Graduate News

The 42^nd edition of the Breeders’ Cup World Championships proved a banner affair for graduates of Ocala Breeders’ Sales Company auctions. A total of four OBS grads prevailed during the two-day event, the most victories ever posted by the company’s sale graduates in a single Breeders’ Cup.

Swinbank Stables, Medallion Racing and Joey Platts et al.’s Cy Fair (Not This Time-Remarqued, by Arch), a graduate of the 2025 OBS April Sale, struck first when she scored a three-quarter-length victory in the $1 million Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Turf Sprint (G1) on Oct. 31. Cy Fair became the second filly to win the race, joining Twilight Gleaming (IRE) in 2021, and gave trainer George Weaver his first Breeders’ Cup victory.

The daughter of Not This Time was purchased by Swinbank for $185,000 at this year’s OBS April Sale out of the Niall Brennan Stables consignment after breezing in :9 4/5.

Saturday’s Breeders’ Cup card saw good things come in threes as Morplay Racing and Qatar Racing’s Shisospicy (Mitole – Mischief Galore, by Into Mischief) kicked off a trio of triumphs from OBS grads when she went to the front out of the gate and held the advantage all the way around to post a 2 ½-length victory in the $1 million Breeders’ Cup Turf Sprint (G1).

Trained by Jose D’Angelo, Shisospicy became the first 3-year-old filly to win the $1 million race. It was also the first victory in the World Championships for D’Angelo.

The win improved Shisospicy’s earnings to $2,090,270 with a record of 9-6-1-1 that now includes three graded-stakes victories. She was offered at the 2024 OBS April Sale by Hartley/DeRenzo Thoroughbreds where she was an RNA after breezing in :9 3/5.

Another OBS grad wasted no time in giving D’Angelo his second Breeders’ Cup triumph as Leon King Stable Corp. and Julia and Michael Iavarone’s Bentornato (Valiant Minister-Her Special Way, by Put It Back), lived up to his role as the favorite in scoring a 2 ¼-length victory in the $2 million Breeders’ Cup Sprint (G1).

Bentornato increased his earnings to $2,322,180 and improved his record to 11-7-2-2. He is a two-time OBS graduate, having been sold by Stuart Morris at the 2022 October Yearling Sale and then purchased by Champion Equine for $170,000 out of the Golden Rock Thoroughbreds consignment at the 2023 March Sale after breezing in :20 4/5.

Wrapping up the Breeders’ Cup glory was Baoma Corp.’s Nysos (Nyquist – Zetta Z, by Bernardini), a graduate of the 2023 OBS April Sale, who wore down stablemate Citizen Bull to post a head victory in $1 million Breeders’ Cup Dirt Mile (G1). The victory gave trainer Bob Baffert his 21st overall Breeders’ Cup win to put him in a tie with Aidan O’Brien for the most Breeders’ Cup victories all time.

Nysos was purchased for $550,000 out of the Best A Luck Farm consignment by Donato Lanni, Agent for Baoma Corp at the 2023 OBS April Sale after breezing in :9 4/5. The victory was his sixth in seven starts and his first Grade 1 triumph as he increased his earnings to $1,118,500.

Other stakes-winning OBS grads during the week included Queen Maxima (Bucchero – Corfu Lady, by Corfu) getting back to her winning ways in taking the $200,000 Senator Ken Maddy Stakes Oct. 31 at Del Mar.

Trained by Jeff Mullins, Queen Maxima is owned by Dutch Girl Holdings and Irving Ventures LLC. Consigned by Blue River Bloodstock, the daughter of OBS graduate Bucchero was purchased by Michael Pender, agent for $40,000 from the 2023 OBS June sale after breezing in :20 3/5.

