Saratoga is always a showcase for 2-year-olds and OBS graduates are off to a strong start at the 2019 meeting.
Gold Square LLC’s My Italian Rabbi is two for two and a stakes winner after chasing fellow OBS graduate Fierce Lady (March ’19) from the start of Thursday’s $100,000 Stillwater Stakes at Saratoga, battling her down the stretch and beating her by a nose in the last jump. The 2-year-old daughter of Competitive Edge, trained by Jeremiah Englehart, has earned $89,100 to date. She was purchased for $60,000 out of the Summerfield consignment at the 2018 OBS Winter Mixed Sale.
An hour later, Reeves Thoroughbred Racing, Peter Searles and Patty Searles’ City Man came from off the pace, swung wide for the drive, took over in deep stretch and drew away late to take a $78,000 Maiden Special Weight test by three lengths. It was the first start for the 2-year-old colt by Mucho Macho Man, who turned in an Under Tack eighth in :10 1/5 before he was sold to Reeves Thoroughbreds for $185,000 by Off the Hook LLC, Agent, at the 2019 April Sale. Trained by Christophe Clement, the win was worth $42,900. watch his under tack video
On Wednesday, Carl R. Moore’s Just Fly, with two starts under her belt at Churchill Downs, put the experience to good use in a $75,000 Maiden Special Weight dash, taking charge on the turn and drawing away in the stretch to score by 4-3/4 lengths. The 2-year-old daughter of Justin Phillip, trained by Joe Sharp, has earned $52,935. Consigned to the 2019 March Sale by Stephens Thoroughbreds LLC, Agent, she was sold for $40,000 after working an Under Tack eighth in :10 flat. watch her under tack video
Later that afternoon, trainer Mark Casse unveiled Gary Barber’s Violent Point, who went to the lead at the start of a $78,000 Maiden Special Weight test and never looked back, scoring by six lengths in her first trip to the post. The win was worth $42,900 to the 2-year-old daughter of Violence, sold for $65,000 by Summerfield (Francis & Barbara Vanlangendonck), Agent, at the 2018 Winter Mixed Sale.
Shea D. Boy’s Stable’s Bank On Shea got the ball rolling in his debut last Sunday, saving ground early, coming out for the drive, making the lead late and easing away to a three quarter length victory in a $78,000 Maiden Special test. The 2-year-old Central Banker colt breezed and Under Tack eighth in :10 flat before he was purchased for $110,000 out of the Niall Brennan Stables consignment at the 2019 April Sale. Trained by Jason Servis, the win was worth $42,900. watch his under tack video