OBS grads enjoyed a productive opening weekend at Del Mar with a pair of stakes wins and an impressive victory by a first time starter.
Little Red Feather Racing, John Hundley Jr, Marsha Naify, John Snyder and Stacey Snyder’s Iscreamuscream (Twirling Candy – Silver Screamer) is three for three and a graded stakes winner after a game three-quarter length victory in the $202,500 San Clemente Handicap (G2) on Saturday. The 3-year-old daughter of Twirling Candy, trained by Philip D’Amato, has earned $189,600 to date. Consigned to the 2023 OBS March Sale by GOP Racing Stable, she was sold for $145,000 after turning in an Under Tack eighth in :9 4/5. watch her under tack video March Sale walking video
Bob Baffert unveiled Michael E. Pegram, Karl Watson and Paul Weitman’s Casalu (Caracaro – Key D’oro) on Sunday in a maiden special weight test and the 2-year-old daughter of Caracaro made no mistakes, taking the lead at the break, shaking loose on the turn and drawing away to a 5-1/2 length victory, attaining TDN “Rising Star” status. Fellow OBS graduate Oveta’s Hobby (Army Mule – Bitzka) made a good stretch run to finish second. Consigned by Global Thoroughbreds LLC, Agent, to the 2023 OBS Spring Sale, Casalu was purchased for $775,000 by Three Amigos after speeding a quarter in :20 2/5 at the Under Tack Show. walk/breeze video
Rancho Temescal LLC, Red Baron’s Barn LLC and Rodney E. Orr’s First Peace picked up his second stakes win the $133,000 Wickerr Stakes on Sunday, rating kindly off the pace, sweeping three-wide on the turn after the leaders, taking charge in the stretch and scoring by a length and a half. The 4-year-old graded stakes placed colt by Funtastic was purchased for $75,000 out of the Lucan Bloodstock (Karl Keegan) consignment at the 2022 OBS June Sale after breezing an Under Tack quarter in :21 flat. He’s trained by Mark Glatt, and has compiled a 13-4-5-2 record and earned $328,020. watch his under tack video June Sale walking video
Colts Neck Stables LLC’s Nothing Better (Munnings – One True Love (IRE) tracked the leaders from just off the pace in Monmouth’s $103,000 Wolf Hill Stakes on Saturday, turned in a strong run in the final furlong and was best by three quarters at the wire, with fellow OBS graduate Arzak (Not This Time – Delightful Melody) closing for third. It’s the second straight stakes victory and fifth stakes win for the 7-year-old son of Munnings, trained by Jorge Duarte, now 28-11-5-3 with earnings of $761,382. After working an Under Tack eighth in :10 1/5 at the 2019 OBS Spring Sale, he was purchased for $230,000 out of the Brick City Thoroughbreds consignment. watch his under tack video
Resolute Racing’s Mensa (Complexity – Lady Halite) was an impressive winner of the $150,000 Victoria Stakes on Friday at Woodbine, going straight to the lead and romping to a 7-1/4 length victory. Trained by Mark Casse, the 2-year-old Florida-bred son of Complexity has won two of three starts and earned $102,007. He was sold for $135,000 by Beth Bayer Agent, at the 2023 OBS October Yearling Sale. October Sale walking video
Klaravich Stables, Inc.’s Unmatched Wisdom (Cairo Prince – Glide On By) went to the front and never looked back en route to victory by a length in Saratoga’s $135,000 Curlin Stakes on Friday. It was the stakes debut for the 3-year-old son of Cairo Prince, consigned to the 2023 OBS March Sale by White Lilac (Katie Miranda), Agent, and sold for $450,000 after breezing an Under Tack eighth in :10 flat. He’s trained by Chad Brown and has earned $178,750. watch his under tack video March Sale walking video
Resolute Racing’s Mensa (Complexity – Lady Halite) was an impressive winner of the $150,000 Victoria Stakes on Friday at Woodbine, going straight to the lead and romping to a 7-1/4 length victory. Trained by Mark Casse, the 2-year-old Florida-bred son of Complexity has won two of three starts and earned $102,007. He was sold for $135,000 by Beth Bayer Agent, at the 2023 OBS October Yearling Sale. October Sale walking video