Lindy Farms’ Ready for Candy (Twirling Candy-Enoree, by More Than Ready) earned her second graded stakes win and improved to 3-for-3 under the care of trainer Philip Antonacci when she prevailed in the Grade 2, $200,000 Sands Point at Aqueduct Racetrack Oct. 18 to lead the slate of stakes-winning OBS graduates for the week.
Ready for Candy wins the Sands Point Stakes. (NYRA/Coglianese/Susie Raisher photo)
Ready for Candy was moved to the Antonacci barn after seven starts with trainer Michael DePaulo last year, including three stakes placings at Woodbine Racetrack. The daughter of Twirling Candy came into the Sands Point off a last-out score in the one-mile Grade 3 Winter Memories Sept. 20.
“She’s a little tricky and you have to get along with her – she has her quirks,” Antonacci told NYRA publicity. “But when it comes to the races, she’s as professional as it comes and it allows the rider to do whatever he needs to do with her which makes her dangerous.”
Bred in Ontario by Mark Dodson, Ready for Candy was purchased by Game Time Racing for $60,000 at the 2024 OBS April Sale from the consignment of Tom McCrocklin after breezing in :20 4/5.
At Gulfstream Park Oct. 18, Half Hollow Stables and ProRacing Stable’s Khozalite (Khozan-Starship Crystal, by Congrats) was impressive returning to the dirt for his stakes debut with a four-length victory in the $200,000 Affirmed. Trained by Jose D’Angelo, Khozalite registered his second straight win following a two-length maiden triumph going a two-turn mile on the Gulfstream turf Aug. 30 in his second career start.
The son of Khozan was purchased by his owners for $55,000 at the 2025 OBS April Sale from the consignment of Journeyman Bloodstock Services after breezing in :21 2/5.
At Aqueduct Oct. 19, Case Chambers, Paradise Farms Corp. and David Staudacher’s graded stakes-placed Out On Bail (Tiz the Law – Judge Lee, by Street Cry (IRE)) returned to the winner’s circle with a nose victory in Sunday’s $150,000 Carle Place.
Trained by Mike Maker, Out On Bail notched his first win since taking the Skidmore last year at Saratoga Race Course as part of a six-start campaign that saw him hit the board in each outing. Out On Bail was purchased by Chambers for $110,000 out of the Kings Equine consignment at the 2024 OBS March Sale after breezing in :10 1/5.
At Santa Anita Park Oct. 19, Himika (Curlin-Motivated Seller, by Into Mischief) returned to sprinting and delivered as the 1-2 favorite to earn her second stakes win in the $85,000 Anoakia Stakes over fellow OBS grad Revera. Trained by Bob Baffert, Himika was purchased for $900,000 by owner Baoma Corp at this year’s OBS April Sale from the de Meric Sales consignment after breezing in :9 4/5. In August at Del Mar, she earned her first stakes win when annexing the Grade 3 Sorrento going six furlongs.
Three-year-old filly Shotgun Wedding scored the initial stakes win of her career, winning the Ontario Damsel S. at Woodbine on Saturday. Owned by Windways Farm, Begg Racing, and Upland Flats Racing and trained by James Begg, Shotgun Wedding rated in fifth position early under a snug hold. She moved closer to the leaders at the three-furlong pole, vied between horses with a quarter mile to go, and surged clear late to win by three-quarters of a length. She covered the 1 1/16 miles in 1:44.23 and is now a winner in 3-of-12 starts with earnings of $185,066.
The chestnut filly by Mendelssohn is out of the winning Speightstown mare Reluctant Bride. She sold to Begg for $50,000 out of the Parrish Farms consignment at the 2024 OBS March Sale (Hip 592) after breezing an eighth in :10 1/5 at the under tack preview. Shotgun Wedding was bred in Kentucky by Deron Pearson and Patrick Biacone LLC.
OBS graduate Dazzling Dame recorded the second stakes win of her career taking down top prize in Saturday’s $100,000 White Clay Creek Stakes at Delaware Park.
Ridden by Kevin Gomez, Dazzling Dame broke alertly in the one-mile fixture and stalked the early pace. She ranged up to put a head in front passing the five-sixteenths marker and then bravely outdueled Jumping the Gun through the stretch to post a 1 ½-length victory. Owned by Respect the Valleys LLC and trained by Brittany Russell, Dazzling Dame is now a winner in 3-of-4 lifetime starts. The 2-year-old filly broke her maiden in her career debut at Laurel in June and returned to win the Sorority Stakes at Monmouth Park by two lengths in August. The $60,000 winner’s share of the White Clay Creek Stakes purse lifted her bankroll to $158,025.
Bred in Maryland by Maria Haire, Dazzling Dame, who is by Girvin out of the multiple stakes-placed Corinthian mare Awesome Dama, is a two-time OBS graduate. The bay filly was a $65,000 graduate of the 2024 OBS Winter Mixed Sale (Hip 659) where she was acquired by Tahoe Bloodstock out of the Hare Hill Farm consignment. She changed hands again at this year’s OBS March Sale (Hip 762), selling to her owner for $45,000 after breezing a quarter at the under tack preview in :21 for consignor Richardson Bloodstock.
Also on Saturday, OBS graduate Stonevicious swept to a 2 ¾-length win in the Don Getty Handicap at Century Downs. Stonevicious vied for the lead early in the 1 1/8-mile test. He gained the upper hand approaching the far turn and pulled away through the stretch to win comfortably.
