KatieRich Stables’ May Day Ready (Tapit-Nemoralia, by More Than Ready) got back into the win column Aug. 23 when she led every point of call in the Grade 2, $400,000 Lake Placid at Saratoga Race Course, leading the slate of stakes-winning OBS grads for the week.
Trained by Joe Lee, the daughter of Tapit posted a half-length score over fellow OBS grad Play With Fire to earn her first win since taking the Grade 2 Jessamine Stakes at Keeneland last fall.
(NYRA/Coglianese/Walter Wlodarczyk photo)
“I knew she’d be fresh. I knew if she got a clean break, with the horses that were in there, should someone not decide to go, she may just be on the lead,” Lee told the NYRA publicity team.
Bred in Kentucky by White Birch Farm, May Day Ready was purchased by her owners for $325,000 out of the de Meric Sales consignment at the 2024 OBS April Sale after breezing in :10 flat.
At Woodbine Aug. 23, Gary Barber and Team Valor International LLC’s Elysian Field (Hard Spun -Elysian, by Smart Strike) returned to winning form with a gritty score in the $150,000 Seaway Stakes (G3). Trained by Mark Casse, Elysian Field arrived at the wire a one-length winner. She was supplemented to the Seaway and was making her second start off an eight-month layoff.
Elysian Field was a $70,000 purchase at the 2022 OBS June Sale by Bruce Brown, Agent, out of the Ocala Stud consignment after breezing in :21 3/5.
At Charles Town on Aug. 22, the 2024 Florida-bred Horse of the Year Mystic Lake (Mo Town – Salty Soul, by Itsmyluckyday) earned her third straight stakes win when she took the $250,000 Misty Bennett Pink Ribbon Stakes under the lights. The victory marked ninth stakes win for the filly trained by Saffie Joseph Jr. for C Two Racing Stables, Stefania Farms, and BAG Racing.
An earner of $1,360,042, Mystic Lake is a two-time OBS graduate, sold by Summerfield (Francis & Barbara Vanlangendonck), 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 4/5.
At Saratoga on Aug. 22, Edward Childs and R. A. Hill Stable’s Iron Orchard (Authentic- Onebrethatatime, by Brethren) made every pole a winning one en route to prevailing in the $150,000 Seeking the Ante for New York-bred 2-year-old fillies.
Trained by Danny Gargan, the daughter of Authentic won at first asking in a restricted 5 1/2-furlong maiden test and replicated that effort in her stakes debut, scoring by 6 3/4-lengths. Gargan indicated Iron Orchard is likely to stretch out next in the Grade 1, $400,000 Frizette Oct. 4 at Aqueduct.
Iron Orchard was purchased by Bill Childs and Mark Stanton for $500,000 from the Grassroots Training and Sales consignment at the 2025 OBS April Sale where she worked in :9 4/5.
At Century Mile Aug. 23, last year’s Century Oaks winner Avana (Vino Rosso- Revealing Moment, by After Market) took the $75,000 Northlands Distaff Handicap. Owned by Peter Redekop and trained by Barbara Heads, the daughter of Vino Rosso was purchased by Mike Ryan, agent for $150,000 out of the consignment of Cary Frommer at the 2023 OBS March Sale after breezing in :10 2/5.
On Aug. 20 at Horseshoe Indianapolis, West Point Thoroughbreds and James Nichols’s Run Away Rojo (Run Away and Hide – Aunt Sherri, by Stephen Got Even) turned in a fast-closing effort to win the $100,000 Bucchero Handicap after the race – named for OBS grad, multiple graded stakes winner, and sire Bucchero – was taken off the turf.
Run Away Rojo, who was making his second start for Hall of Famer Steve Asmussen, was purchased by West Point Thoroughbreds for $120,000 at the 2022 OBS April Sale from the Mayberry Farm consignment after breezing in :10 1/5.
At Parx on Aug. 19, Happy Tenth Stables’ Buccherino (Bucchero – Bellimbusto, by First Dude) pulled away at the top of the stretch to win the $75,000 State Representative’s Sprint. Trained by Alfredo Velazquez, Buccherino earned his third stakes victory. He was purchased for $75,000 from the Blue River Bloodstock, Inc. consignment at the 2023 OBS April Sale after breezing in :10 flat.