MyRacehorse, Torie Gladwell, Deja Blue Stable LLC, Jacob Shockley, Josh Messenger, Valerie Dailey and Joshua Hanna’s Bacio (Maclean’s Music – Katie’s Kiss, by Kantharos) broke running and never looked back when winning the Breeders’ Cup Turf Sprint (G1) at Keeneland Oct. 31, becoming one of two OBS graduates to earn hardware during the two-day World Championships and leading the slate of stakes-winning OBS graduates for the week.
The winner of the prestigious Nunthorpe Stakes (G1) at York in August, Bacio was once again dominant in victory, breaking on top before holding off all comers en route to a two-length tally.
George Weaver-trained 2025 Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Turf Sprint (G1) winner and fellow OBS graduate Cy Fair rallied to finish an admirable second under John Velazquez, while holding off by a neck over 2024 Turf Sprint winner Starlust (GB).
“This is a special horse and there was a lot to the whole story behind him,” winning trainer Wesley Ward told Breeders’ Cup publicity. “To me, getting him and once he started winning, me keeping him. He was kind of a sought-after horse for a lot of people who were trying to come in. When you’ve got speed, you go to the lead. Juan did a great job.”
The victory increased Bacio’s career bankroll to $1,229,959. He was offered at the 2025 OBS March Sale by the Top Line Sales consignment but failed to meet his reserve after breezing in :9 4/5.
The Breeders’ Cup card later saw Further Ado (Gun Runner- Sky Dreamer, by Sky Mesa) get up just in time to prevail by a nostril in the $1 million Breeders’ Cup Dirt Mile (G1).
(Eclipse Sportswire photo)
Further Ado and jockey Flavien Prat hooked up with Owen Almighty and jockey Luis Seaz heading into the Keeneland stretch and fought all the way to the wire. Further Ado, on the outside, and Owen Almighty on the inside, looked inseparable when they hit the finish.
“I had no clue if we had won,” winning trainer Brad Cox said told Breeders’ Cup publicity. “It looked right past the wire, the other horse had his nose down. But we had it down when it counted there at the mile distance and I’m very proud of the effort.”
Fellow OBS graduate Nysos captured the 2025 edition of the Breeders’ Cup Dirt Mile.
Owned by Spendthrift Farm LLC, Further Ado was purchased by Spendthrift at the 2025 OBS April Sale for $550,000 from the Six K’s Training & Sales consignment after breezing in :21 1/5.
At Belmont Park Nov. 1, Paradise Valley (Lookin At Lucky – Puddifoot, by Red Giant) held off Commuted’s late run to secure trainer Ilkay Kantarmaci his first graded win in the Grade 3, $200,000 Bold Ruler.
Paradise Valley, owned by Kantarmaci, Zilla Racing Stables, Steven Forst, America’s Pastime Stables, Five Horsemen Stables and Rounds Racing, was purchased by Hunsicker International at the 2022 OBS April Sale for $125,000 from the Eisaman Equine consignment after breezing in :10 1/5.
At Woodbine Nov. 1, Gold Standard Racing Stable LLC’s Speaker’s Speech (Speaker’s Corner – Danessa Deluxe, by Summer Bird) aced both his synthetic and two-turn debut to break his maiden in style, winning the $175,000 Grey Stakes (G3).
Making just his third career start, the Mark Casse trained colt was an $875,000 purchase at the 2026 OBS April Sale by Lauren Carlisle, agent from the Omar Ramirez Bloodstock consignment after breezing in :9 4/5.
At Gulfstream Park Oct. 30, Hammy (Scalding—Parawan, by Pioneerof the Nile) won the $75,000 Our Dear Peggy by 1 3/4 lengths to earn her first black-type stakes victory and become the first stakes winner for her sire.
Owned by Starry Night Racing and trained by Kent Sweezy, Hammy was purchased for $25,000 at the 2026 OBS March Sale by Scott Shore, agent for Starry Night Racing from the Goldencents Thoroughbreds consignment after breezing in :10 flat.