Owned by Mitch Sutherland and trained by James Brown, Stonevicious is a gray or roan gelding by Connect out of the Unbridled’s Song mare Diva Style. The hard-knocking 6-year-old has now hit the board in 22-of43 lifetime starts for earnings of $254,732. Stonevicious was a $15,000 purchase by RSR Racing Service/Robert Rhoads out of the Wavertree Stables (Ciaran Dunne) consignment at the 2021OBS June Sale (Hip 263) after breezing a quarter in : 21 3/5 at the breeze show. He was bred in Kentucky by JSM Equine LLC.
In one of the most impressive maiden special weight wins in memory, Spendthrift Farm’s OBS graduate Further Ado, a 2-year-old son of Gun Runner, turned heads with a brilliant victory at Keeneland on Friday, Oct. 10.
With two sprint starts under his belt, Further Ado relished the 1 1/16-mile distance he found in his two-turn debut for trainer Brad Cox. Ridden by Irad Ortiz Jr., Further Ado pressed the early pace before taking command around the far turn. He drew clear effortlessly in the lane—bidding his foes adieu—to win by a stunning 20 lengths. He stopped the clock in a rapid 1:43.52, earning a 98 Beyer Speed Figure. His final time was faster than Ted Noffey’s clocking in the Breeders’ Futurity (G1) on Oct. 4.
“We were scratching our heads after his first two starts,” Blake Cox, assistant to his father, said to Keeneland Publicity. “He had been working too well, and he was working with older horses and putting them away.”
Cox indicated that Further Ado would target the $400,000 Kentucky Jockey Club S. (G2) at Churchill Downs on Nov. 24 or an allowance race around that time.
Further Ado was a $550,000 acquisition by Spendthrift Farm at this year’s OBS April Sale (Hip 424) Consigned by Six K’s Training & Sales and bred in Kentucky by John Oxley, Further Ado breezed a quarter in :21 1/5 at the under tack preview. Out of the graded stakes-placed Sky Mesa mare Sky Dreamer, a half-sister to Grade 1 winner Dream Dancing and graded stakes-placed Dream Maker and a full sister to graded stakes-placed Awesome Sky, Further Ado is a half-brother to multiple graded stakes winner Kimbear.
A bay filly catalogued asHip 513 for the Ocala Breeders’ Sales Company October Yearling Sale was sold post-sale for $275,000 to Tami Bobo. The filly, who was the only offering in the sale by six-time leading sire and OBS graduate Into Mischief, was initially not sold for $290,000 during the Oct. 8 session of the auction.
Hip 513, a bay filly by Into Mischief, at the 2025 OBS October Yearling Sale. (OBS/VidHorse photo)
Glen Hill Farm consigned and bred the filly out of their stakes-winning and graded stakes placed War Front mare Compelled, who hails from the female family of Group 1 winner Macoumba.
Charlie’s Curlin, a two-year-old half-brother to the sale topping filly, sold for $225,000 at the OBS March Sale. He was third in his only start at Del Mar in maiden special weight company and was entered in last week’s Zuma Beach (G3) at Santa Anita.
With the post-sale result, the Into Mischief filly becomes the highest priced horse sold at this year’s October Yearling Sale.
Hip 177, a bay filly by Mo Donegal named Expectations, brought the highest price through the ring when she sold for $240,000 to bloodstock agent Christophe Nouvellet on behalf of Dream With Me Florida LLC. The filly was consigned by Richard Kent’s Kaizen Sales.
The next sale on the OBS calendar is the 2026 January Winter Mixed Sale taking place on Jan. 27. OBSOnline will also be selling horses of racing age and 2-year-olds from Jan. 26th, 2026 –Jan. 30th with an optional under tack show Jan. 22nd.
Never let it be said that Nelson Arroyo doesn’t take advice to heart and put it into action.
During his quest to build up his Arroyo Bloodstock business in just its second year of pinhooking, Arroyo recalled that one of the most accomplished bloodstock agents in the Thoroughbred industry urged him to let one key principle guide his purchases.
“Donato Lanni set me aside this year and he said ‘Nelson, stick to buying good horses and make that type of name’. So that’s what we’re trying to do,” Arroyo said. “We’re trying to go after what I really believe in.”
Hip 482, a son of Jackie’s Warrior, sells for $180,000 at the OBS October Yearling Sale. (OBS/VidHorse Photo)
The horse Arroyo believed in the most at the 2025 OBS October Yearling Sale was one he successfully acquired, going to $180,000 to land Hip 482, a bay son of Jackie’s Warrior consigned by Glen Hill Farm who paced the second and final day of selling to wrap up an exercise that posted gains across all key figures.
Arroyo, a former jockey, has already enjoyed success on the OBS grounds this year having sold a son of Midshipman for $650,000 consigned by Caliente Thoroughbreds at this year’s OBS March Sale. His latest purchase is a product of generations of breeding from the Glen Hill program as the colt is out Glen Hill’s homebred graded stakes winning Broken Vow mare Broken Dreams and is a half brother to multiple graded stakes winner Caribou Club, who was also bred and campaigned by the farm.
“It’s a good family and he’s a nice colt,” Tom Proctor, who trained Broken Dreams and heads up the Glen Hill consignment, said of the Jackie’s Warrior colt. “I think the family goes back (to Glen Hill) about 7-8 dams. He’s a big, good looking colt who is well balanced. I hope Nelson does well with him.”