The Oct. 31 card at Del Mar also saw Conducted (Mendelssohn-Marvelous Spot, by Archarcharch) take the lead and never look back in winning the $200,000 Thoroughbred Aftercare Alliance Stakes by 1 ½ lengths for trainer O. J. Jauregui. Owned by Danny Eplin, Julia and Michael Iavarone, and Arthur Spencer, the Mendelssohn colt was purchased by Eplin at the 2025 OBS April Sale for $110,000 from the Hoppel consignment after breezing in :20 3/5.

At Churchill Downs Nov. 1, Roll On Big Joe (Prospective – Nina’s Gift, by Victory Gallop) put away pacesetter Glengarry leaving the turn and drew away in the stretch to win the $269,500 Bet On Sunshine Stakes (Listed).

Roll On Big Joe prevailed for trainer Bob Hess Jr. and owners Rancho Temescal LLC (Tim Cohen), Rancho Temescal Thoroughbred Partners (Joseph Miller), White Fence LLC (David Marabella) and Richard Hale Jr. He was purchased by Rancho Temescal for $90,000 at the 2022 OBS June sale from the Gayle Woods consignment after breezing in :10 flat.

At Gulfstream Park Oct. 31, Ad Hoc Stable Inc.’s Crafty Collector (Collected-Craft Woods, by Declaration of War) rallied to register a 61-1 upset victory in the $75,000 Cellars Shiraz Stakes.

The Gerald Bennett trainee earned her first stakes victory. She was purchased at the 2023 OBS Winter Mixed Sale by her owners for $15,000 from the CoCo’s Ranch consignment.

A total of 25 horses who are graduates of Ocala Breeders’ Sales Company auctions were entered in the 42^nd edition of the Breeders’ Cup World Championships being held Oct. 31-Nov. 1 at Del Mar in California.

The World Championships will feature 14 Grade 1 races and more than $34 million in purses and awards.

Twelve OBS graduates were entered for Future Stars Friday, including Zedan Racing’s Brant, who sold for an OBS record $3 million at this year’s March Sale of 2-Year-Olds in Training. The Bob Baffert trained son of Gun Runner is expected to be among the favorites for the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile (G1).

More than two dozen OBS graduates have prevailed in Breeders’ Cup races since the inception of the World Championships in 1984. The 2023 edition of the Breeders’ Cup saw OBS graduate White Abarrio, who is back this year for an expected start in the Dirt Mile (G1), annex the $6 million Classic (G1) en route to becoming a finalist for Horse of the Year honors.

Other notable OBS graduates who have won Breeders’ Cup races include Hall of Famer Skip Away (1997 Classic), Horse of the Year Favorite Trick (1997 Juvenile), champions Stormy Liberal (2017-18 Turf Sprint) and Midnight Lute (2007-08 Sprint) as well as Stephanie’s Kitten (2011 Juvenile Fillies Turf; 2015 Filly & Mare Turf), and Goldencents (2013-14 Dirt Mile).

The full list of OBS sales graduates entered in the 2025 Breeders’ Cup in race order are:

Friday, Oct. 31

$1 million Juvenile Turf Sprint (post time: 2:45 p.m. local, 5:45 p.m. ET)

Cy Fair (2025 OBS April Sale; Buyer: Swinbank Stables, Consignor: Niall Brennan Stables; Price: $185,000; Breeze: :9 4/5)

Lennilu (2024 OBS Winter Mixed Sale; B: Glencrest Farm; C: Abbie Road Farm; Price: $23,000)

Obliteration (2025 OBS March Sale; B: Leland Ackerley; C: Ocala Stud; Price: $200,000; Breeze:  :21 3/5)

AE: Bacio (2025 OBS March Sale – RNA: C: Top Line Sales; Breeze: :9 4/5)

$2 million Juvenile Fillies (3:25 p.m. local, 6:25 p.m. ET)

Iron Orchard (2025 OBS April Sale; B: Bill Childs and Mark Stanton; C: Grassroots Training and Sales; Price: $500,000; Breeze: :9 4/5)

La Ville Lumiere (2025 OBS March Sale; B: Eclipse Thoroughbred Partners; C: Eddie Woods; Price: $475,000; Breeze: :10)

