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Leslie A. Amestoy, Pierre Jean Amestoy, Jr. and Roger K. Beasley’s Practical Dream (Practical Joke – Imforeal) took the lead at the start of Del Mar’s $100,000 Desi Arnaz Stakes on Saturday and never looked back en route to a 1-1/4 length victory over fellow OBS graduate Silent Law (Tiz the Law – Southern Silence). Tim Yakteen trains the 2-year-old filly by Practical Joke, who scored her first stakes win and left with a 3-2-1-0 record and earnings of $123,486. Consigned by Tom McCrocklin, Agent, to the 2024 OBS Spring Sale, she was sold for $210,000 after breezing an Under Tack quarter in :20 4/5. walk/breeze video

 Flying Dutchmen Breeding and Racing LLC’s Mrs Worldwide (Global Campaign – Scatmeifucan) led a 1-2-3 OBS sweep of Gulfstream’s $65,000 Juvenile Fillies Sprint Stakes on Saturday, taking command a quarter mile out and scoring by a length and three quarters over fellow OBS graduate Volatiled (Volatile – Sonja’s Angel), with Bella Cleopatra (Vekoma – Bella Alacita) checking in third. It’s the first stakes victory for the 2-year-old daughter of Global Campaign, purchased for $100,000 out of the Dynasty Thoroughbred consignment at the 2024 OBS March Sale after turning in an Under Tack eighth in :9 4/5. Trained by Brian Lynch, she has compiled a 5-2-0-2 record and earned $79,700.  walk/breeze video

 Winning Move Stable, John C. Oxley, Lady Sheila Stable, Rideau Racers LLC and Sanford H. Robbins LLC’s unbeaten With the Angels (Omaha Beach – Sister Margaret) made it four for four with a two length victory in Aqueduct’s $100,00 Key Cents Stakes on Saturday. Rated off the pace after two frontrunning stakes wins, the 2-year-old daughter of Omaha Beach turned for home with work to do,  but charged to the lead a furlong from home and was going away at the wire. She’s a three-time stakes winner for trainer Linda Rice and has earned $283,250. After turning in an Under Tack eighth in :9 4/5, she was purchased out of the Wavertree Stables consignment by Justin Casse, Agent, at the 2024 OBS Spring Sale for $350,000.    breeze/walk video   

Mary T. Self’s No More Options (Frac Daddy – Stoney Miss) broke alertly at the start of Woodbine’s $100,000 Lake Ontario Stakes on Sunday, tracked the leader into the turn, took over turning for home and eased away to win by 2-3/4 lengths. It’s the second stakes win for the 3-year-old son of Frac Daddy, trained by Zeljko Krcmar, leaving him with a 14-5-0-4 career record and earnings of $239,064. Consigned to the 2023 OBS Spring Sale by Sterling Thoroughbreds, he went through the ring after breezing an Under Tack eighth in :10 3/5.  watch his under tack video              Spring Sale walking video

Hall of Fame trainer Mark Casse had a big day at Woodbine on Saturday, winning a pair of graded stakes with OBS graduates.

Team Valor International and Gary Barber’s Elysian Field, (Hard Spun – Elysian) trailed in the early going of the $135,000 Maple Leaf Stakes (G3). But the 4-year-old daughter of Hard Spun circled horses on the turn to reach contention, swung wide for the drive, ran past the leaders in deep stretch and was best by a length and a quarter. It’s her second stakes victory, leaving her with a 14-4-6-0 record and $669,391 in earnings. After breezing an Under Tack quarter in :21 3/5 at the 2020 OBS June Sale, she was purchased for $70,000 by Bruce Brown, Agent, out of the Ocala Stud consignment. watch her under tack video   June Sale walking video

In the $135,000 Bessarabian Stakes (G3), K E M Racing Stable’s Stormcast (Mitole – Scolara) went right to the front, opened daylight in the stretch, and held off the late runners and scored by half a length. It’s the second stakes win for the 3-year-old daughter of champion OBS graduate Mitole, purchased for $95,000 out of the Halcyon Hammock Farm consignment at the 2023 OBS March Sale after turning in an Under Tack eighth in :10 1/5.  The win leaves her with an 8-3-4-1 career record with $309,205 in earnings.      watch her under tack video     March Sale walking video