Adding to the colt’s appeal on paper is the presence of Glen Hill’s champion One Dreamer in the female family. However, Arroyo said it was the youngster’s presence that most convinced him to stretch to the price level he did.
“I loved the horse. He has a lot of substance to him,” said Arroyo, who operates his bloodstock operation along with his son Elijah. “He has all the right parts. To me, he was my favorite horse of the sale. I told my guys we might have to pay the most but thank God, we got him for less than what we thought. His page of course (is outstanding), but his physical and his mind is what got me.”
Arroyo added the colt would likely be targeted to make what he hopes is another strong appearance at the 2026 OBS March Two-Year-Olds in Training Sale.
“That’s the main goal is finding horses I think will pinhook well and will make it at the races,” Arroyo said. “Hopefully he’s back here in March.”
The appeal of Glen Hill families reigned over the Wednesday’s action as the farm also consigned Hip 506, a son of Army Mule who sold to Breeze Easy for $125,000. The bay colt is out of Glen Hill’s multiple graded stakes wining Repriced mare Closeout and was one of four horses to sell for six figures during the session.
“Another old family from Glen Hill that has some really nice mares,” said Proctor, who also conditioned Closeout.
The other six-figure offerings on the day were Hip 480, a gray or roan son of Roadster out of the winning Street Sense mare Bridlewise, who sold for $120,000 to Sean S. Perl Bloodstock LLC from the Blue Sapphire Stables consignment, and Hip 549, a bay filly by OBS grad Yaupon out Champagne Girl, a daughter of OBS grad Into Mischief, who brought $100,000 from Mustang Farms from the Sennebec South Farm consignment.
“She’s a classy filly and she’s never put a foot wrong since she’s been here,” said Sandi Dorr of Sennebec South. “She’s everything you would want in a beautiful filly: great body, moves really well. She’s hard to pick apart. I’m happy for the opportunity to sell her.”
A total of nine horses reached the six-figure level during the two-day October auction headlined by Hip 177, a bay filly by Mo Donegal named Expectations who brought a sale-topping $240,000 from bloodstock agent Christophe Nouvellet on behalf of Dream With Me Florida LLC. The filly was consigned by Richard Kent’s Kaizen Sales, which led all consignors with head 34 sold for gross receipts of $1,133,000.
Two other horses sold for $200,000 on the opening day, Hip 251, a bay colt by Jack Christopher purchased by DiBello Racing Stables, LLC from Beth Bayer’s consignment and Hip 148, a bay colt by Corniche consigned by Soler & Soler Thoroughbreds who sold to MJB Stable.
The market strength that showed itself during the juvenile sale season continued to make its presence felt. The overall gross of $7,267,700 from 309 head sold surpassed the $5,724,600 generated by 297 horses sold during the 2024 OBS October Sale, which had its schedule adjusted due to the impact of Hurricane Milton.
The overall average improved from $19,275 last year to $23,520 this season with the median coming in at $15,000, up from $10,000 in 2024.
The overall rate of horses not sold came in at 25.5% compared to 36.3% in 2024. West Coast Equine, a group of investors from mainland China, led all buyers with 13 purchased for $287,000.
The next sale on the OBS calendar is the 2026 January Winter Mixed Sale taking place on Jan. 27. OBSOnline will also be selling horses of racing age and 2-year-olds from Jan. 26th, 2026 –Jan. 30th with an optional under tack show Jan. 22nd.
Richard Kent isn’t one to lean on hyperbole when discussing the plethora of horses who have come through his care. But in the moments after a filly fittingly bearing the name of Expectations exited the Ocala Breeders’ Sales Company ring during the opening session of the October Yearling Sale, the longtime consignor put some lofty hopes on the youngster who headlined his Kaizen Sales consignment Tuesday.
“I sold Serena Song’s as a yearling and this filly has that kind of class,” Kent said. “That’s big words.”
It remains to be seen if Hip 177can come close to delivering in the manner of the Hall of Famer Kent sold during his tenure at Bridlewood Farm. During the first day of action at the two-day October exercise, however, the bay filly by Mo Donegal ended the day out front when she brought $240,000 from bloodstock agent Christophe Nouvellet on behalf of Dream With Me Florida LLC to top the session.
Hip 177, a filly by Mo Donegal, sells for $240,000 at the 2025 OBS October Sale (OBS/VidHorse photo)
Bred by Peter E. Blum Thoroughbreds, LLC, the bay filly has the pedigree to back up her elegant looks as she is out of the Speightstown mare On the Good List, a half sister to Grade 1 winner Dunbar Road. The female family is rich in success with Grade 1 winner Secret Status, multiple graded stakes winner Private Mission, and graded winner Alumni Hall also on the page.
Since arriving on the sale grounds, Kent stated the filly did nothing but signal a high level of quality in her own right.
“The price was excellent. The filly justified the price,” Kent said. “She was just a super star all week. She’d been scoped eight times and showed herself just brilliantly over 100 times. She’s a very classy filly. We had all the players in town bidding on her.”
Nouvellet, who recently purchased the 200-acre McKathan Brothers’ Farm in Citra, Fla., was the player who ultimately won out, saying the winning bid was above what he expected to pay, but nonetheless was willing to stretch to.
“She’s a good physical and we’re going to hope for the best,” said Nouvellet. “She’s a good mover and I think on paper she has everything to succeed. We just like to buy good horses.”
The Mo Donegal filly was one of four horses to reach the six-figure level during the opening session of the October sale.
