For Immediate Release
Kretz Racing LLC’s Cabo Spirit (Pioneerof the Nile-Fancy Day (IRE), by Shamardal) added to his million-dollar bankroll April 20 when he scored a front-running victory in the $100,000 American Stakes (G3) on the turf at Santa Anita Park to lead the slate of stakes-winning OBS grads over the weekend.
Trained by George Papaprodromou, Cabo Spirit crossed the wire in 1:34.42 to win by three-quarters of a length. His previous graded stakes wins included the Grade 3 La Jolla Handicap at Del Mar, Twilight Derby (G2) at Santa Anita, and Grade 2 John Henry Turf Championship at Santa Anita.
“He is a really nice horse. Since we gelded him, he is much more relaxed in his races,” Papaprodromou told the Santa Anita publicity team. “He is a nice horse and hopefully we can win some more races with him.”
A 6-year-old gelding, Cabo Spirit was consigned to the 2021 OBS April Sale by Eddie Woods, Agent, and purchased for $575,000 by Gayle Van Leer, Agent, after breezing a quarter in :20 4/5.
At Aqueduct on April 19, R and H Stable’s New York-bred Mo Plex (Complexity-Mo Joy, by Uncle Mo) earned a head score in the $150,000 Bay Shore Stakes.
Trained by Jeremiah Englehart, the colt previously prevailed in the Grade 3 Sanford and state-bred Funny Cide Stakes at Saratoga Race Course. He was a $45,000 purchase by JCE Racing out of the Hoppel LLC consignment at last year’s OBS Spring Sale of 2-Year-Olds in Training after breezing quarter in :21 1/5.
Three OBS grads earned stakes wins at Laurel Park April 19.
Pay Billy (Improbable – Harlington’s Rose, by Harlington) earned a guaranteed spot in the starting gate for the Grade 1, $2,000,000 Preakness Stakes on May 17 when he captured the $150,000 Federico Tesio Stakes. Trained by Michael Gorham, the bay colt was purchased by RKTN Racing for $60,000 from the Scanlon Training & Sales consignment at the 2024 OBS April’s OBS Juvenile auction after breezing in :10 2/5.
In the $150,000 Weber City Miss Stakes, Complexity Jane (Complexity – Bestinthebusiness, by Ghostzapper) put her opponents to sleep with a pacesetting victory. Owned by Michael Golden of Golden Lion Racing, Complexity Jane was purchased by Sycamore Hall Thoroughbreds for $170,000 at the 2024 March Sale from the Scanlon Training & Sales consignment after breezing in :10 1/5.
“We went down to OBS looking for a nice horse,” trainer Brittany Russell told the Laurel Park publicity team. “She was one of the top fillies on the list that we liked, and we got her. I couldn’t believe it, honestly. I was pumped. Out of all of them, she was the one I wanted.”
In the $100,000 Henry S. Clark Stakes, Signator (Tapit – Pension, by Seeking the Gold) avoided traffic congestion early and persevered late for a half-length victory for trainer Shug McGaughey. Owned by a group led by West Point Thoroughbreds, Signator was a $1.7 million purchase by Lane’s End Racing & West Point Thoroughbreds from the Eddie Woods consignment out of the 2022 OBS April Sale after breezing in :20 4/5.