One year after becoming the eighth Ocala Breeders’ Sales Company graduate to win the Dubai Golden Shaheen (G1), Sultan Ali’s Dark Saffron (Flameaway -Meadow Saffron, by Military) defended his title in the $2 million race when he outsprinted reigning Breeders’ Cup Sprint (G1) winner and fellow OBS graduate Bentornato on the Dubai World Cup undercard at Meydan Racetrack March 28, leading the slate of stakes-winning OBS graduates for the week.
year. (Dubai Racing Club photo)
Trained by Ahmad Bin Harmash, Dark Saffron joins the likes of Caller One and Mind Your Biscuits as back-to-back winners of the Dubai Golden Shaheen, which serves as a ‘Win and You’re In’ qualifier for this year’s Breeders’ Cup Sprint (G1) at Keeneland.
“Obviously he won this race last year and he come back and run really well, it was a bit of a workout first time he ran this season,” winning jockey Connor Beasley told Dubai Racing Club publicity. “Then he had a bit of an incident in the stalls and banged his head and sort of lost his way. I think he lost a bit of confidence for his next three or four runs, but his last run we felt he was coming back to himself.”
Consigned by Julie Davies, Dark Saffron was purchased by Harmash Racing for $120,000 out of the 2024 OBS April sale after breezing in :9 4/5.
At Oaklawn Park on March 27, West Point Thoroughbreds’ Counting Stars (Honor A.P.- Paynterbynumbers, by Paynter) cemented her spot in the Kentucky Oaks (G1) field when she rolled to a 5 ½-length victory in the $1 million Fantasy Stakes (G2).
The Fantasy awarded 150 total points to its top five finishers (75-37.5-18.75-11.25-7.5, respectively) toward starting eligibility for the Kentucky Oaks. A daughter of Honor A. P., Counting Stars raised her career earnings to $972,606 following her fourth victory from seven starts.
Trained by dual Hall of Famer Mark Casse, Counting Stars was purchased by her owners at the 2025 OBS April Sale for $150,000 from the Wildheart Thoroughbreds consignment after breezing in :10 flat.
The Oaklawn Park card March 28 saw Doubledown Stables’ Nu What’s New (Munnings-Heavenly Scat, by Scat Daddy) hold off Grade 1 winners East Avenue and Full Serrano to win Saturday’s $500,000 Oaklawn Mile (G3) by three-quarters of a length.
The Oaklawn Mile represented the first career stakes victory for the speedy Nu What’s New, who was exiting a runner-up finish behind subsequent Dubai World Cup (G1) winner Magnitude in the $500,000 Razorback Handicap (G3) Feb. 28.
Trained by Jimmy DiVito, Nu What’s New was purchased by DiVito, as agent, for $300,000 at the 2024 OBS April Sale from the Eddie Woods consignment after breezing in :10 1/5.
At Gulfstream Park March 28, Lou Donato, Theodore Manziaris, Paul Borrelli and Lanni Bloodstock’s Sultana (Always Dreaming- Private Offering, by Pulpit) pulled off a late-rallying upset in the $175,000 Orchid Stakes (G3).
The Kevin Attard-trained daughter of Always Dreaming had run on turf only once in five prior starts. She was a $50,000 purchase by Harbour 60 Club at the 2023 OBS June Sale from the New Hope consignment after breezing in :21.
At Oaklawn Park on March 26, Grade 3 winner Desert Gate (Omaha Beach-Theogony, by Curlin) showed his class with a wire-to-wire romp in the one-mile $200,000 Hot Springs Stakes.
Desert Gate finished 9 3/4 lengths ahead of fellow OBS grad Soldier N Diplomat in the four-horse field. Hall of Famer Bob Baffert trains Desert Gate for longtime clients Mike Pegram, Karl Watson and Paul Weitman. He was purchased by his owners for $260,000 at the 2025 OBS March Sale from the Navas Equine consignment after breezing in :9 4/5.
At Tampa Bay Downs March 29 during the 23rd edition of the Florida Cup, Maykomotion (Vekoma-Maymont by Unbridled’s Song) made light work of the $110,000 Ocala Breeders’ Sales Sophomores by tapping into his early speed for a two-length victory.
Trained by George Weaver, he is owned by Bona Venture Stables and Bianco Thoroughbreds. He was purchased by SGV/GRW, Agent for Bona Venture Stable at the 2025 OBS April Sale for $160,000 from the Niall Brennan Stables consignment after breezing in :10 1/5.
The Florida Cup card also saw Mr Mo’s Magic (Uncle Chuck- Magical Flair, by Defrere), a Lynn Rarick trainee, pull off the 13-1 upset in the $110,000 Sophomore Turf.
Owned by Ray Huelsman and Keith Anderson, Mr Mo’s Magic is a dual OBS grad, having been sold by Summerfield to Laureles Racing for $12,000 at the 2024 OBS Winter Mixed Sale and then purchased by his owners for $50,000 at the 2025 OBS April Sale from the Majestic consignment after breezing in :10 1/5.