Mr Pug LLC and J.P.G. 2 LLC’s Naughty Rascal (Rogueish – Baby Doll) stalked the leader in Saturday’s $95,000 Armed Forces Stakes at Gulfstream, fought down the stretch and proved best by a length at the wire. Fellow OBS graduate Scarecrow (Neolithic – E Street Bourbon) settled for third. It’s the second stakes win for the 2-year-old Florida-bred son of Rogueish, purchased for $39,000 out of the de Meric Sales consignment at the 2024 OBS March Sale after turning in an Under Tack eighth in :10 flat.   Trained by Gerald Bennett, he’s now 4-3-0-1 and has earned $143,130.    walk/breeze video

Stephen Rousseau’s Nic’s Style (Uncaptured – Sense When) pressed the pace in Sunday’s $150,000 Pumpkin Pie Stakes at Aqueduct, took charge on the turn, then drew off down the stretch and scored by 3-1/4 lengths It’s the first stakes victory for the 4-year-old Florida-bred graded stakes placed daughter of Uncaptured, trained by Bill Mott, now 5-4-1-0 with $268,400 in earnings. She was purchased by Stephen Rousseau for $25,000 out of the Summerfield consignment at the 2021 October Yearling Sale.

CSLR Racing Partners LLC’s Silent Law (Tiz the Law – Southern Silence) led a 1-2-3 OBS sweep of the $91,584 Anoakia Stakes on Friday at Santa Anita. Leading from start to finish, the 2-year-old filly by Tiz the Law was 3-1/2 lengths better than Practical Dream (Practical Joke – Imforeal), with Proud Starlet (Mendelssohn – Proud Heroine) three quarters of a length back in third. Now two for two for trainer Bob Baffert, Silent Law has earned $79,460. She’s a two-time OBS graduate, going through the ring at the 2024 Spring Sale and then purchased for $400,000 out of the Tom McCrocklin consignment at the June Sale after turning in an Under Tack quarter in :20 2/5, the Sale’s co-fastest at the distance.  walk/breeze video

Winning Move Stable, John C. Oxley, Lady Sheila Stable, Rideau Racers LLC and Sanford H. Robbins LLC’S With the Angels (Omaha Beach – Sister Margaret) is three for three with two stakes wins after a front-running 3-1/2 length victory in Sunday’s $200,000 Maid of the Mist Stakes at Aqueduct. The 2-year-old Omaha Beach filly is trained by Linda Rice and has earned $228,250 to date. She was purchased out of the Wavertree Stables consignment at the 2024 OBS Spring Sale for $350,000 after breezing an Under Tack eighth in :9 4/5.    breeze/walk video     

Special Aviators LLC, Span Investments Inc. and Rohan Crichton’s Special Aviator (Global Campaign – Off My Stage) saved ground early in Gulfstream’s $95,000 Our Dear Peggy Stakes on Saturday, swung out for the drive, took the lead a sixteenth from home and held off a late by fellow OBS graduate Bellavinino (Get Stormy – Lancelots Lady, by Gauntlet). Two for two and a stakes winner, the 2-year-old daughter of Global Campaign was consigned to the 2024 OBS Spring Sale by Santa Fe Thoroughbreds, Agent, and sold for $100,000 after turning in an Under Tack eighth in :10 1/5. Trained by Rohan Crichton, she has earned $66,750 to date. breeze/walk video

Will Stroud and Debra L O’Connor’s Long Neck Paula (Uncle Mo – Take Charge Paula) took on the boys and captured Saturday’s $200,000 Bowman’s Mill Stakes at Keeneland. The 2-year-old filly by Uncle Mo pressed the pace, took the lead a sixteenth out and held off a late charge by fellow OBS graduate Tough Catch (Complexity – Try to Catch Her) by half a length. Trained by Wesley Ward, she’s now 4-3-0-1 record with $273,700 in earnings. A 2024 OBS March graduate, she breezed an Under Tack eighth in :9 4/5 and was purchased for $500,000 out of the Top Line Sales consignment.   walk/breeze video

Carl R. Moore Management LLC’s Generous Lover (Bolt d’Oro – Hula Skirt), by Dixie Union) was much the best in Saturday’s $100,000 Best of Ohio Distaff Stakes, taking the lead at the start and running away to a 26-3/4 length victory. It’s the third stakes win for the 4-year-old daughter of Bolt d’Oro, purchased for $175,000 out of the SBM Training and Sales consignment at the 2022 OBS Spring Sale after breezing an Under Tack eighth in :10 flat. Trained by Joe Sharp, she’s now 12-6-1-2 with $319,970 in earnings.   watch her under tack video     Spring Sale walking video

OBS Spotlight is an occasional series highlighting OBS sales graduates, consignors, buyers, and breeders

By Alicia Hughes, Director of Communications

John Kimmel remembers what he saw coming down the lane as Hip 995 put in his quarter-mile breeze at the 2024 Ocala Breeders’ Sales Spring Sale of Two-Year-Olds in Training, but it was what happened next that resonated most with the veteran trainer.

