HRH Prince Sultan Bin Mishal Al Saud’s Merneith led a 1-2-3 OBS sweep of Santa Anita’s $202,000 Santa Monica Stakes (G2), battling fellow OBS graduate Golden Principal (April ’19) for the lead, taking command turning for home and beating her to the wire by 2-1/4 lengths. Qahira (June ’18) settled for third. It’s the first graded stakes win for the 4-year-old daughter of American Pharoah, now 10-4-3-2 for trainer Bob Baffert with $357,900 in earnings. Consigned by de Meric Sales, Agent, to the 2019 OBS March Sale, she breezed an Under Tack quarter in :20 4/5 before she was purchased for $600,000 by Narvick International on behalf of her owner. watch her under tack video
Cash Is King LLC and LC Racing LLC’s Mischevious Alex pressed the pace in the $100,000 Gulfstream Park Sprint Stakes (G3), slipped between horses to take charge at the head of the stretch then drew off in the lane to score by 3-1/4 lengths. It’s the third graded stakes win for the 4-year-old colt by Into Mischief, consigned by Eisaman Equine to the 2019 OBS April Sale where he went through the ring after an Under Tack eighth in :10 flat. Trained by Saffie A. Joseph, Jr., he’s now 11-6-1-1 and has earned $449,730. watch his under tack video
OBS June graduates posted a pair of stakes scores on Saturday at Tampa Bay Downs.
LLP Performance Horse, LLC’s Zenden battled for the lead from the inside in the $75,000 Pelican Stakes, took charge by a length a furlong from home and held on gamely to score by a head. That’s two stakes wins for the graded stakes placed 5-year-old son of Fed Biz, who turned in an Under Tack quarter in :20 3/5 before he was sold for $47,000 by Potrero Stables, Agent, at the 2018 OBS June Sale. Trained by Carlos A. David, he’s now 14-5-3-0 and has earned $261,760 to date. watch his under tack video
Team Equistaff, Inc.’s The Goddess Lyssa took the lead at the start of the $50,000 Minaret Stakes and was never threatened en route to a frontrunning 3-1/4 length victory. It’s the first stakes win for the 4-year-old Florida-bred daughter of Fury Kapcori, now 7-5-0-1 with earnings of $93,915 for trainer Gerald Bennett. Consigned to the 2019 OBS June Sale by Journeyman Bloodstock Services, Inc. (Brent & Crystal Fernung), Agent, she was sold to Mary K. Thomas for $10,000 after breezing an Under Tack eighth in :10 1/5. watch her under tack video
Robert V. LaPenta’s Nicky the Vest is two for two and a stakes winner after an 11-3/4 length runaway victory in the $100,000 Gander Stakes on Sunday at Aqueduct. The 3-year-old colt by Runhappy, who has earned $93,500, is the first stakes winner for his sire. Consigned to the 2019 OBS October Selected Yearling Sale by Stuart Morris, Agent for Highclere, he was purchased by Insignia Bloodstock for $110,000. selected yearling sale walking video