The day’s trade ended on a high note as Hip 251, a bay colt by Jack Christopher, elicited a final bid of $200,000 from DiBello Racing Stables, LLC. Consigned by Beth Bayer, the colt is out of the Hard Spun mare Madelyn’s Magic, who is a half sister to graded stakes winners Totally Boss and Super Steed.
“We had been waiting all day for him to come up,” Bayer said. “I love Jack Christopher as a new sire. All the ones we’ve seen have looked like athletes and (this colt) had a nice pedigree as well and a very good mind. He showed really well every single time.”
Champion Corniche, a graduate of the 2021 OBS April Sale, and multiple graded stakes winner Bucchero, who sold at the 2014 OBS June exercise, again made their mark in the pavilion as they were responsible for two of the six-figure lots.
Hip 148, a bay colt by Corniche out of the Take Charge Indy mare Mollyball, sold to MJB Stable for $200,000 while Hip 1, a daughter of Bucchero, got the sale off to a quick start when she hammered for $110,000 to Thorostock’s Nick Sallusto.
Hip 148, a son of Corniche, sold for $200,000 at the 2025 OBS October Sale. (OBS/VidHorse photo)
Named Mr. Predicted, the Corniche colt is a half brother to stakes placed Lawyer Mason and hails from the female family of graded stakes winners Adriano and Strike Power. He was consigned by his breeder Edisley Soler, who is selling for the first time under the Soler & Soler Thoroughbred Corp. banner.
“I thought he was going to bring more, that’s a good horse,” Soler said. “I raised him, he’s been my baby. I liked everything about him, he’s just a really nice colt.”
Like her sire, Hip 1 wasted little time making a strong impression as she kicked off the day’s selling and set the tone for her connections. Consigned by Kaizen Sales and bred by Rivermont Farm, the chestnut filly is out of the winning Greatness mare Dagney’s Revenge and hails from the female family of graded stakes winners Seeking Slew and Canadian Frontier.
“She was just a real quality filly. Many people told us she was the best filly on the grounds,” said Kent, who led all consignors on the day with 18 head sold for $605,000. “We were not coming in with that high of expectations but once we were here, she really sold herself and did all the work. She looked fabulous, behaved great. We showed her 100 times, and she did as well on the 100th time as she did on the first.”
Other top prices on the day included Hip 144, a bay filly by Vekoma consigned by Bobby Jones Equine, who sold for $95,000 to Dennis Campbell and Hip 169, a bay colt by Epicenter consigned by Summerfield, who brought a final bid of $90,000 from Red Wings.
Tuesday’s session produced year-over-year gains in gross, average, and median compared to 2024. A total of 146 head sold for gross receipts of $3,255,600 up from the $1,713,900 generated by 104 during the first session a year ago. The average improved from $16,480 in 2024 to $22,299 with the median coming in at $15,000 compared to $10,000 last year.
Last year’s OBS October Yearling Sale had its sale sessions adjusted due to Hurricane Milton.
The RNA rate for the session came in at 32.4 percent compared to 35.4 in 2024.
The OBS October Yearling Sale continues Oct. 8 beginning at noon ET with Hips 301 – 530 and supplemental Hips 531– 551 slated to sell.
The market strength that helped produce record results for the 2025 Ocala Breeders’ Sales Company 2-year-old auctions is expected to continue when the OBS October Yearling Sale holds its two-day exercise this week.
A total of 507 horses, including 48 supplemental entries, have been catalogued for the sale taking place Oct. 7-8. The Oct. 7 sale session will offer Hips 1-230, plus supplements Hips 231 – 258, with the Oct. 8 session selling Hips 301-530 along with supplements Hips 531-551. Sessions begin at noon ET each day. The full catalogue can be viewed online at obssales.com.
The OBS October Sale aims to build off the momentum generated during a banner juvenile auction season which saw the OBS March sale post year-to-year gains in gross and average – including selling Brant, a son of Gun Runner, for a record $3 million – the April sale finish with a record average, and the June sale yield records for both average and median.
The impact of the 100 percent bonus depreciation, which passed earlier this year and allows buyers to write off the upfront cost of a horse in its first year, is credited with helping to further bolster already robust commercial results. With pinhookers also eager to restock, the OBS October Sale is poised to add to the run of strong numbers in the yearling marketplace.
“We’re all anticipating a good sale, and it looks like a lot of people are coming into town,” said Francis Vanlangendonck of Summerfield Sales. “A lot of people did not get horses bought and I’ve had a lot of phone calls from people wondering what I had. (The pinhookers) will be here looking and picking out the better ones. It going to be a good market for the horses that vet well and have good conformation.
“I think (the bonus depreciation) it obviously doesn’t affect the pinhookers but for the people who are racing, it means a lot,” Vanlangendonck continued. “And these guys who have sold pieces of stallions and have successful racehorses, they’re going to pour it right back in because that’s what they do. That’s what makes this work out so well.”
Since 2024, OBS October Sale graduates won 53 stakes races and 15 graded stakes races including Grade 1 winner Trikari, who was purchased by Amerman Racing for the Ordonez Thoroughbreds consignment at the 2022 October auction. Other notable October graduates included Grade 1 winner Speed Boat Beach, graded/group winners Mystic Lake, Crimson Advocate, Bentornato, Kathleen O, Desert Dawn, Kinza, and Visually.
Mystic Lake, a 10-time stakes winner with earnings of more than $1.4 million, was also named the 2024 Florida Bred Horse of the Year. She was sold by Summerfield at the 2022 October Yearling Sale.
