Grade 1 winner Gaming (Game Winner – So Stylish, by Johannesburg) went straight to the front and was never headed on his way to a 1 ¾-length victory over stablemate Nevada Beach in the June 8 $100,000 Affirmed Stakes at Santa Anita Park, becoming one of six OBS grads to earn black-type stakes wins across a loaded week of racing that also saw OBS grad Raging Torrent capture the Grade 1 Metropolitan Handicap and Cash Call take the Summertime Oaks (G3).
Gaming and Nevada Beach are both trained by Bob Baffert and owned by partners Michael E. Pegram, Karl Watson and Paul Weitman. For Gaming the victory was his first since September in the Grade 1 Del Mar Futurity andimproved his career bankroll to $771,000.
The son of Game Winner was purchased for $250,000 out of the Pick View consignment at the 2024 OBS March Sale after breezing in :20 2/5.
Earlier in the week, Patricia’s Hope and Carolyn Wilson’s Sassy C W (Yaupon-Sassy Miss Sue, by Tiznow) backed up her 2-5 post time favoritism with a victory in the $150,000 Astoria Stakes on June 5 during Day Two of the Belmont Stakes Racing Festival at Saratoga Race Course.
Trained by Larry Rivelli, the daughter of OBS grad Yaupon entered from a dominant 4 1/2-furlong maiden win on April 30 at Churchill Downs. In victory, Sassy C W became the first stakes-winner for Spendthrift Farm stallion Yaupon, who was a perfect 3-for-3 at the Spa, including a win in the 2021 Grade 1 Forego.
Consigned by Top Line Sales, Sassy C W was a $375,000 purchase at the 2025 OBS March Sale by Carolyn Wilson after breezing in :9 4/5.
At Saratoga on June 4, LSU Stables’ Bank Frenzy (Central Banker – Storm Now, by Tiznow) notched his fifth stakes win with a hard-fought victory in the Commentator Stakes.
Trained by Rudy Rodriguez, Bank Frenzy adds to previous stakes wins in the Evan Shipman Handicap, Alex M. Robb, open-company Listed Stymie and Haynesfield. Consigned to the 2022 OBS April Sale by Sequel Bloodstock, Agent for Chester & Mary Broman, he was sold for $110,000 after breezing in :10 2/5.
At Gulfstream Park June 7, Starship Stables’ Starship Impulsive (Improbable – K P Wildcat, by Include), overwhelmed her seven rivals in the $75,000 Martha Washington while romping a front-running victory.
The even-money favorite captured her third straight victory since trainer Steve Dwoskin decided to send her around two turns. Consigned by Wildheart Thoroughbreds, she was sold for $50,000 at the 2024 OBS April Sale after breezing in :10 flat.
At Evangeline Downs June 7, Good and Stout (Coal Front-Ready Witted, by More Than Ready) stalked the pace under rider Marcelino Pedroza, Jr. and put in a strong stretch bid to capture the $100,000 Legends Turf, part of the Louisiana Legends Night card.
Owned by Whispering Oaks Farm, LLC (Carrol Castille) and trained by Carrol Castille, Good and Stout won for the fifth time in 20 career starts. He was purchased for $75,000 out of the Julie Davies consignment at the 2023 OBS April Sale after breezing in :10 1/5. He was previously sold at the 2022 OBS October Yearling Sale for $55,000 to Davies out of the Kaizen Sales consignment.
At Prairie Meadows June 7, Bryon Seymore’s A Thousand Miles (Thousand Words – Swiss Army Wife, by Colonel John) cruised home a four-length winner of the $50,000 Panthers Stakes. Trained by Bart Hone, the daughter of Thousand Words was purchased for $27,000 by Dennis O’Neill out of the Pick View consignment at the 2024 OBS March sale after breezing in :10 3/5.