The large crowd that turned out in sunny weather was treated to a track record performance as the Ocala Breeders’ Sales Company held it’s 26th annual Day of Champions.
Ranlo Investments LLC’s Lady Shipman took charge of the $50, 000 OBS Sprint Stakes for 3-year-old fillies on the turn, opened a big lead in the lane and scored by eighth lengths in a track record 1:08 4/5 for the six furlongs. The time surpassed the previous mark of 1:09 3/5 by Megalith in 2011 and equaled by Cor Cor in 2013. Raul Bahena’s Happy to Go came running late to be second, a nose in front of Ten Broeck Farm’s Cool Comfort. The 3-year-old daughter of Midshipman, consigned by Pleasant Acres Farm, Agent, to the 2014 OBS April Sale where she sped an Under Tack eighth in :9 4/5. She’s now 4-3-0-1 and has earned $80,400 to date. Lady Shipman returned $2.80, 2.40 and 2.10. Happy to Go paid 2.40 and 2.10 with Cool Comfort returning 2.20 to show. The 8-2 exacta was good for 6.60 and completed a 6-8 Daily Double worth 20.80. watch her under tack video
In the first half of the Double, Jody Mihalic’s Sweet Gatorgirl edged Donald L. Ming’s I See Visions by a neck in a 440 yard Quarter Horse Allowance purse. S and L Racing’s Vision Quest Corona was another half a length back in third. Trained by Grover Cleveland Wheeler and ridden by Luis Castillo, the winner ran the distance in :21.86. The winner returned $12.00, 4.20 and 2.40. I See Visions returned 3.40 and 2.20. Vision Quest Corona paid 2.40 to show. The 6 -5 exacta returned $18.20
In the third race, White Wabbit Wacing LLC and Marco Thoroughbred Corp.’s It’s Not Me went to the lead early in the $50,000 OBS Sprint for 3-year-old colts and geldings and gave nothing else a chance, cruising to the wire an 8-3/4 length winner over Stanley S. Moles and Starr Stables’ Charlie’s Brother. Rontos Racing Stable’s Social Request was a head back in third. Trained by Jorge Navarro and ridden by Edgard Zayas, he ran the six furlongs in 1:09 3/5. Claimed by his current connections at Gulfstream West in October, the 3-year-old Florida-bred gelding by D’wildcat is two time OBS graduate, sold by Hickory Meadow Farm (Clare Silva), Agent, at the 2013 August Sale and then resold for $50,000 by Casse Sales LLC (Justin Casse), Agent, at the 2014 June Sale after working an eighth in :10 flat at the Under Tack Show. His first stakes win leaves him 8-4-0-1 with $123,335 in earnings. watch his under tack video
John L. Moirano, Nehoc Stable and Alan Sokol’s Arctic Ocean scored her first stakes win in the $100,000 OBS Championship Stakes for 3-year-old fillies, rallying on the outside down the stretch and scoring by a neck over Leonard C. Green and Crush Racing Stable’s Save Rock and Roll. Bortolazzo Stable’s Back Flip was third and the time for the mile and a sixteenth was 1:46 4/5. Ridden by Rafael Hernandez and trained by Gary Contessa, the 3-year-old Concord Point filly is now 7-2-3-0 and has earned $125,340. After an Under Tack eighth in :10 2/5, she was sold for $33,000 by Winners Circle Thoroughbreds LLC at the 2014 OBS June Sale. watch her under tack video
Skychai Racing, Charles Kevin Warner and Sand Dollar Stable’s Firespike was last in the early going of the $100,000 OBS Championship Stakes for colts and geldings, but circled horses on the turn, ran by the leaders in deep stretch and drew off to a 2-1/4 length victory. Murray Stroud’s Big Yum put in a good late run to be second, a neck in front of DiBello Racing’s Prince Vincenzo. Trained by Mike Maker and ridden by Joel Rosario, the 3-year-old Florida-bred colt by Flower Alley ran the mile and a sixteenth in 1:46 2/5. It’s the second stakes win for Firespike and leaves him with a 7-3-1-1 record and earnings of $183,259. He’s a two time OBS graduate, consigned by Beth Bayer to the 2013 August Sale prior to being plucked by Maker out of the Blue River Bloodstock consignment for $70,000 after working quarter in :21 flat at the 2014 April Sale Under Tack Show. watch his under tack video
The total pari-mutuel handle on the first two races was $21,212.