The October sale will be streamed live via the OBS website as well as the DRF, TDN, BloodHorse, Pastthewire, and Hipismo.net websites. This year’s OBS October Sale will also feature Spanish-language coverage provided by Carlos Morales of Agentes 305.
OBS will again offer online bidding during the October sale. Buyers may go to the OBS website and register to gain bidding approval, then access the OBS Bidding Screen with their credentials. For complete information on registration and online bidding please go to the OBS website: obs-internet-bidding.
The iPad version of the catalog can be accessed via the equineline Sales Catalog App. The App allows users to download and view the catalog, receive updates and results, record notes and provides innovative search, sort, and rating capability. For more information and downloads go to:equineline.com.
Sales results will be available on the OBS website, updated frequently during each session of the Sale. In addition, the latest news regarding OBS graduates, sales schedules, nominations, credit requests, travel information and other news relevant to OBS consignors and customers is also available. E-mail should be addressed to obs@obssales.com.
Current information about OBS sales, consignors and graduates is now also available via social media sites Facebook and “X”.
CSLR Racing Partners and R.A. Hill Stable’s Iron Orchard (Authentic- Onebrethatatime, by Brethren) stepped up in class with aplomb, rallying from the outside in the stretch and holding off fellow OBS graduate Rileytole by a nose to capture the Grade 1, $400,000 Frizette Stakes at Aqueduct Oct. 4, becoming one of six OBS graduates to win graded stakes the past week.
Iron Orchard wins the G1 Frizette Stakes (NYRA/Coglianese/Susie Raisher photo)
Iron Orchard showed versatility in coming from off the pace to improve to 3-for-3 for trainer Danny Gargan. The daughter of Authentic earned a $30,000 credit towards entry fees for the Grade 1, $2 million Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies at Del Mar and earned 10 qualifying points to the 2026 Grade 1 Kentucky Oaks in May at Churchill Downs.
“Her being able to relax with her natural speed gives her another dimension, so she ran bigger than I thought,” Gargan told NYRA publicity. “At the end, she dug in and won the race. She’s a talented filly, we’ve always known that. Today she showed another dimension, and it was really special. I think with the way she ran today, maybe in the future she might be able to go two turns.”
Iron Orchard was purchased by Bill Childs and Mark Stanton for $500,000 from the Grassroots Training and Sales consignment at the 2025 OBS April Sale where she breezed in :9 4/5.
More top-level success came Oct. 4 when Intrepido(Maximus Mischief-Overly Indulgent, by Pleasantly Perfect) and jockey Hector Berrios surged past odds-favorite and fellow OBS graduate Desert Gate in the final strides to prevail in the Grade 1, $300,000 American Pharoah Stakes at Santa Anita Park. With the win, Intrepido earned a fees-paid berth to the $2 million Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Oct. 31 at Del Mar.
Trained by Jeff Mullins, Intrepido won for owners Dutch Girl Holdings LLC and Irving Ventures LLC. He was purchased by his owners for $385,000 at the 2025 OBS April Sale from the Cardozo’s Brothers consignment after breezing in :9 4/5.
“I asked Hector, ‘Do you think this horse can rate?’ He said, ‘No problem,’” Mullins told Santa Anita publicity. “He’s a nice horse, a really nice horse.”
Saturday’s card also saw NBS Stable’s Ground Support (Army Mule-Arch Support, by Arch) lead every point of call en route to a two-length victory in the Grade 2, $200,000 Miss Grillo at Aqueduct. The victory was the third career graded stakes win – and first since 2023 – for trainer Kelsey Danner.
Ground Support earned a “Win and You’re In” berth to the Grade 1 Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies Turf on Oct. 31 at Del Mar. She was offered at the 2025 OBS March Sale from the consignment Tom McCrocklin but failed to meet her reserve after breezing in :21 1/5.
At Keeneland on Saturday, Praying (Vekoma- Pray for Leslie, Bernardini) collared fellow OBS grad Long Neck Paula at the eighth pole and assumed command at the sixteenth pole on her way to a half-length win in the Thoroughbred Club of America (G2).
Trained by Robbie Medina, Praying gave her conditioner his first Keeneland stakes victory. Winner of the Prioress (G3) in her previous start, Praying was a $410,000 purchase by Stone Bridge Farm at the 2024 OBS April Sale from the Mayberry Farm consignment after breezing in :9 4/5.
On Oct. 3 at Aqueduct, Dahman’s Bottas (Vekoma- Iadorakid, by Lemon Drop Kid) prevailed in a thrilling stretch duel to win the Grade 2, $200,000 Pilgrim, a 1 1/16-mile inner turf test for juveniles.
In victory, Bottas earned a berth into the Grade 1 Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Turf on Oct. 31 at Del Mar as part of the “Win and You’re In” Challenge Series.
Bottas was a $300,000 purchase by Case Clay Thoroughbred Management at the 2025 OBS April Sale from the consignment of Paul Sharp after breezing in :10 1/5.
On Sept. 30 in Japan, Kazuo Kato’s Jasper Robusto (Khozan-Prize Informant, by Marciano) won the Hakusan Daishoten Stakes (Jpn-G3) at Kanazawa Racecourse. Trained by Hideyuki Mori, the 4-year-old son of Khozan earned his third stakes win this year.
Bred by Rivermont Farm, Jasper Robusto is a two-time OBS graduate. He was purchased by Blas Perez Stables for $27,000 out of the Kaizen Sales consignment at the 2022 OBS October Yearling Sale before selling to Mori for $265,000 out of the Blas Perez Stables consignment at the 2023 OBS March Sale after breezing in :9 4/5.
