As the beginning of the juvenile sale season nears, the OBS Two-Year-Old Sale program got a ringing endorsement with the announcement of Eclipse Awards for three OBS graduates.
William & Corinne Heiligbrodt’s Mitole took down the Eclipse Award as 2019’s Champion Male Sprinter. A winner of six of seven starts in 2019, he captured the Churchill Downs S. (G1), Metropolitan Handicap (G1), Vanderbilt Handicap (G1) and Forego Stakes (G1), ending the year in the winners’ circle after taking the Breeders’ Cup Sprint (G1). Consigned to the 2017 April Sale by Grassroots Training & Sales, the son of Eskendereya was sold for $140,000 after an Under Tack eighth in :10 flat. Trained by Steve Asmussen, he goes to stud with a 14-10-2-2 career record with earnings of $3,104,910. Mitole is the eighth OBS graduate crowned Sprint champion, following Groovy (1987), Cherokee Run (1994), Not Surprising (1995), Lost in the Fog (2005), Midnight Lute (2007), Kodiak Kowboy (2009) and Trinniberg (2012). watch Mitole’s under tack video
Bloom Racing Stable LLC, Madaket Stables LLC and Allen Racing LLC’s Midnight Bisou is the fourth OBS graduate to win the Eclipse Award as Champion Older Dirt Female, following in the footsteps of Jewel Princess (1996), Fleet Indian (2006) and Ginger Punch (2007). She posted seven graded stakes wins in 2019 for trainer Steve Asmussen, capped by her victory over co-finalist Elate in Saratoga’ s Personal Ensign Stakes (G1) at Saratoga. 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, the daughter of OBS graduate Midnight Lute ended 2019 with a 19-12-4-3 lifetime record and earnings of $3,750,000. She’s currently in training at the Fair Grounds for a date in the $20-million Saudi Cup on February 29. watch Midnight Bisou’s under tack video
Exline-Border Racing LLC, David A. Bernsen, Susanna Wilson and Dan Hudock’s Storm the Court earned the title of Champion 2-Year-Old Male with a victory in the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile (G1). Consigned to the 2019 April Sale by Woodside Ranch, Agent, he was purchased for $60,000 by Marette Farrell, Agent for Exline-Border Racing LLC after turning in an Under Tack quarter in :21 2/5. The son of Court Vision, trained by Peter Eurton, also third in Santa Anita’s American Pharoah (G1), ended 2019 with a 4-2-0-1 record and $1,172,951 in earnings. He’s the third OBS graduate chosen as 2-Year-Old Champion, joining Gilded Time (1992) and Favorite Trick (1997). watch Storm the Court’s under tack video