Phoenix Thoroughbred III, Ltd.’s Diamondsandpearls, who brought $1.7-million to top the 2017 OBS March Sale, took the lead at the start of a $54,345 maiden special weight test at Santa Anita on Sunday and gave nothing else a chance, romping to a seven length victory in her debut for trainer Bob Baffert. The 2-year-old daughter of Congrats was consigned to the March Sale by McKathan Bros., Agent, and sold to Kerri Radcliffe, Agent. The dark bay or brown filly is out of Azalea Belle, by Dixie Union, a daughter of graded stakes winner Westerly Breeze, and her eighth in :9 4/5 was co-fastest at the distance at the March 10th Under Tack session. watch her under tack video
Diamondsandpearls was not the only March grad to score at first asking over the weekend. At Arlington Park on Sunday, Carolyn Wilson’s The Tabulator rolled to a nine length maiden special weight win for trainer Larry Rivelli. The colt by Dialed In, consigned by Wavertree Stables, Inc. (Ciaran Dunne), Agent, went to Ms. Wilson for $460,000 after turning in an Under Tack eighth in :10 flat. watch his under tack video
On Sunday at Ellis Park, Stan Burnstein’s Belle’s Orb captured her debut in a maiden special for trainer Eddie Kenneally. The daughter of Orb, a half sister to stakes winner Fact Finding, was also consigned by Wavertree and purchased by her trainer for $120,000 after an Under Tack eighth in :10 1/5. watch her under tack video
The 2017 March Sale produced its first stakes winner when Sano Racing Stables Inc.’s Rose to Fame, now two for two, tracked the leaders in the early going of Saturday’s $100,000 Brave Raj Stakes at Gulfstream, took command in the final furlong and held off the late runners to score by a neck. The 2-year-old filly by Gemologist, trained by Antonio Sano, has earned $85,380 to date. Consigned by Crupi’s New Castle Farm, Agent, to the 2017 OBS March Sale, she was purchased for $65,000 by Mr. Sano after breezing an eighth in :10 1/5 at the Under Tack Show. watch her under tack video
Abdullah Saeed Almaddah’s Green Mask closed with a rush between horses to take charge of Sunday’s $250,500 Highlander Stakes (G2) at Woodbine inside the eighth pole and drew away from there to a two length victory. Fellow OBS graduate Commute (August ‘13) checked in third. It’s the second graded stakes win for the 6-year-old gelding by Mizzen Mast, trained by Brad Cox, now 26-7-8-3 with $914,761 in earnings. He was purchased for $150,000 out of the Casse Sales LLC (Justin Casse) consignment at the 2013 OBS April Sale after an Under Tack eighth in :10 1/5. watch his under tack video
Kevin Attard and Soli Mehta’s Starship Jubilee made it five wins in row on Sunday at Woodbine, finishing in a dead heat for the victory with Rainha Da Bateria in the $175,700 Dance Smartly Stakes (G2). That’s two straight graded stakes wins for the 4-year-old Florida-bred filly by Indy Wind, a two time OBS graduate, sold by The Acorn at the 2014 August Yearling Sale then consigned by Halcyon Hammock Farm, Agent, to the 2015 April Sale where she breezed an eighth in :10 2/5 at the Under Tack Show. Trained by Kevin Attard, the win leaves her with a 14-8-1-0 record and earnings of $258,830. watch her under tack video
Darsan, Inc.’s Who’s the Lady led a 1-2-3 OBS blanket finish in Gulfstream’s $75,000 Azalea Stakes, slipping through on the rail with a late rush to score by a head over Lirica (August ’15, January ‘15), with frontrunning R Angel Katelyn (June ‘16) a nose back in third. It’s the second stakes victory for the 3-year-old Florida-bred daughter of Munnings, who went through the ring at the 2015 OBS August Yearling Sale. She’s now 7-5-0-0 for trainer Kathleen O’Connell, and has earned $157,410. Selected Sale conformation photo