Trainer Rick Violette had Klaravich Stables Inc. and William H. Lawrence’s Spurious Precision ready to roll in his debut on Saturday at Saratoga, and the High Cotton colt, bred in Florida by Michael Chamberlain, overcame a sluggish start to draw away from his $80,000 maiden special weight field and win by 3-1/2 lengths in a snappy 1:03 2/5 for the 5-1/2 furlongs. Klaravich and Lawrence are hoping for a repeat of 2011, when their OBS graduate High Cotton colt Currency Swap (March ’11, October ’09) parlayed his winning Saratoga debut into a victory in the Hopeful Stakes (G1) later in the meet. Spurious Precision was purchased for $105,000 out of the de Meric Sales consignment at this year’s OBS April Sale; Currency Swap was sold by the same consignor a year ago. watch his under tack video
Out west, Sam Britt and Michael House’s 2012 OBS April graduate Gabriel Charles had a tougher time in his debut at Del Mar, but came running late and scored by a nose in a 5-1/2 furlong $71,050 maiden special weight test. The Street Hero colt, trained by Jeff Mullins, was sold for $160,000 by Price Thoroughbreds, Agent. watch his under tack video
In the wake of a record shattering two-year-old sale season, these other graduates of 2012 OBS juvenile auctions are already making an impact at the races:
Mrs. John Magnier, Michael Tabor and Derrick Smith’s Drum Roll overcame a poor break in his debut in a maiden special weight test at Monmouth on July 8th, but drove to the lead on the inside around the turn then drew out to a 2-3/4 length victory. The colt by Majestic Warrior was sold for $300,000 by All In Sales (Tony Bowling), Agent, at this year’s OBS March Sale. watch his under tack video
Altimira Racing Stable, Michael Bloom and Lisa Kruse’s Heir Kitty was much the best in a maiden special weight test on the turf course at Betfair Hollywood Park on July 8th, romping to a 4-1/2 length win in her racing debut. The Florida-bred daughter of Wildcat Heir is a two time OBS graduate, consigned first to the 2010 Fall Mixed Sale before being purchased for $32,000 out of the Southern Cypress Stable consignment at this year’s April Sale. watch her under tack video
On June 28th, a pair of 2012 OBS juvenile graduates scored convincingly at first asking on both coasts. At Hollywood, Karl Watson, Mike Pegram & Paul Weitman’s April sale topper Executiveprivilege overcame a slow start to win a 5-1/2 furlong maiden special weight race going way by 4-1/2 lengths. Purchased for $650,000 from Eddie Woods, Agent, the filly by First Samurai earned $30,000 for her efforts. watch her under tack video
Earlier that afternoon back east at Belmont, Repole Stable’s Onetwentyeight, a $150,000 March purchase, took the lead at the start of a 5-1/2 furlong maiden special weight dash and never looked back en route to a five length victory. Consigned by breeder Ocala Stud, the colt by Discreet Cat’s first payday was worth $42,000. He returned with a third place finish in Saratoga’s $300,000 Sanford Stakes in July. watch his under tack video
Mike McCarty’s Special Jo took the first step toward justifying his $230,000 price tag in her debut at Churchill Downs on May 25th. The colt by Johannesburg made short work of a maiden special weight field, romping to a six length victory in his only trip to the post to date. Sold in March by Old South Farm, Agent, he has earned $31,800. watch his under tack video
After breaking his maiden at first asking at Betfair Hollywood Park on April 26th, Jerry Durant’s Amarish opened up in the stretch and drew away to a 4-1/2 length victory in the $100,000 Willard L. Proctor Memorial Stakes over the same surface on June 16th. Sold for $200,000 by Crupi’s New Castle Farm, Agent, at the OBS March Sale, the 2-year-old gelding by Scat Daddy has earned $91,200 to date. watch his under tack video
That same afternoon at Hollywood, Gary & Cecil Barber and Kevin Tsujihara’s Miss Empire, who settled for fourth in her debut last month, made the most of the education and rallied from off the pace to an impressive 4-3/4 length victory in the $100,000 Cinderella Stakes. One for two with earnings of $63,120, the 2-year-old Empire Maker filly was sold for $165,000 by Eddie Woods, Agent, at the same sale. watch her under tack video
Next at OBS is the Selected Sale of Yearlings on Tuesday, August 21st, followed by the Open Sale of Yearlings on Wednesday and Thursday, August 22nd and 23rd.