Five OBS graduates posted stakes victories at Gulfstream Park West on Saturday.
David Melin, Leon Ellman and Laurie Plesa’s Mr. Jordan captured the $75,000 Million Preview Stakes for the third straight year, saving ground in the early going before shifting outside in the stretch and closing to beat fellow OBS graduate Deland (August ’13) by a nose at the wire. It’s the seventh stakes win for the graded stakes winning 6-year-old Florida-bred gelding by Kantharos, trained by Eddie Plesa, now 34-10-7-7 with $827,335 in earnings. The two time OBS graduate was sold by Summerfield, Agent, at the 2013 August Sale and then purchased by trainer Eddie Plesa for $155,000 out of the de Meric Sales consignment at the 2014 April Sale after working a quarter in :21 2/5 at the Under Tack Show. watch his under tack video
Anne D. Scott’s Galleon Mast rallied on the hedge to reach contention turning for home in the $75,000 Millions Turf Preview on Saturday at Gulfstream Park West, came out for the drive and was up at the wire to score by a nose. It’s the fifth stakes victory for the 5-year-old Florida-bred Mizzen Mast gelding, now 29-9-10-5 for trainer David Fawkes with $539,050 in earnings. Consigned to the 2015 OBS April Sale by Eddie Woods, Agent, he went through the ring after breezing an Under Tack quarter in :22 flat. watch his under tack video
e Five Racing Thoroughbreds’ Lovesick is two for two and a stakes winner after leading from gate to wire and heading a 1-2-3 OBS sweep of the $75,000 Juvenile Fillies Sprint Stakes. Starship Nala (January ’17) was three lengths back in second; Busy Signal (June ’18) checked in third. Consigned by breeder Ocala Stud to the 2018 April Sale, the 2-year-old Florida-bred daughter of Adios Charlie was purchased for $80,000 after turning in an Under Tack quarter in :21 3/5. Trained by David Fawkes, she has earned $86,105. watch her under tack video
N. T. S. Stable’s Stirling Drive tracked the leader down the backstretch in the $75,000 Juvenile Turf Stakes, took command on the turn and held off a late charge to win by a length, with fellow OBS graduate Mr Wrench It (October ’17) settling for third. It’s the first stakes win for the 2-year-old Florida-bred colt by Verrazano, trained by Milton Wolfson, now 5-2-0-1 with $101,655 in earnings. He was purchased for $75,000 out of the Off the Hook consignment at the 2018 April Sale after breezing an eighth in :10 flat. watch his under tack video
King of Prussia Stable’s Shanghai Starlet picked up her second stakes win in the $75,000 Millions Distaff Stakes, moving to the leader a quarter mile from home and easing away in the final furlong to win by a length and three quarters. The 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. Trained by Todd Pletcher, she’s now 8-4-1-1 and has earned $155,318. Selected Sale conformation photo
A trio of OBS grads score in stakes at Laurel:
R. A. Hill Stable’s Majestic Dunhill trailed in the early going of Saturday’s $100,000 City of Laurel Stakes, but rallied on the outside down the stretch and was up in the final yards to win by half a length. It’s the second stakes win for the 3-year-old gelding by Majesticperfection, purchased for $100,000 out of the SGV Thoroughbreds consignment at the 2017 OBS March Sale after he sped a quarter in :21 3/5 at the Under Tack Show. Trained by George Weaver, he’s now 10-4-1-2 and has earned $215,724 to date. watch his under tack video
Charles L. Biggs’ Congrats Gal took charge of the $100,000 Smart Halo Stakes after turning for home, and the 2-year-old Florida-bred graded stakes placed daughter of Congrats bounded away down the stretch to win her first stakes race by 6-3/4 lengths. A two-time OBS graduate, she was sold by Woodford Thoroughbreds at the 2017 October Yearling Sale and then purchased for $57,000 out of the Grassroots Training & Sales consignment at the 2018 April Sale after an Under Tack eighth in :10 1/5. Now 5-3-1-1 for trainer Cathal Lynch, she has earned $134,740. watch her under tack video
Naveed Chowhan’s America’s Tale went right to the lead at the start of the $100,000 Safely Kept Stakes, shook off a challenge a furlong from fellow OBS graduate Estilo Femenino (April ’17) a furlong from home and beat her to the wire by two lengths. It’s the first stakes victory for the 3-year-old filly by Gio Ponti, trained by Bernard Flint, leaving her with a 14-4-3-1 record and $224,823 in earnings. Consigned by Eisaman Equine to the 2017 OBS March Sale, she went through the ring after breezing an eighth in :10 2/5. watch her under tack video