Once the bay son of McKinzie finished his under-tack work in :21 flat, he continued putting on a show even after the timer had stopped. As he reached the turn with fluid strides that were deceptive in their speed, he convinced Kimmel and bloodstock partner, Nick Sallusto, they had found the leader of their shortlist – so long as they could sell owner and client Sean Flanagan on the notion.

“This horse to me was my top selection,” Kimmel recalled of the colt they eventually purchased for $725,000. “He not only was a very imposing physical specimen, he exuded a lot of athleticism, but his workout was phenomenal. He went in like :21 but his gallop out times were phenomenal; I think he went in :44 and change and :59 and you just don’t see horses do that. Nick and I pretty much clocked every horse from all those sales, and he was shoulders above everybody.

“I called Mr. Flanagan and told him this was a horse we should make a big attempt to try and buy and he wasn’t really sure about McKinzie. But his trainer Chad Brown talked to him and endorsed the horse, saying that McKinzie could make a good stallion.”

Three starts into his career, the colt now known as Chancer McPatrick has more than justified the lofty opinions he inspired before he ever passed the entry box. With an unblemished record and a pair of Grade 1 wins already to his credit, the star of the Caliente Thoroughbreds consignment can stamp himself as the odds-on choice to claim divisional honors when he headlines the expected field for the $2 million Breeders’ Cup Juvenile (G1) at Del Mar Nov. 1.

See: Spring Walk Video/ Under Tack Video for Chancer McPatrick

It’s the finer details that often separate well-bred youngsters from one another at the top of the commercial marketplace. To the end, Chancer McPatrick has continued to build upon the intangibles he emphatically showcased over the OBS track.

In each of his trio of victories, the colt bred by Rigney Racing has shown beyond-his-years aptitude with both his closing kick and the way he has handled adversity. When he made his second career start in the Hopeful Stakes (G1) at Saratoga in September, he broke inward and hit the gate, causing jockey Flavien Prat to lose one of his irons and a ton of ground. Despite ending up next to last in the nine-horse field and having to launch his bid on the far outside, Chancer McPatrick uncorked a wicked turn of foot that allowed him to prevail by half a length over fellow OBS graduate, Ferocious.

For those who missed it in his first two outings, Chancer McPatrick again delivered a masterclass of a rally when he annexed the Champagne Stakes (G1) at Aqueduct Oct. 5. With Prat again at the helm, the duo began sweeping past rivals on the far turn before collaring Tip Top Thomas in the final sixteenth en route to 2 ¾ length triumph.

“He does things that you see more commonly in older horses rather than a lightly raced 2-year-old,” Kimmel said. “His move in the Champagne showed he’s just an incredible animal, for a horse who is that young to take that much kickback. You put him back into the race and he picks his horses up.”

Added Brown, “He’s never disappointed. He’s run like a mature, experienced horse. He’s endured some trouble, particularly his first two starts, and he was able to overcome it, which you love to see with a young horse.”

For Kimmel, Chancer McPatrick’s success to date has been particularly validating considering a certain other prospect that got away from him and Sallusto earlier in the season.

The two agents were the direct underbidders on Ferocious when he sold for $1.3 million to Marquee Bloodstock at this year’s OBS March Sale of Two-Year-Olds in Training. Thus, seeing two colts they each earmarked as standouts finish 1-2 in the Hopeful is moment of satisfaction Kimmel hopes duplicates itself on Breeders’ Cup Friday.

“That was quite impressive to me that two of the horses we fingered in OBS ran 1-2 in a Grade 1. That was pretty awesome,” Kimmel said. “We were super happy to get (Chancer McPatrick). I remember after they sent him up to Chad…I saw him and asked, ‘How is that McKinzie colt doing?’. And his response was ‘I would trade 30 horses for that horse’. He’s just got a brilliant stride.”

OBS Spotlight is an occasional series highlighting OBS sales graduates, consignors, buyers, and breeders.

By Alicia Hughes, Director of Communications

No matter which of his former proteges he is discussing, the tone in Joe Pickerrell’s voice remains constant. It is a timbre tinged with parental pride which, as the co-owner of Pick View LLC will attest, is not an accident.

