A total of 25 horses who are graduates of Ocala Breeders’ Sales Company auctions were entered in the 42nd edition of the Breeders’ Cup World Championships being held Oct. 31-Nov. 1 at Del Mar in California.
The World Championships will feature 14 Grade 1 races and more than $34 million in purses and awards.
Twelve OBS graduates were entered for Future Stars Friday, including Zedan Racing’s Brant, who sold for an OBS record $3 million at this year’s March Sale of 2-Year-Olds in Training. The Bob Baffert trained son of Gun Runner is expected to be among the favorites for the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile (G1).
March Sale, wins the Del Mar Futurity. (Benoit photo)
More than two dozen OBS graduates have prevailed in Breeders’ Cup races since the inception of the World Championships in 1984. The 2023 edition of the Breeders’ Cup saw OBS graduate White Abarrio, who is back this year for an expected start in the Dirt Mile (G1), annex the $6 million Classic (G1) en route to becoming a finalist for Horse of the Year honors.
Other notable OBS graduates who have won Breeders’ Cup races include Hall of Famer Skip Away (1997 Classic), Horse of the Year Favorite Trick (1997 Juvenile), champions Stormy Liberal (2017-18 Turf Sprint) and Midnight Lute (2007-08 Sprint) as well as Stephanie’s Kitten (2011 Juvenile Fillies Turf; 2015 Filly & Mare Turf), and Goldencents (2013-14 Dirt Mile).
The full list of OBS sales graduates entered in the 2025 Breeders’ Cup in race order are:
Friday, Oct. 31
$1 million Juvenile Turf Sprint (post time: 2:45 p.m. local, 5:45 p.m. ET)
Cy Fair (2025 OBS April Sale; Buyer: Swinbank Stables, Consignor: Niall Brennan Stables; Price: $185,000; Breeze: :9 4/5)
Lennilu (2024 OBS Winter Mixed Sale; B: Glencrest Farm; C: Abbie Road Farm; Price: $23,000)
Obliteration (2025 OBS March Sale; B: Leland Ackerley; C: Ocala Stud; Price: $200,000; Breeze: :21 3/5)
AE: Bacio (2025 OBS March Sale – RNA: C: Top Line Sales; Breeze: :9 4/5)
$2 million Juvenile Fillies (3:25 p.m. local, 6:25 p.m. ET)
Iron Orchard (2025 OBS April Sale; B: Bill Childs and Mark Stanton; C: Grassroots Training and Sales; Price: $500,000; Breeze: :9 4/5)
La Ville Lumiere (2025 OBS March Sale; B: Eclipse Thoroughbred Partners; C: Eddie Woods; Price: $475,000; Breeze: :10)
$1 million Juvenile Fillies Turf (4:05 p.m. local, 7:05 p.m. ET)
Ground Support (2025 OBS March Sale – RNA; C: Tom McCrocklin; Breeze: 21 1/5)
$2 million Juvenile (4:45 p.m. local, 7:45 p.m. ET)
Brant (2025 OBS March Sale; B: Zedan Racing Stables; C: Eddie Woods; Price: $3 million; Breeze: :9 3/5)
Intrepido (2025 OBS April Sale; B: Dutch Girl Holdings LLC and Irving Ventures; C: Cardozo’s Brothers; Price: $385,000; Breeze: :9 4/5)
$1 million Juvenile Turf (5:25 p.m. local, 8:25 p.m. ET)
Argos (2025 OBS March Sale – RNA; C: Majestic; Breeze: :20 3/5)
Bottas (2025 OBS April Sale; B: Case Clay Thoroughbred Management; C: Paul Sharp; Price: $300,000; Breeze: :10 1/5)
Street Beast (2025 OBS April Sale; B: Davant Latham; C: Eddie Woods; Price: $85,000; Breeze: :10 2/5)
Saturday, Nov. 1
$1 million Filly and Mare Sprint (Noon local, 3 p.m. ET)
Praying (2024 OBS April Sale; B: Stone Bridge Farm; C: Mayberry Farm; Price: $410,000; Breeze: :9 4/5
$1 million Turf Sprint (12:41 p.m. local, 3:41 p.m. ET)
Bear River (2023 OBS June Sale; B: Charles K. Marquis; C: Randy Miles; Price: $50,000; Breeze: :10 2/5)
Governor Sam (2024 OBS April Sale; B: Bregman Family Racing and Ivan Cabrera; C: Wavertree Stables, Inc. (Ciaran Dunne); Price: $275,000; Breeze: :9 4/5)
Shisospicy (2024 OBS April Sale – RNA; C: Hartley/DeRenzo Thoroughbreds; Breeze: :9 3/5)
AE: Yellow Card (2023 OBS April Sale; B: West Bloodstock; C: Little Farm Equine; Price: $87,000; Breeze: :10)
$2 million Sprint (1:21 p.m. local; 4:21 p.m. ET)
Bentornato (2022 October Yearling Sale; B: Pro Racing Stable; C: Stuart Morris; Price: $45,000 and 2023 OBS March Sale B: Champion Equine C: Golden Rock Thoroughbreds; Price: $170,000; Breeze: :20 4/5)
Mad House (2024 OBS April Sale; B: James Thares; C: Wavertree Stables; Price: $47,000; Breeze: :10 2/5)
Patriot Spirit (2023 OBS March Sale; B: George Mellon; C: Clary Bloodstock; Price: $235,000; Breeze: :10)
$2 million Distaff (2:01 p.m. local; 5:01 p.m. ET)
Gun Song (2023 OBS March Sale; B: R. Lee Lewis; C: de Meric Sales; Price: $400,000; Breeze: :10 1/5)
Scottish Lassie (2024 OBS March Sale; B: Parkland Thoroughbreds; C: Gene Recio; Price: $85,000; Breeze: : 21)
$1 million Dirt Mile (4:45 p.m. local; 7:45 p.m. ET)
Chancer McPatrick (2024 OBS April Sale; B: Kimmel & Sallusto, Agents; C: Caliente Thoroughbreds; Price: $725,000; Breeze: :21)
Nysos (2023 OBS April Sale; B: Donato Lanni, Agent for Baoma Corp; C: Best A Luck Farm; Price: $550,000; Breeze: :9 4/5)
White Abarrio (2020 Winter Mixed Sale; B: Jose Ordonez; C: Summerfield (Francis & Barbara Vanlangendonck); Price: $7,500 and 2021 OBS March Sale; B: Carlos L. Perez; C: Nice and Easy Thoroughbreds; Price: $40,000; Breeze: :10 2/5)