The 2018 OBS Yearling Sale is set for October 9 – 11, and while the catalog is being assembled, the sale’s previous graduates are enjoying a run of summer success across the country.
The latest stakes winner is Michael Dubb, Makaket Stables LLC and Bethlehem Stables LLC’s lightly raced World of Trouble, who led from the start in the $100,000 Quick Call Stakes on the Saratoga turf course on August 8th and eased away late to win by a length and three quarters. It’s the second stakes score for the graded stakes placed Florida-bred colt by Kantharos, trained by Jason Servis, now 6-3-1-1 with $278,400 in earnings. Consigned by Darsan Inc., Agent, he went through the ring at the 2016 August Yearling Sale.
John C. Oxley’s Catherinethegreat got the meet off on the right foot for OBS, leading all the way and winning the $150,000 Schuylervillle Stakes (G3) on Opening Day, with fellow October Sale graduate Congrats Gal running third. It was the second straight win for the 2-year-old Florida-bred daughter of Uncaptured, trained by Mark Casse, consigned by Turtle Pond Farm to the 2017 October Open Sale of Yearlings, and sold for a session topping $170,000.
The following day, the same connections settled for second as Mr. Oxley’s Strike Silver was beaten by a neck in the $150,000 Sanford Stakes (G3) after winning at first asking for trainer Mark Casse in June. The colt by Violence, sold by Kaizen Sales (Richard Kent), Agent for $275,000, was the sale topper at the 2017 October Selected Sale of Yearlings. Selected Sale conformation photo
The Spa’s biggest day so far was Whitney Day, and OBS Yearling Sale graduates played a major role all day. In the day’s main event, Uriah St. Lewis’ Discreet Lover continued his march to a million with a third place finish in the grade one fixture. The 5-year-old graded stakes winning Florida-bred son of Repent, trained by his owner, is now 42-6-7-7 and has earned $941,560 to date. Consigned by Woodford Thoroughbreds, he went through the ring at the 2014 OBS August Yearling Sale.
Earlier on the card, Ike and Dawn Thrash’s stakes winner Kelly’s Humor added a third place finish in the prestigious Test Stakes (G1) to her resume, improving her record to 10-2-3-2 and boosting her bankroll to $252,870. The 3-year-old daughter of Midnight Lute was consigned by Stuart Morris, Agent, to the 2016 OBS Selected Sale of Yearlings. Selected Sale conformation photo
The Whitney Day’s opening OBS attraction was Nice Guys Stables and Dermot Magner’s Hersh, who trailed in the early going of a seven furlong maiden special for three and up, but circled horses on the turn to reach the leaders, took command in the stretch and scored by a length and a half in his second lifetime start. The 3-year-old colt by Jimmy Creed is a three time veteran of the OBS Sales ring, sold at the 2016 Winter Mixed Sale by Select Sales, by Mark White at the 2016 August Yearling Sale and by de Meric Sales at the 2017 OBS April Sale. He’s the first winner saddled by trainer Dermot Magner, former assistant to Chad Brown. watch his under tack video
A day earlier, Treadway Racing Stable’s Miss Mystique came from off the pace to get up late and take a 5-1/2 furlong $77,000 allowance. The 3-year-old daughter of Teuflesberg, trained by Leah Gyarmati, is now 9-2-0-2 and has earned $136,500. A two time OBS graduate, she went through the ring, consigned by McMahon of Saratoga Thoroughbreds, at the 2016 August Sale, and then was resold for S180,000 by New Hope at the 2017 April Sale. watch her under tack video
Not far from The Atlantic Ocean, OBS Yearling Sale graduates are making the most of their opportunities at Gulfstream Park. On July 28, Michael Yates sent out Shadybrook Farm’s Jessica for her first start in a 5-1/2 furlong maiden special. The 2-year-old Florida-bred daughter of Prospective overcame a bit of traffic in the stretch to draw away late to win by a length and a quarter. Consigned to the 2017 Open Sale of Yearlings by Camelot Acres Racing & Sales, Agent, she was sold for $8,000.
Three races later, Blue River Bloodstock’s Mozo Bello rallied to take charge of a 5-1/2 furlong maiden special a furlong from home and drew away to win by 4-1/4 lengths for trainer Armando De La Cerda. The 2-year-old Florida-bred gelding by Bellamy Road is a two-time OBS graduate, sold by Beth Bayer, Agent, at the 2017 Selected Sale of Yearlings before going through the ring at the 2018 April Sale. Selected Sale conformation photo watch his under tack video
On August 11, Kales Company LLC’s Elgin Escape pressed the pace in a 5-1/2 furlong maiden special, took over in the drive and eased away to a two length victory in his second trip to the post. Trained by David Fawkes, the 2-year-old Florida-bred gelding by He’s Had Enough was sold by his breeder, The Acorn, for $105,000 at the 2017 Selected Sale of Yearlings. Selected Sale conformation photo
Gulfstream’s latest stakes winning Yearling Sale graduate is King of Prussia Stable’s Shanghai Starlet, winner of the $75,000 Panama City Stakes at Gulfstream this past Saturday, as well as fellow OBS graduate Starship Bonita (March ’17, August ’16) finishing third in the race. The winner, a 3-year-old Florida-bred filly by Shanghai Bobby, was purchased for $80,000 out of the Beth Bayer consignment at the 2016 OBS Selected Sale of Yearlings. She’s now 6-3-1-1 for trainer Todd Pletcher, and has earned $107,040. Selected Sale conformation photo
While the East coast horses are enjoying either the Florida sun or the warm days and cool nights in the Adirondack Mountains in Saratoga, out west the OBS yearling sale grads spend the summer alongside the Pacific Ocean at Del Mar. The Opening Day feature was the $100,000 Oceanside Stakes and Kelly Brinkerhoff and Bob Grayson Jr.’s two-time OBS graduate Afleet Ascent was a sharp second after leading in the stretch. The 3-year-old gelding by Northern Afleet, trained by Jerry Hollendorfer, came out of the race with a 9-2-2-1 record and $126,125 in earnings. Sold by Top Line Sales at the 2016 August Sale, he was resold for $300,000 at the 2017 April Sale by Off the Hook LLC, Agent. watch his under tack video
The younger set was heard from on July 28 when Doubledown Stables’ Forloveofcountry came from out of the clouds with a late charge to win a one mile maiden special on the turf by half a length. It was the second start for the 2-year-old Sky Mesa colt, sold first by Stuart Morris at the 2017 Selected Sale of yearlings and then resold for $300,000 by Pick View, Agent, at the 2018 March Sale. Selected Sale conformation photo
watch his under tack video
Although probably less in need of sunscreen than his coastal compatriots, Dale Hagedorn’s Mr Wrench It romped to a 6-3/4 length win in last Friday’s Prairie Meadows Juvenile Stakes. The 2-year-old Florida-bred colt by Lookin At Lucky, trained by H. Steve Davidson, is now 4-2-0-1 and has earned $54,224. Consigned by breeder Kinsman Farm to the 2017 OBS October Selected Sale of Yearlings, he was sold for $37,000. Selected Sale conformation photo