OBS graduates are gearing up for a big day in the desert on Saturday at King Abdulaziz Racecourse in Riyadh. A trio of OBS grads will go in the $20-million Saudi Cup (G1), five will go to the post in the $1.5-million Saudi Derby (G3) and Casa Creed will carry the OBS banner by himself in the $1.5-million 1351 Turf Sprint (G3).
Prince Saud Bin Salman Abdulaziz’s Emblem Road returns to defend his title in the $20-miilion Saudi Cup (G1). The 5-year-old son of Quality Road, trained by Mitab Almulawah, is now 11-8-1-1 and earned $10,221,492. Consigned to the 2020 OBS Spring Sale by Wavertree Stables, Inc. (Ciaran Dunne), Agent, he was purchased for $80,000 by Bruno DeBerdt, Agent, after breezing a quarter in :21 3/5 at the Under Tack Show.
watch his under tack video Spring Sale walking video
Commonwealth Thoroughbreds, LLC, Winstar Farm LLC and Zedan Racing Stables, Inc.’s Country Grammer, second to Emblem Road in the 2022 renewal of the Saudi Cup (G1), followed that up with a victory in the rich Dubai World Cup (G1). The 6-year-old son of Tonalist, a multiple graded stakes winner trained by Bob Baffert, comes into the race off a victory in Santa Anita’s San Antonio Stakes (G2). To date, he has compiled a 14-5-5-1 career record and earned $11,277,320. He was purchased for $450,000 by Bradley Thoroughbreds LLC, Agent, out of the Wavertree Stables consignment at the 2019 OBS Spring Sale after turning in an Under Tack quarter in :21 flat. watch his under tack video
Koichi Nishikawa’s Cafe Pharoah comes into the race fresh from winning the Mile Championship Nambu Hai (G1) at Morioka Racecourse. The five-time graded stakes winning 5-year-old son of American Pharoah, trained by Noriyuki Hori, is now 13-7-0-0 with over $3-million in earnings. Consigned by Eddie Woods, Agent, to the 2019 OBS March Sale, he was sold for $475,000 to Narvick International, Agent, after breezing an Under Tack quarter in :21 1/5. watch his under tack video
Masatoshi Haramura’s Ecoro Ares is the first of five OBS grads in the Saudi Derby (G3). The 3-year-old colt by Unified, trained by Hideyuki Mori, was purchased by his trainer out of the Julie Davies consignment at the 2022 OBS March Sale after breezing an Under Tack eighth in :9 4/5. watch his under tack video March Sale walking video
Ahmed Saad B Aljebreen’s Almulhem was second in the Saudi Derby Qualifier in his last start. The 3-year-old son of More Than Ready was purchased for $60,000 out of the Wavertree Stables consignment at the2022 OBS June Sale after an Under Tack eighth in :10 1/5. watch his under tack video
Michael E. Pegram, Karl Watson, and Paul Weitman’s multiple graded stakes winner Havnameltdown comes in on the heels of a score in Santa Anita’s San Vicente Stakes (G2. A two-time OBS graduate, he was sold first by Beth Bayer, Agent, at the 2021 October Yearling Sale and then purchased for $200,000 out of the Blas Perez Stables consignment at the 2022 Spring Sale after breezing an Under Tack eighth in :9 4/5. Now 5-4-1-0, the 3-year-old Florida-bred colt by Uncaptured has earned $408,000. watch his under tack video Spring Sale walking video
Susumu Fujita’s graded stakes placed From Dusk was sold to his trainer Hideyuki Mori for $900,000 by Top Line Sales LLC, Agent, at the 2022 OBS Sale after turning in an Under Tack eighth in :9 4/5. watch his under tack video March Sale walking video
HRH Prince Sultan Bin Mishal Bin A/Aziz’s My Map is four for four with two stakes wins for trainer K. Aladhayani. The 3-year-old colt by Liam’s Map was purchased by Chad Schumer, Agent, for $100,000 out of the de Meric Sales consignment at the 2022 OBS March Sale after working an Under Tack eighth in :10 1/5. watch his under tack video March Sale walking video
LRE Racing LLC and JEH Racing LLC’s multiple grade one stakes winner Casa Creed, second in last year’s 1351 Turf Sprint (Gr. 3), is back for another try. The 7-year-old son of Jimmy Creed was purchased for $15,000 out of the Janie Roper consignment at the 2017 OBS Winter Mixed Sale, Trained by Bill Mott, he has compiled a 29-7-4-4 career record and earned $1,741,058