“Courtney and I don’t have any children, these are our kids,” Pickerrell, who operates Pick View along with his wife, Courtney Roberts, said of the horses who come through their consignment. “We’re around these horses a lot, so we have a pretty good idea of what we’re leading over there before they ever put the clock on them. So, when we tell people to buy a horse, tell people we like a horse, and they don’t…it’s like, maybe next time you’ll listen.”

When entries are drawn for this year’s Breeders’ Cup World Championships Nov. 1-2 at Del Mar, a couple of graduates will be helping to scream from the rooftops what kind of athlete is often sent through the Ocala Breeders’ Sales Company ring via the Pick View program. The Florida-based couple not only have the distinction of having sold Grade 1 winner and leading Turf Sprint (G1) contender Cogburn at the 2021 OBS Spring Sale of Two-Year-Olds in Training, but they also consigned Del Mar Futurity (G1) winner and likely Juvenile (G1) entrant Gaming when he brought $250,000 at this year’s OBS March Sale of Two-Year-Olds in Training.

See: Spring walking video and Under Tack video of Cogburn; March walking video and Under Tack video of Gaming.

Pick View has had its share of high points since launching in 2011, including selling 2019 Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Turf (G1) winner Structor to Mike Ryan for $850,000 at that year’s OBS March auction. When it comes to showcasing the type of versatile athletes Pickerrell and Roberts bring to the OBS sales grounds, they couldn’t ask for a pair of better representatives in five-year-old Cogburn and the upstart Gaming.

If ever a horse embodied the faith and teamwork it takes to make a successful sales graduate, Cogburn is just that. The son of Not This Time was sent to Pick View by their longtime friend and bloodstock agent Josh Stevens after an eye ailment caused the colt to be returned to him after initially selling as a yearling.

The speed that allowed Cogburn to set a North American record when he won this year’s 5 ½ furlong Jaipur Stakes (G1) in :59.80 showed itself to Pickerrell and Roberts as he thrived while learning his early lessons. At the OBS Spring Sale in 2021, he blitzed a quarter mile in 20.3. However, the issue with his eye scared some buyers off, much to the to the benefit of Clark Brewster who landed him for $150,000 and now campaigns him in partnership with Bill and Corinne Heiligbrodt.

“He should have brought a lot more. He was the fastest colt in the sale,” Pickerrell recalled. “Physically, he was 100 percent sound and did everything you want a racehorse to do, they just were a little worried about a cosmetic eye issue. We knew he was going to be discounted but Josh was confident in the horse the whole time. He did everything right from day one, never missed a beat.

“He’s the kind of horse where it’s the reason why we put in the hours of work: to find the ones that look and act like him,” Pickerrell continued. “And thankfully, he went to the perfect spot. To go to (trainer) Steve (Asmussen) and now he’s five and still competing at the top level.”

Cogburn certainly showed precocity as a two-year-old, but he has gotten incrementally faster as he has matured. He has won six of his last seven starts dating back to his victory in the 2023 Chamberlain Bridge Stakes at Lone Star and heads into the Breeders’ Cup a perfect 3-for-3 this year having posted wins in the Twin Spires Turf Sprint (G2) and Ainsworth Turf Sprint (G2) to go along with his Jaipur triumph.

“That says a lot too about Steve’s program with how he can keep these top, top horses going for seasons on end,” Pickerrell said. “He can put a career together instead of a couple good races together.”

Gaming’s career is only in its infancy, but the son of Game Winner has already backed up Pick View’s esteemed early assessment of his talent. When he breezed in 20.2 at the OBS March under tack show, the impressive nature of his time was surpassed only by the ease at which the colt went about his work.

Since being purchased by longtime Baffert clients Mike Pegram, Karl Watson, and Paul Weitman, Gaming has continued to make challenging tasks look common. After breaking his maiden at first asking by 5 ½ lengths at Del Mar Aug. 11, Gaming captured the Del Mar Futurity by 1 ¾ lengths on Sept. 8, finishing up like a horse who would relish added ground.

“He’s kind of a unique horse. He’s got all the leg to go the distance and stretch out so it’s crazy to think his best is yet to come but I think it’s very possible,” Pickerrell said of Gaming, whom he and Roberts initially purchased for $40,000. “He’s a horse who when he gets to the breeding shed one day, they’re going to be fighting over him because he is absolutely beautiful. Whoever gets lucky enough to get their hands on him as a stallion, they’re not going to have any trouble selling out his book.”

In addition to being the latest pair of success stories for Pick View, the achievements of Gaming and Cogburn further enhance Pickerrell’s opinion that those youngsters who stand out during the OBS under tack shows should be heeded even if their vet reports are not perfect. Both showed they could handle the demands of being prepped for the two-year-old sales and come through it all in sound order.

