Four OBS graduates will go to the post in Saturday’s Kentucky Derby (G1) and a single filly will start in Friday’s Kentucky Oaks (G1)
Zedan Racing Stables Inc.’s Medina Spirit, trainer Bob Baffert’s only 2021 Derby entrant, will break from post eight and be ridden by John Velazquez. The Florida-bred son of Protonico has finished first or second in all five trips to the post, earning $315,200 to date. He won Santa Anita’s Robert B. Lewis (G3) in January and comes into the race off second place efforts in the San Felipe (G2) in March and Santa Anita Derby (G1) in April. A two-time OBS graduate, he was sold by Summerfield at the 2019 Winter Mixed Sale, then purchased at the 2020 June Sale for $35,000 by Gary Young on behalf of Zedan Racing Stables out of the Whitman Sales consignment after turning in an Under Tack three eighths in :33 flat. watch his under tack video
M Racing Group, LLC’s Like the King and WinStar Farm LLC and CHC Inc.’s Sainthood come into the race straight from their respective one-two finish in Turfway Park’s Jeff Ruby Steaks (G3).
Like The King, a 3-year-old colt by Palace Malice, has been on the board in all six starts and prepped for his Jeff Ruby victory with a second place effort in Turfway’s John Battaglia Memorial Stakes. Trained by Wesley Ward, he’ll break from post two and be ridden by Drayden Van Dyke. Consigned by The Acorn LLC, Agent, to the 2019 Selected Yearling Sale, he was purchased for $170,000 and is 6-3-2-1 with earnings of $200,680. Selected Sale walking video
The lightly raced Sainthood, by Mshawish, broke his maiden in his second start and was a good second to Like The King in the Jeff Ruby (G3) in his only other race. Trained by Todd Pletcher, he’ll be ridden by Corey Lanerie and start from post five. Now 3-1-2-0, he has earned $91,900 to date. At the 2019 Selected Yearling Sale, he was purchased for $62,000 out of the Select Sales consignment. Selected Sale walking video
Mark Schwartz’s Brooklyn Strong will start from post three for trainer Daniel Velazquez and has a new rider in Umberto Rispoli. The gelded son of Wicked Strong brings a 5-3-0-1 career record and $225,000 in earnings into the race. Fifth in Aqueduct’s Wood Memorial (G2) in his only start at three, he won three of four starts at two capped by a victory in the Remsen Stakes (G2) in December. The two-time OBS graduate went through the ring at the 2019 October Yearling Sale, consigned by Stuart Morris, Agent, then purchased for $5,000 out of the Coastal Equine consignment at the 2020 Spring Sale after breezing an eighth in :10 2/5 at the Under Tack Show. watch his under tack video Spring Sale walking video
John C. Minchello’s Competitive Speed comes into Friday’s Kentucky Oaks (G1) with a 7-3-0-2 record and $116,695 in earnings. The 3-year-old daughter of Competitive Edge captured Gulfstream’s Glitter Woman Stakes in January and then posted consecutive third place finishes in Gulfstream’s Davona Dale Stakes (G3) and the Gulfstream Park Oaks (G2). She’ll break from post 13 under Chris Landeros for trainer Javier Gonzalez. At the 2020 OBS June Sale, she breezed an Under Tack eighth in :11 flat and was purchased for $5,000 out of the Niall Brennan Stables consignment. watch her under tack video