Five OBS graduates are finalists for the 49th annual Eclipse Awards. The winners will be announced on January 23 at Gulfstream Park.
William & Corrine Heiligbrodt’s Mitole is a finalist for Horse of the Year as well as in the Older Dirt Male and Male Sprinter categories. Trained by Steve Asmussen, the son of Eskendereya won six of seven starts, including victories in the Churchill Downs S. (G1), Metropolitan Handicap (G1), Vanderbilt Handicap (G1) and Forego Stakes (G1). He capped the year with a decisive victory over fellow OBS graduate Shancelot (March ’18) in the Breeders’ Cup Sprint (G1) and goes to stud with a 14-10-2-2 record and earnings of $3,104,910. Consigned to the 2017 April Sale by Grassroots Training & Sales, the 4-year-old colt by Eskendereya was sold for $140,000 after an Under Tack eighth in :10 flat. watch his under tack video
A finalist in the Older Dirt Female category, Bloom Racing Stable, Madaket Stables LLC and Allen Racing LLC’s Midnight Bisou won seven of eight starts in 2019 for trainer Steve Asmussen, all in graded stakes, highlighted by her dramatic victory over co-finalist Elate in the Personal Ensign (G1) at Saratoga. The daughter of OBS graduate Midnight Lute was purchased by Jeffrey Bloom for $80,000 out of the Woodford Thoroughbreds consignment at the 2017 April Sale after working an Under Tack eighth in :10 1/5. She ended the year with a 19-12-4-3 record, all of her wins in graded stakes company. She has earned $3,750,000 to date and is currently in training at the Fair Grounds for a date in the $20-million Saudi Cup on February 29. watch her under tack video
A pair of OBS graduates took different roads to the finals of the 2YO Male division. Jeff Drown and Don Rachel’s unbeaten Structor made his case for an Eclipse Award with a victory over fellow OBS graduate Billy Batts (March ’19) in the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Turf (G1). The now 3-year-old colt by Palace Malice, trained by Chad Brown, also captured Belmont’s Pilgrim Stakes (G3) in his previous start. Now three for three with earnings of $709,500 to date, he turned in an Under Tack quarter in :21 1/5 before he was purchased for $850,000 out of the Pick View LLC consignment at the 2019 OBS March Sale. watch his under tack video
Exline-Border Racing LLC, David A. Bernsen & Susanna Wilson’s Storm the Court was overlooked at 45-1 in the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile (G1), but took the lead at the start and never gave it up, holding off a late run by fellow OBS April graduate Anneau d’Or to win by a neck. The son of Court Vision, trained by Peter Eurton, was also third in Santa Anita’s American Pharoah (G1). Consigned to the 2019 April Sale by Woodside Ranch, Agent, he worked an Under Tack quarter in :21 2/5 before he was purchased for $60,000 by Marette Farrell, Agent for Exline-Border Racing LLC. He ended his juvenile campaign with a 4-2-0-1 record and $1,172,951 in earnings. watch his under tack video
Michael Dubb, Madaket Stables LLC and Bethlehem Stables LLC’s World of Trouble, a finalist in both the Male Sprinter and Male Turf Horse categories, won all four of his starts in 2019. On dirt he captured the Gulfstream Park Sprint and Carter Handicap (G1) and on turf he scored in Churchill’s Twin Spires Turf Sprint (G2) and Belmont’s Jaipur Invitational (G1). Trained by Jason Servis, the Florida-bred son of Kantharos goes to stud with a 13-9-2-1 career record and earnings of $1,263,300. Consigned by Darsan Inc., Agent, he went through the ring at the 2016 OBS August Yearling Sale.