Hence, it’s no accident in Pickerrell’s mind that both are now showing up the competition.

“These horses that go fast in the breeze show, it’s not a freak thing. The stats show that they often go on and win a lot of races,” Pickerrell said. “That’s what we’re trying to do at the end of the day. It’s a horse race, the fastest horse usually wins. That’s the basic part of it.

“A good word for it all is validation because we spend the time with these horses. And for them to go on and do what you think they can do is really validating.”

True North Stable and Bloom Racing Stable’s (Jeffrey Bloom) Dresden Row (Lord Nelson – Elle Special) sat captured his second straight graded stakes race on Saturday at Woodbine in the $138,240 Ontario Derby (G3), taking charge at the quarter pole, opening daylight in the stretch and holding off a late run by fellow OBS graduate Bail Us Out (Lookin At Lucky – Joffe’s Run) by half a length. That’s two stakes wins for the 3-year-old son of Lord Nelson, trained by Lorne Richards, now 8-5-1-2 with earnings of $242,431. Consigned by Little Farm Equine to the 2023 OBS Spring Sale, he was sold for $70,000 after speeding an Under Tack quarter in: 21 2/5.     watch his under tack video     Spring Sale walking video

Troy Johnson and Maritza Weston’s Win N Your In (Win Win Win – Hello Rosie) took control of the $200,000 FTBOA Florida Sire Susan’s Girl Stakes on the turn, angled out for the drive and drew off to win by 4-1/2 lengths with fellow OBS graduate R Morning Brew (Curlin’s Honor – Foolhearted Woman) coming in third. It’s the second stakes victory for the 2-year-old Florida-bred daughter of Win Win Win, trained by Carlos David, now 5-3-0-2 with $218,940 in earnings. She was purchased for $12,000 out of the Summerfield consignment the 2023 OBS Winter Mixed Sale.

Mad Dog Racing Stable and Joseph H. Parker’s Loco Abarrio (Valiant Minister – Ballyhoo Moon) led a 1-2-3 OBS sweep of Gulfstream’s $150,000 FTBOA Gil Campbell Memorial Handicap, leading from start to finish and beating fellow OBS graduate Big Martini (The Big Beast – Dirty Martini) by half a length with Awesome Train (Awesome Slew – Selective Memory) a length back in third. It’s the first stakes win for the 4-year-old Florida-bred son of Valiant Minister, purchased for $15,000 out of the Beth Bayer consignment at the 2021 OBS October Yearling Sale. Trained by Ron Spatz, he has compiled a 22-6-10-2 record and earned $393,320 to date.  October Sale walking video

Edward B. Melzer Revocable Trust’ Elegant Echo (Echo Town – Violation) is two for two and a stakes winner after rallying to take control of Saturday’s $100,000 Oklahoma Classics Lassie Stakes a furlong out and scoring by half a length. The 2-year-old filly by Echo Town is trained by J. Alan Williams and has earned $65,898. Consigned by Gene Recio to the 2024 OBS June Sale, she was sold for $55,000 after breezing an Under Tack eighth in :10 1/5.      breeze/walk video

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Jim and Susan Hill’s Highway Robber (Hard Spun – Yabba) is the latest OBS millionaire after taking the $300,000 Sycamore Stakes (G3) at Keeneland on Friday in track record time for the mile and a half on the turf. The 4-year-old son of Hard Spun, well off he pace early, swung wide into the stretch, caught the leader a furlong from home and was best by a nose at the wire. It’s the second stakes victory for the 4-year-old son of Hard Spun, now 11-5-2-1 with $1,001,063 in earnings for trainer Brian Lynch. Consigned by Vickers Racing to the 2011 OBS Spring Sale, he was purchased for $30,000 after turning in an Under Tack eighth in :10 2/5.   watch his under tack video

Tucci Stables’ Ecstasy (Paynter – Annihilation) pressed the pace in Saturday’s $125,000 Ontario Damsel Stakes at Woodbine, took charge on the turn and cruised from there to a 1-3/4 length victory. Fellow OBS graduate Witwatersrand (Connect – Carta deOro) closed well and was up late for second. It’s the first stakes win for the 3-year-old filly by Paynter, sold for $32,000 at the 2023 OBS June Sale by Triple J Equine Sales, Agent, after breezing an eighth in :10 1/5 at the Under Tack Show. She’s trained by Sid Attard and has compiled an 11-4-3-0 record and earned $188,742.    watch her under tack video     June Sale walking video