The action at Woodbine on Oct. 5 saw Cy Fair (Not This Time- Remarqued, by Arch) uncork a devastating turn of foot to propel her to victory in the $175,000 Algonquin Stakes.
It was the first stakes win for the George Weaver-trained daughter of Not This Time. Owned by Swinbank Stables, LLC, Medallion Racing and Mark Stanton, Cy Fair was purchased by Swinbank for $185,000 purchase at the 2025 OBS April Sale out of the Niall Brennan Stables consignment after breezing in :9 4/5.
Ocala Breeders’ Sales Company announced today that bloodstock agent Will Douglass will join OBS as their International representative.
A native of England, Douglass began his career as a bloodstock agent in January 2010 when he started working with industry veteran Charlie Gordon-Watson. Prior to his time with Gordon-Watson, Douglass served as assistant to classic-winning trainer Luca Cumani, Ed Dunlop, and champion Australian trainer, David Hayes.
“I am looking forward to working with team at OBS and helping them expand their international client base,” Douglass said. “OBS has a long history of selling outstanding horses that are successful all over the world such as Crimson Advocate winning at Royal Ascot whilst (Group 3 placed and OBS October graduate) The Publican’s Son looks be a horse to follow next year.”
Will Douglass Bloodstock was established in January 2025, advising clients on all aspects of private sales, auction purchases, bloodstock, and racing management. Among the top horses in training acquisitions Douglass has been responsible for include classic and multiple Group 1 winner Al Riffa (FR); Hong Kong Group winner Helene Feeling, dual Hong Kong Group 1 winner Peniaphobia, Qatari champion Kerindia, and Grade 2 winner Nancy from Nairobi (GB).
Douglass also selected Group 1 placed Shes Perfect (IRE) and Luther (GB), winner of this year’s National Museum of Racing Hall of Fame Stakes (G2) at Saratoga.
“Will’s expertise in the Europe and Asia provides the perfect complement to the global appeal of OBS graduates,” said Tod Wojciechowski, OBS Director of Sales. “We are excited to bring him on board as his knowledge and skillset will be an invaluable asset in promoting our sales.”
Ocala Breeders’ Sales Company is pleased to announce it has partnered with Carlos Morales of Agentes 305 to provide Spanish-language coverage on site for the upcoming October Yearling Sale taking place Oct. 7-8.
Founded by Morales in 2019, Agentes 305 provides bilingual coverage of Thoroughbred racing’s top events through video interviews with owners, trainers, jockeys and backstretch workers. The Spanish and English language content appears on YouTube, X (formerly Twitter), Facebook, Instagram and TikTok and has garnered more than 57 million views over the five social media platforms.
Morales’ work was honored with the 2024 Bill Handleman Award for outstanding coverage of last year’s Grade 1 Haskell Stakes.
“As the second largest segment of the United States population, the impact of the Spanish-language community cannot be overstated,” said Tod Wojciechowski, OBS Director of Sales. “Our partnership with Agentes 305 allows us to provide inclusive sales coverage that will serve some of our most valued participants and better engage one of our industry’s most vital fan bases.”
The Supplemental Catalogue for the Ocala Breeders’ Sales Company’s 2025 October Yearling Sale is now available online at obssales.com. A total of 48 horses have been supplemented to the auction taking place Oct. 7-8.
The Oct. 7 sale session will offer Hips 1-230, plus supplements Hips 231 – 258. The Oct. 8 session will sell Hips 301-530 along with supplements Hips 531-551. Sessions begin at noon ET each day.
Included in the supplemental entries are offspring by such popular sires as Army Mule, Cyberknife, Essential Quality, Girvin, Independence Hall, Jack Christopher, Leinster, Omaha Beach, Oscar Performance, Vekoma, Win Win Win, and OBS grad Yaupon.
Among the supplements with recent updates are Hip 536, a bay colt by Leinster who is a half brother to OBS grad Mad House, winner of the Grade 2 Gallant Bob Stakes at Parx Racing on Sept. 20. The colt is out of Stifled Heiress, who has produced two winners from two foals to race.
PDF files of the entire catalogue with supplements or the supplement catalogue only are available on the info tab PDF Catalogs.
The sale will be streamed live via the OBS website as well as the DRF, TDN, BloodHorse and Pastthewire websites.
OBS will again offer online bidding during the October Sale. Buyers may go to the OBS website and register to gain bidding approval, then access the OBS Bidding Screen with their credentials. For complete information on registration and online bidding please go to the OBS website: obs-internet-bidding.
The iPad version of the catalogue can be accessed via the equineline Sales Catalog App. The App allows users to download and view the catalogue, receive updates and results, record notes and provides innovative search, sort and rating capability. For more information and downloads go to:equineline.com.
Current information about OBS sales, consignors and graduates is now also available via social media sites Facebook and “X”.
For more information regarding the October Sale or OBS website, please call (352) 237-2154.
Despite a less-than-ideal break following a six-plus month layoff, Speedway Stables’ Cavalieri (Nyquist-Stiffed, by Stephen Got Even) was unbothered as she remained unbeaten with a victory in Grade 2, $200,000 Zenyatta Stakes going 1 1/16 miles at Santa Anita Park Sept. 28 to lead the slate of stakes-winning OBS grads for the week.
