M Racing Group, LLC’s Like the King took a big step toward a berth in the Kentucky Derby (G1) starting gate on Saturday at Turfway Park, taking the $240,040 Jeff Ruby Steaks (G3). The 3-year-old colt by Palace Malice rallied wide to reach contention on the turn, overcame traffic trouble to sustain his run and was up in deep stretch to score his first stakes win by a length over fellow OBS October Yearling Sale graduate Sainthood (October ‘19). Now 6-3-2-1 for trainer Wesley Ward, he has earned $200,680 to date. Consigned by The Acorn LLC, Agent, to the 2019 Selected Yearling Sale, he was purchased for $170,000. Selected Sale walking video
George Krikorian’s War Like Goddess relaxed off the pace early in Gulfstream’s $100,000 Orchid Stakes (G3), circled horses to rally on the outside down the stretch and was up in the last jump to score by a nose. It’s the first stakes victory for the 4-year-old daughter of English Channel, purchased for $30,000 out of the Hemingway Racing and Training Stables consignment at the 2019 OBS June Sale after turning in an Under Tack eighth in :10 2/5. Trained by Bill Mott, she’s now 4-3-0-0 and has earned $156,184. watch her under tack video
Gary Barber’s I Get It, last of eight early in Gulfstream’s $100,000 Sanibel Island Stakes, rallied wide down the stretch, took the lead a furlong from home and held off a late run by fellow OBS graduate World Tour (April ’20) to beat her by half a length. It’s the first stakes win for the graded stakes placed 3-year-old filly by Get Stormy, trained by Ron Spatz, now 9-5-0-1 with $156,278 in earnings. Consigned by Kaizen Sales (Richard Kent), Agent, to the 2019 OBS October Yearling Sale, she was purchased by her trainer for $8,500.
Full of Run Racing, LLC’s Dreamalildreamofu tracked the leaders early in Turfway’s $96,925 Latonia Stakes, came between horses in the stretch to take over in deep stretch and scored her first stakes win by three quarters of a length. It’s the second straight win for the 4-year-old daughter of Commissioner, a two-time OBS graduate. Sold first at the 2018 October Selected Yearling Sale, she was purchased for $65,000 out of the Advanced Thoroughbreds consignment at the 2019 June Sale after breezing an eighth in :10 flat at the Under Tack Show. Trained by Brax Cox, she’s now 8-4-1-2 and has earned $187,772. watch her under tack video
LLP Performance Horse, LLC’s Zenden led from start to finish and took the $1,500,000 Golden Shaheen Stakes (G1) at Meydan by 3-1/2 lengths in a stakes record 1:09.01 for six furlongs. After the wire, Zenden sustained a catastrophic injury. It was the first graded stakes win for the 5-year-old son of Fed Biz, who turned in an Under Tack quarter in :20 3/5 before he was sold for $47,000 by Potrero Stables, Agent, at the 2018 OBS June Sale. Trained by Carlos A. David, he compiled a 15-6-3-0 career record and became the latest OBS millionaire with earnings of $1,131,760. watch his under tack video
Zenden is the seventh OBS graduate to capture the Golden Shaheen (G1), joining Caller One (2001-2), Saratoga County (2005), Big City Man (2009), Secret Circle (2015), Mind Your Biscuits (2017-18) and X Y Jet (2019).