignment at the 2022 Spring Sale after breezing an Under Tack in :9 4/5. watch his under tack video Spring Sale walking video
Omar Aldabbagh, Todd Cady and Ty Leatherman’s unbeaten Vegas Magic, ignored at 14-1 in the $200,500 Sorrento Stakes (G2) on Saturday, saved ground early, came out for the drive, caught the leaders a sixteenth out and was best by a length and a quarter. It’s the second straight stakes win for the 2-year-old daughter of Good Magic, purchased for $100,000 out of the Wavertree Stables consignment at the 2022 OBS March Sale after turning in an Under Tack eighth in :10 2/5. Trained by Doug O’Neill, she’s now three for three and has earned $205,200. watch her under tack video March Sale walking video
Monarch Stables Inc.’s Last Leaf scored her third straight stakes win in the $100,000 Audubon Oaks at Ellis Park on Sunday. The 3-year-old graded stakes placed daughter of Not This Time came around horses to reach contention turning for home then eased away in the stretch to win by a length and three quarters. Trained by Ron Spatz, she has compiled five stakes wins, a 15-7-1-2 career record and earned $332,647. A two-time OBS graduate, she was sold by Sharon Biamonte, Agent, at the 2020 Winter Mixed Sale and then purchased for $23,500 out of the Kaizen Sales consignment at the 2020 October Selected Yearling Sale. Selected Yearling Sale walking video
Paradise Farms Corp., David Staudacher, Three Diamonds Farm and Mike Maker’s Top Recruit was on the pace from the start of Sunday’s $124,250 Ellis Park Juvenile Stakes, battled to the wire and was best by a head. Fellow OBS graduate Roman Giant (March ’22) checked in third. It’s the first stakes win for the 2-year-old colt by Midshipman, purchased for $170,000 out of the Wavertree Stables consignment at the 2022 OBS March Sale after breezing an Under Tack eighth in :10 flat. Trained by Mike Maker, he’s now 3-2-0-1 and earned $155,840. watch his under tack video March Sale walking video
Patricia’s Hope LLC’s Back to Ohio ran past pacesetting fellow OBS graduate Lady Lottie (January ’21) at the head of the stretch of Saturday’s $100,000 Best of Ohio Stakes at Thistledown and beat her to the wire by 5-1/2 lengths. It’s the first stakes win for the 2-year-old daughter of Midshipman, now 3-2-1-0 with $94,200 in earnings for trainer Larry Rivelli. Consigned to the 2022 OBS Spring Sale by Top Line Sales LLC, Agent, she was sold for $385,000 after turning in an Under Tack eighth in :9 4/5. watch her under tack video Spring Sale walking video
Colts Neck Stables LLC’s Nothing Better pressed the pace in Sunday’s $102,000 Rainbow Heir Stakes at Monmouth Park, took the lead turning for home and eased away late to score by two lengths. It’s the first stakes win for the 5-year-old son of Munnings, trained by Jorge Duarte, Jr., now 15-5-1-3 with $211,817 in earnings. At the 2019 OBS Spring Sale, he was purchased for $230,000 out of the Brick City Thoroughbreds consignment after an Under Tack eighth in:10 1/5. watch his under tack video