$1 million Juvenile Fillies Turf (4:05 p.m. local, 7:05 p.m. ET)

Ground Support (2025 OBS March Sale – RNA; C: Tom McCrocklin; Breeze: 21 1/5)

$2 million Juvenile (4:45 p.m. local, 7:45 p.m. ET)

Brant (2025 OBS March Sale; B: Zedan Racing Stables; C: Eddie Woods; Price: $3 million; Breeze: :9 3/5)

Intrepido (2025 OBS April Sale; B:  Dutch Girl Holdings LLC and Irving Ventures; C:  Cardozo’s Brothers; Price: $385,000; Breeze:  :9 4/5)

$1 million Juvenile Turf (5:25 p.m. local, 8:25 p.m. ET)

Argos (2025 OBS March Sale – RNA; C: Majestic; Breeze: :20 3/5)

Bottas (2025 OBS April Sale; B: Case Clay Thoroughbred Management; C: Paul Sharp; Price: $300,000; Breeze: :10 1/5)

Street Beast (2025 OBS April Sale; B: Davant Latham; C: Eddie Woods; Price: $85,000; Breeze:  :10 2/5)

Saturday, Nov. 1

$1 million Filly and Mare Sprint (Noon local, 3 p.m. ET)

Praying (2024 OBS April Sale; B: Stone Bridge Farm; C: Mayberry Farm; Price:  $410,000; Breeze: :9 4/5

$1 million Turf Sprint (12:41 p.m. local, 3:41 p.m. ET)

Bear River (2023 OBS June Sale; B: Charles K. Marquis; C: Randy Miles; Price: $50,000; Breeze: :10 2/5)

Governor Sam (2024 OBS April Sale; B: Bregman Family Racing and Ivan Cabrera; C: Wavertree Stables, Inc. (Ciaran Dunne); Price: $275,000; Breeze: :9 4/5)

Shisospicy (2024 OBS April Sale – RNA; C: Hartley/DeRenzo Thoroughbreds; Breeze: :9 3/5)

AE: Yellow Card (2023 OBS April Sale; B: West Bloodstock; C: Little Farm Equine; Price: $87,000; Breeze: :10)

$2 million Sprint (1:21 p.m. local; 4:21 p.m. ET)

Bentornato (2022 October Yearling Sale; B: Pro Racing Stable; C: Stuart Morris; Price: $45,000 and 2023 OBS March Sale B: Champion Equine C: Golden Rock Thoroughbreds; Price:  $170,000; Breeze: :20 4/5)

Mad House (2024 OBS April Sale; B: James Thares; C: Wavertree Stables; Price: $47,000; Breeze: :10 2/5)

Patriot Spirit (2023 OBS March Sale; B: George Mellon; C:  Clary Bloodstock; Price:  $235,000; Breeze: :10)

$2 million Distaff (2:01 p.m. local; 5:01 p.m. ET)

Gun Song (2023 OBS March Sale; B: R. Lee Lewis; C: de Meric Sales; Price: $400,000; Breeze: :10 1/5)

Scottish Lassie (2024 OBS March Sale; B: Parkland Thoroughbreds; C: Gene Recio; Price: $85,000; Breeze: : 21)

$1 million Dirt Mile (4:45 p.m. local; 7:45 p.m. ET)

Chancer McPatrick (2024 OBS April Sale; B: Kimmel & Sallusto, Agents; C: Caliente Thoroughbreds; Price:  $725,000; Breeze: :21)

Nysos (2023 OBS April Sale; B: Donato Lanni, Agent for Baoma Corp; C: Best A Luck Farm; Price:  $550,000; Breeze: :9 4/5)

White Abarrio (2020 Winter Mixed Sale; B: Jose Ordonez; C: Summerfield (Francis & Barbara Vanlangendonck); Price: $7,500 and 2021 OBS March Sale; B: Carlos L. Perez; C: Nice and Easy Thoroughbreds; Price: $40,000; Breeze: :10 2/5)

Eclipse Thoroughbred Partners’ Warming (Global Campaign-Haute Style, by Unusual Heat) settled near the rear of the field and then shot through horses at the top of the stretch to win the Grade 3, $100,000 Autumn Miss Stakes on the turf at Santa Anita Park Oct. 26, leading the slate of stakes-winning OBS grads for the week.

