OBS graduates had a busy and productive Thanksgiving week, winning eight stakes from one end of the country to the other with Miles Ahead joining the millionaire ranks.
Kaleem Shah, Inc.’s Benedetta (City of Light – Tessie Flip), rated nicely in Monday’s $200,000 Cheryl S. White Memorial Stakes at Mahoning Valley, rallied on the outside down the stretch and was up in the final sixteenth to score by a length, with fellow OBS graduate Halina’s Forte (Mitole – Lunarlady) checking in third. That’s three straight wins and the first stakes victory for the 3-year-old graded stakes placed daughter of City of Light, trained by Steve Asmussen, now 8-4-1-1 with $353,400 in earnings. After breezing an Under Tack eighth in :9 4/5 at the 2023 OBS March Sale, she was purchased for $750,000 out of the Top Line Sales consignment. watch her under tack video
OBS grads took two stakes at Zia Park on Tuesday.
A. Jason Hall Stables, Stephen R. Baker and Bill Vanlandingham’s Valence (Violence – Button Girl) was a four length frontrunning victor in the $300,000 Zia Park Oaks. It was the stakes debut for the 3-year-old filly by Violence, trained by Ty J. Garrett, now 8-3-4-0 with earnings of $241,700. Consigned to the 2023 OBS Spring Sale by Marcial Galan, Agent, she went through the ring after turning in an Under Tack eighth in :10 flat. Spring Sale walking video watch her under tack video
West Point Thoroughbreds’ millionaire Jaxon Traveler (Munnings – Listen Boy) added the $100,000 Zia Park Sprint Stakes to his resume, taking charge after turning for home and drawing off to score by 4-3/4 lengths. That’s three wins in a row and the tenth stakes victory for the 6-year-old graded stakes winning son of Munnings, purchased for $140,000 out of the Grassroots Training & Sales consignment by L.E.B., Agent for West Point Thoroughbreds after breezing an Under Tack eighth in :10 flat at the 2020 OBS Spring Sale. Trained by Steve Asmussen, he’s now 34-12-8-5 and has earned $1,077,798. watch his under tack video Spring Sale walking video
Troy Johnson, Charles Lo and Jagger, Inc.’s Spikezone (Speightster – Blameitontheice) captured the $75,000 Let’s Give Thanks Stakes at Parx Racing on Wednesday for his eleventh victory of the year, giving him the most wins by a horse in 2024. It was the first stakes win for the 5-year-old Florida-bred son of Speightster, trained by Jamie Ness, now 25-14-3-5 with $481,422 in earnings. He’s a two-time OBS graduate, sold first at the 2020 Winter Mixed Sale and then purchased for $19,000 out of the Kaizen Sales consignment at the 2020 October Yearling Sale. October Sale walking video
DeSales 85 LLC’s Icona Mama (Maximus Mischief – Classe Signora) pressed the pace in the $100,000 Shamrock Rose Stakes on Wednesday at Penn National, took command turning for home and drew away to score by 9-1/2 lengths. It’s the first stakes victory for the 2-year-old graded stakes placed daughter of Maximus Mischief, purchased for $75,000 out of the Grassroots Training & Sales consignment at the 2024 OBS Spring Sale after breezing an eighth in :10 flat at the Under Tack Show. Trained by Flint W. Stites, she’s now 5-2-1-1 with $147,475 in earnings.
Jay Em Ess Stable’s Miles Ahead (Competitive Edge – Jennie R.) is the latest OBS millionaire after successfully defending his title in the $225,000 Thanksgiving Classic Stakes at Fair Grounds. Up close early, he went after frontrunning fellow OBS graduate Montalcino (Take Charge Indy – Upstager) in the stretch and was up in the final yards to beat him by a head. That’s five stakes wins for the 7-year-old multiple graded stakes winning gelding by Competitive Edge, purchased for $175,000 out of the Top Line Sales consignment at the 2019 OBS March Sale after breezing an Under Tack eighth in :10 1/5. He’s trained by Paul J. McGee and has compiled a 35-14-7-3 record and earned $1,077,713. watch his under tack video
Morici Racing Stable, LLC’s Ms. Bucchero (Bucchero – Give Glory to God) posted her first stakes victory in Friday’s $100,000 Willa On the Move Stakes at Laurel. The 4-year-old Florida-bred daughter of Bucchero took the lead outside on the turn and cruised from there to win by a length. She’s trained by Diane D. Morici and has compiled a 14-7-3-0 record and earned $264,950. Consigned by Nice and Easy Thoroughbreds to the 2022 OBS Spring Sale, she went through the ring after working an Under Tack eighth in :10 flat. Spring Sale walking video watch her under tack video
Gentry Farms’ (A. P. Gentry) Accomplished Girl (Street Boss – Dazzle) stalked the leaders early in the $100,000 Pan Zareta Stakes on Saturday at Fair Grounds, moved to take the lead on the turn, shook loose in the stretch and coasted home by a length and a half. It’s the second stakes victory for the 4-year-old daughter of Street Boss, trained by Steve Asmussen, now 16-5-3-0 with $550,296 in earnings. Consigned by Grassroots Training & Sales to the 2022 OBS Spring Sale, she was sold for $275,000 after speeding an eighth in :9 3/5 at the Under Tack Show. Spring Sale walking video watch her under tack video