OBS graduates put on a quite a show at the Saratoga meeting, winning seven of the fifteen grade one stakes, with OBS March graduates accounting for six of them.
The curtain went up on July 20th when Repole Stable’s Stopchargingmaria passed the million dollar mark in earnings with a five length romp in the $300, 000 Coaching Club American Oaks (G1). The fourth OBS grad to win the CCA Oaks, she joined 1992 winner Turnback the Alarm (April ’91), 1995 winner Golden Bri (August “93) and 2006 victor Wonder Lady Anne L (August ’04). The 3-year-old daughter of Tale of the Cat returned to take the meet’s premier races for sophomore fillies, scoring by three quarters of a length in the $600,000 Alabama Stakes (G1) on August 16th. Now 10-6-1-1 with earnings of $1,414,000, she breezed an eighth in :10 1/5 at the Under Tack Show prior to the 2013 OBS March Sale, then was sold for $220,000 by Woodford Thoroughbreds, Agent. watch her under tack video
Antonino Miuccio’s Palace also accounted for a pair of grade one victories, vaulting past the million dollar mark in the $350,000 Alfred G. Vanderbilt Handicap (G1) on August 2nd, and then returning to romp to a 3-1/2 length victory in the $500,000 Forego Stakes (G1) on the meeting’s final Saturday. The 5-year-old son of City Zip is now 21-11-5-2 with $1,309,550 in earnings. He was sold for $160,000 by Crupi’s New Castle Farm, Agent, at the 2011 OBS March Sale after an Under Tack eighth in :10 flat. watch his under tack video
Travers Day is the main event at Saratoga, and OBS graduates used the occasion to grab the spotlight. Alex & JoAnn Lieblong’s April Sale graduate The Big Beast got things started, making his stakes debut in the $500,000 King’s Bishop Stakes (G1). Although further from the lead turning for home than expected, he put in a determined run down the stretch and was up to win by a neck in the final strides. Consigned by Ends Well, Agent, to the 2013 April Sale, the 3-year-old colt by Yes It’s True was purchased by the Lieblongs for $150,000 after working an eighth in :10 1/5 at the Under Tack Show. His third straight victory leaves him 5-3-1-1 with earnings of $415,500. watch his under tack video
Despite coming into the $1,250,000 Travers Stakes (G1) off three straight wins, Magalen O. Bryant’s V. E. Day was overlooked at 19-1 facing Belmont Stakes (G1) winner Tonalist and Wood Memorial (G1) and Jim Dandy (G2) winner Wicked Strong. But the 3-year-old colt by English Channel uncorked a sustained run down the stretch, caught Wicked Strong in the last jump and won the “Mid-Summer Derby” by a nose. The victory, his fourth in a row and second straight stakes win, gave him a 6-4-1-0 record and $829,010 in earnings. Consigned by Eddie Woods, Agent, to the 2013 OBS March Sale, he was sold for $135,000 to Chester Stables LLC, Agent, after working a quarter in :21 4/5 at the Under Tack Show. watch his under tack video
OBS’ six sensational weeks at the Spa closed with a show stopper, with Trilogy Stable and Laurie Plesa’s Itsmyluckyday turning the tables on Whitney Stakes (G1) winner Moreno on the meeting’s final Saturday in the $600,000 Woodward Stakes (G1). Tracking his rival right from the gate, he collared him at the top of the stretch, fought him head to head the rest of the way and was best by a neck at the wire. It was the first grade one victory for the 4-year-old colt by Lawyer Ron, who worked an Under Tack eighth in :10 3/5 before he was purchased for $110,000 by trainer Eddie Plesa out of the Eisaman Equine consignment at the 2012 OBS March Sale. The win gives him a 19-9-4-1 record and $1,662,600 in earnings. watch his under tack video
Closing day provided an encore, and possibly a glimpse of the future, courtesy of WinStar Farm LLC and Stonestreet Stables LLC’s Carpe Diem. The $1.6-million co-sale topper at the 2014 OBS March Sale came out running in his debut in an $83,000 maiden special, popping to the lead at the break, setting fast fractions on the lead and then responding when challenged in the stretch. The 2-year-old son of Giant’s Causeway had the answer, shrugging off a bid in the final furlong, drawing away to a 2-1/2 length victory and running the 5-1/2 furlongs in a swift 1:03 4/5. He was purchased by Stonestreet out of the Northwest Stud consignment after working an eighth in:10 1/5 at the Under Tack Show. watch his under tack video
Building on the success of its graduates, the 2015 OBS March Sale will kick off the Ocala Breeders’ Sales Company’s 2015 two-year-old sale schedule on March 17 with an expanded format designed to provide buyers with a greater selection of horses and adding another session to the sale.
Three sessions, set for Tuesday – Thursday, March 17 – 19, 2015, will be preceded by the Under Tack Show on Wednesday through Friday, March 11 – 13. The March Sale will continue to offer a high quality group of horses with top physicals and solid pedigrees that buyers have become accustomed to in previous years, as well as the addition of the next tier of horses that have advanced through their early training and are prepared to showcase their talents in March.