For Immediate Release
C2 Racing Stable, Prince Faisal bin Khaled bin Abdulaziz Al-Saud and Antonio Pagnano’s White Abarrio (Race Day – Catching Diamonds, by Into Mischief) was the star of a banner weekend for Ocala Breeders’ Sales Company graduates as he turned in a stakes-record 6 1/4-length triumph in the $3 million Pegasus World Cup Invitational (G1) at Gulfstream Park Jan. 25.
The winner of the 2023 Breeders’ Cup Classic (G1) covered the distance in 1:48.05 over a fast main track to surpass the previous largest margin of victory, 5 3/4 lengths, set by City of Light in 2019.
“I thought the Breeders’ Cup Classic was the best race of his life, but this was very close behind,” trainer Saffie Joseph, Jr. told the Gulfstream Park publicity team. “Everything just aligned. You come up with a plan and more often than not it doesn’t work, but today it did.”
A two-time OBS graduate, White Abarrio was sold by Summerfield (Francis & Barbara Vanlangendonck), Agent, at the 2020 Winter Mixed Sale and then purchased for $40,000 out of the Nice and Easy Thoroughbreds consignment at the 2021 March Sale after breezing an eighth in 10.2. (Under Tack video).
White Abarrio was one of four OBS graduates to earn grade/group wins the past week.
The undercard of the Pegasus World Cup saw C2 Racing Stable LLC and Stefania Farms’ Mystic Lake (Mo Town – Salty Soul, by Itsmyluckyday) capture the $215,000 Inside Information (G2). The 3-year-old Florida-bred filly, a two-time OBS graduate, was sold by Summerfield Agent at the 2022 October Yearling Sale and then purchased for $130,000 out of the Tom McCrocklin consignment at the 2023 March Sale after breezing in 20.4. (Under Tack video)
At Oaklawn Park Jan. 25, Speed King (Volatile – Athenian Beauty, by Corinthian) led a 1-2 finish for OBS Grads when he bested Sandman to score a gate-to-wire victory in the $1 million Southwest Stakes (G3) for owner Ted Bowman of Triton Thoroughbreds. Speed King was purchased by Triton Thoroughbreds for $100,000 out of the A.G Sale consignment at the 2024 OBS Spring Sale of Two-Year-Olds in Training.
On Jan. 24, Golden Vekoma (Vekoma – Sticks Wondergirl, by Stevie Wonderboy) earned his first grade/group victory when he annexed the UAE 2000 Guineas S. (G3), winning the 1,600-meter race by two lengths at Meydan Racecourse in Dubai for owner Mohammed Ahmad Ali Al Subousi. Golden Vekoma was purchased by Harmash Racing for $90,000 from the 2024 OBS Spring Sale of Two-Year-Olds in Training from the Grassroots Training and Sales consignment.
Other stakes winners on the weekend included The Wine Steward (Vino Rosso – Call to Service, by To Honor and Serve) taking the $150,000 Fifth Season Stakes at Oaklawn Park Jan. 25 for owners Peter Proscia (Paradise Farms Corp.) and David Staudacher. The Wine Steward was purchased for $340,000 by trainer Mike Maker from the Sequel Bloodstock consignment at the 2023 March Two-Year-Olds in Training Sale (Under Tack Video).
At Turfway Park Jan. 25, Lithe Spirit (Speightstown – Spooky Woods, by Ghostzapper) won the $125,000 Wishing Well Stakes for an ownership group that includes Bradley Thoroughbreds, Gainesway Stable, et al. The filly was purchased by Bradley Thoroughbreds for $485,000 from the Scanlon Training & Sales consignment at the 2023 OBS Spring Sale of Two-Year-Olds in Training (Under Tack Video).