Cavalieri wins the Grade 2 Zenyatta Stakes. (Benoit photo)
After hopping at the start and trailing the field, Cavalieri improved to 5-for-5 for trainer Bob Baffert while also earning a fees-paid berth to the $2 million Breeders’ Cup Distaff (G1) Nov. 1 at Del Mar. It was Cavalieri’s first start since winning the Grade 1 Beholder Mile on March 8 at Santa Anita.
“She is just so talented, the further the better for her,” Baffert told Santa Anita publicity.
A 4-year-old daughter of Nyquist, Cavalieri was purchased by Peter Fluor’s Speedway Stables for $900,000 from the Wavertree Stables consignment at the 2023 OBS April Sale after she breezed in :20 2/5.
On Sept. 26 at Aqueduct, R. Lee Lewis’s Gun Song (Gun Runner – Nicole H, by Mr. Greeley) overtook Grade 1 winner Randomized and powered away to a score in the Grade 2, $250,000 Beldame Stakes.
By winning the Beldame, part of the Breeders’ Cup Dirt Dozen series for the $2 million Breeders’ Cup Distaff in November at Del Mar, Gun Song receives a credit of $30,000 toward entry fees for the Distaff. Trained by Mark Hennig, the 4-year-old daughter of Gun Runner enjoyed a tremendous sophomore season that included a win in the Grade 2 Black-Eyed Susan at Pimlico Race Course.
Gun Song was purchased by her owner for $400,000 at the 2023 OBS March Sale out of the de Meric Sales consignment after breezing in :10 1/5.
The Sept. 27 card at Aqueduct saw George Mellon’s Patriot Spirit (Constitution- Mistical Plan, by Game Plan) power away late to post a 1 1/2-length score in the Grade 3, $200,000 Vosburgh Stakes, earning himself a fees paid berth to the Grade 1 Breeders’ Cup Sprint at Del Mar.
Trained by Michael Campbell, the 4-year-old Constitution colt was purchased by George Mellon for $235,000 out of the Clary Bloodstock consignment at the 2023 OBS March Sale after breezing in :10 flat.
On Sept. 27 at Santa Anita Park, Innovative(Complexity-Lantiz, by Tizway) roared through the stretch to win the Grade 3, $100,000 John C. Harris Stakes on the hillside turf course. Innovative prevailed by a neck over Lee’s Baby Girl with another half-length back to morning line favorite and fellow OBS grad Warming in third.
Trained by Phil D’Amato, the daughter of Complexity is owned by Little Red Feather Racing and Sterling Stables. She was purchased by Little Red Feather Racing for $230,000 at the 2024 OBS April Sale from the consignment of Longoria Training & Sales after breezing in :9 4/5.
At Gulfstream Park on Sept. 27, rising star Lennilu (Leinster – Lulu’s Pom Pom, by Pomeroy) booked her ticket to Del Mar for the $1 million Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Turf Sprint (G1) Oct 31 by capturing her third stakes victory in the $75,000 Hollywood Beach.
Owned by Amy Dunne, Cailtin Dunne, Brenda Miley, Jean Wilkinson, Hoffman Family Racing LLC, Tranquility Lake Farms LLC, Maury Hamilton and Christopher Harrington, the daughter of Leinster was making her return to turf after prevailing by a nose in the $100,000 Desert Vixen Sept. 6. Trained by Patrick Biancone, Lennilu was purchased by Glencrest Farm for $23,000 from the Abbie Road Farm consignment at the 2024 OBS Winter Mixed Sale.
At Remington Park Sept. 28, trainer Danny Pish sent out Essential Time (Essential Quality- Twilight Curfew, by Twirling Candy) to the victory in the $150,000 Clever Trevor Stakes.
Owned by Duffy’s Racing Stable and Heider Racing Stables, Essential Time was bred by D.J. Stable and offered at the 2025 OBS April Sale where he failed to meet his reserve after breezing in :10 1/5 from the consignment of 1880 Bloodstock.
Sunday’s Remington Park card also saw Everything’s Cricket Racing’s Sabalenka (Good Samaritan-Darling Daughter, by Maria’s Mon) take the $75,000 Ricks Memorial Stakes as she rallied from sixth place to gain the victory over fellow OBS grad Neom Beach. Trained by Joe Sharp, she won by 2-3/4 lengths in a time of 1:42.12 over the firm course.
Sabalenka was purchased by Four Quarters at the 2022 OBS April Sale and for $35,000 from the Harris Training Center consignment after breezing in :10 1/5.
So There She Was (Munnings-Risk Premium, by Take Charge Indy) highlighted the Remington Park card when she put away heavy favorite Lemon Zest to take the $200,000 Remington Park Oaks. The 3-year-old filly pocketed $120,000 for owners Great Friends Stables and Mark Davis of Vista, Calif.
Trained by Doug O’Neill, she purchased by Mark Davis for $100,000 at the 2024 OBS March Sale from the Gene Recio consignment after breezing in :10 1/5.
Another winner on the Oklahoma Derby Day card was Paradise Farms, David Staudacher, Gata Racing Stable and Turman Racing’s Woodstock (Yaupon- Hot Hippie, by Medaglia d’Oro) who captured the $50,000 E.L. Gaylord Memorial.
The filly, trained by Michael Maker, was purchased by Maker from this year’s OBS March Sale for $100,000 from the Global Thoroughbreds consignment after breezing in :10 2/5.
James Thares’ Mad House (Vekoma-Stifled Heiress, by Munnings) made the trip from Canterbury Park to Parx Racing worthwhile as he gave trainer David VanWinkle his first career graded stakes score when he posted the upset in the Grade 2, $400,000 Gallant Bob Stakes Sept. 20 on the Pennsylvania Derby Day undercard to lead the slate of stakes-winning OBS graduates for the week.
Mad House wins the Grade 2 Gallant Bob Stakes at Parx Racing. Bill Denver/EQUI-PHOTO.
The 3-year-old Vekoma gelding sprang a 23-1 shocker in the Gallant in his second stakes appearance, defeating the 83-1 Gateskeeper by 2 3/4 lengths with the 56-1 and fellow OBS grad Fire Pit another half-length back in third.
“Once he turned for home and he looked like he was on the lead pretty comfortably I thought we might be alright,” VanWinkle told Parx publicity. “We started sprinting him and I think this is what he wants to do.”
Mad House was purchased by his owner at the 2024 OBS April Sale for $47,000 from the Wavertree consignment after breezing in :10 2/5.
At Aqueduct on Sept. 20, Lindy Farms’ Ready for Candy (Twirling Candy-Enoree, by More Than Ready) took over in upper stretch and dug in gamely over fellow OBS grad Paradise City to notch her first graded victory in Saturday’s Grade 3, $175,000 Winter Memories Stakes, giving trainer Philip Antonacci his first graded stakes victory. The daughter of Twirling Candy had placed in three Woodbine stakes from seven outings as a maiden last year for trainer Mike DePaulo
Ready for Candy was purchased by Game Time Racing for $60,000 at the 2024 OBS April Sale from the consignment of Tom McCrocklin after breezing in :20 4/5.
One day earlier at Presque Isle Downs, Gal in a Rush (Ghostzapper — Hudson River Gal, by Dynaformer) captured the $301,000 Presque Isle Downs Masters Stakes (G2) for trainer Miguel Clement, drawing off to win by a length and earn her second career graded stakes victory.
Gal in a Rush is owned by West Point Thoroughbreds, Christ Larsen and Titletown Racing Stables. She was purchased by West Point for $375,000 at the 2021 OBS March Sale out of the de Meric Sales consignment after breezing in :10 1/5.
At Parx on Sept. 20, C2 Racing Stables and Stefania Farms’ Mystic Lake (Mo Town – Salty Soul, by Itsmyluckyday) continued her run of success when she took the lead in the first 100 yards and was never headed in capturing the $150,000 Liberty Bell Stakes over fellow OBS grad Volleyballprincess. Trained by Saffie Joseph Jr., Mystic Lake collected her fourth straight stakes win and improved her career mark to 11-for-20 with $1,447,642 in earnings.
Mystic Lake is a two-time OBS graduate, sold by Summerfield (Francis & Barbara Vanlangendonck), Agent, at the 2022 October Yearling Sale and then purchased by Turf Express Racing Partners for $130,000 out of the Tom McCrocklin consignment at the 2023 March Sale after breezing in :20 4/5.
Happy Tenth Stable’s Buccherino (Bucchero – Bellimbusto, by First Dude) capped the stakes action on Pennsylvania Derby Day with a victory in the $150,000 Parx Sprint Stakes Saturday at Parx Racing. The 4-year-old son of OBS grad Bucchero notched a 1 1/2-length victory to improve to 6-for-7 at Parx for trainer Alfredo Velazquez. He was purchased for $75,000 from the Blue River Bloodstock, Inc. consignment at the 2023 OBS April Sale after breezing in :10 flat.
At Gulfstream Park Sept. 20, Baalbek Corp.’s Wayne’s Law (Tiz the Law- Mollie Merisa, by Harlan’s Holiday) swept past fellow OBS grad Road Forever and drew clear to a 7 ¼-length victory in Saturday’s $75,000 Aventura Stakes.
Trained by Amador Sanchez, Wayne’s Law registered his second straight victory. Bred in Florida by Margaret McFarland, he was purchased by Baalbek’s Christian Abumohor for $25,000 from the JP Thoroughbreds consignment at the 2025 OBS April Sale after breezing in :10 2/5. He was previously offered at the 2024 OBS Winter Mixed Sale by the Crowning Point Farm consignment.
At Los Alamitos Sept. 20, heavily favored Nothing Like You (Malibu Moon – Miss Derek, by Brother Derek), a two-time Grade 2 winner, took advantage of an ideal trip to capture the $75,000 Dark Mirage Stakes. Owned by Georgia Antley Hunt, Jeff Giglio and John Rogitz and trained by Bob Baffert, the 4-year-old Malibu Moon filly went on to prevail by 1¾ lengths as the 1-5 choice.
Nothing Like You was purchased by John Rogitz at the 2023 OBS April Sale from the Wildheart Thoroughbreds consignment for $190,000 afterbreezing in :10 flat.
At Aqueduct on Sept. 19, DiRico Racing and Breeding’s Sweet Montreal(Instagrand- Passeporta, by Rockport Harbor) set the pace and didn’t look back when winning her stakes debut in the $150,000 Joseph A. Gimma, a six-furlong outer turf sprint. Trained by Jim Ryerson, the daughter of Instagrand entered off a 42-1 debut upset sprinting 5 1/2-furlongs on Aug. 6 at Saratoga Race Course.
Bred by Torie Gladwell, Sweet Montreal was a $120,000 purchase by Joseph DiRico from the Top Line Sales consignment at the 2025 OBS March Sale where she breezed in :10 flat.