The Autumn Miss was the first graded stakes win for Warming, who bested second-place finisher and fellow OBS grad A Thousand Miles.

“Around the quarter pole, the horse in front of me dropped out and I saw the opportunity to shoot in between them,” winning jockey Juan Hernandez told Santa Anita publicity. “I asked my filly to go in through that hole and she did it. She just kept accelerating to the wire.”

Trained by Graham Motion, Warming was purchased by her owners at the 2024 OBS March Sale for $100,000 from the consignment of Blue Sapphire Stables after breezing in :10 1/5.

At Aqueduct Oct. 25, LSU Stables’ multiple stakes-winner Bank Frenzy (Central Banker-Storm Now, Tiznow) staved off a late bid from fellow OBS grad Doc Sullivan to capture the $250,000 Empire Classic during the annual Empire Showcase Day.

Trained by Rudy Rodriguez, Bank Frenzy earned his sixth career stakes victory – all coming in New York – as the 5-year-old Central Banker chestnut inched that much closer to millionaire status. The gelding opened his 2025 season with consecutive state-bred wins in the Stymie and Haynesfield at Aqueduct and also annexed the state-bred Commentator at Saratoga Race Course in June.

Bank Frenzy, the 2024 NYTB Champion Older Dirt Male, was purchased by Philip Harding for $110,000 out of the 2022 OBS April Sale from the Sequel Bloodstock consignment after breezing in :10 2/5.

The Empire Showcase card also saw David Staudacher and Paradise Farms Corp.’s The Wine Steward (Vino Rosso–Call to Service, by To Honor and Serve) prevail in the $200,000 Hudson Stakes.

Trained by Mike Maker, the 4-year-old Vino Rosso colt was purchased for $340,000 by Maker from the Sequel Bloodstock consignment at the 2023 OBS March Sale after breezing in :10 2/5.

At Gulfstream Park Oct. 25, Peachtree Stable homebred Spirit Doll (Tiz the Law-Pakhet, by Cairo Prince) had everything go her way racing first time on the grass and powered to a 6 ½-length victory over fellow OBS grads Vita Mia and Bayou Brigid in Saturday’s $75,000 Our Dear Peggy.

Trained by Saffie Joseph Jr., Spirit Doll became a first-time stakes winner. She was offered at the 2025 OBS April Sale by the Julie Davies consignment where she failed to meet her reserve after breezing in :10 2/5.

At Mahoning Valley Oct. 25, Crown the Buckeye (Yaupon–Feisty Tomboy, by Unbridled’s Song) made it two wins in a row with his victory in the $100,000 Best of Ohio Juvenile Stakes. Trained by Mike Maker and owned by Paradise Farms Corp., Staudacher, David and Hooties Racing LLC, Crown the Buckeye pulled away late to win by 4 ¼-lengths.

Bred by Pick View LLC, Paul W. Schaffer & William D. Pickerrell, the son of Yaupon was purchased by Sean S. Perl Bloodstock for $250,000 from the Grassroots Training & Sales consignment at the 2025 OBS April Sale after breezing in :10 flat.

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 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.

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 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.

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.

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.

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 after breezing 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.

David S. Romanik’s Argos (Nyquist – Athenian (IRE), by Acclamation (GB)) became a top-level winner and earned a fees-paid berth in the $1 million Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Turf (G1) at Del Mar when he notched a thrilling victory in the $500,000 Summer Stakes (G1) at Woodbine Sept. 13, headlining the group of stakes-winning OBS graduates for the week. 

Argos, trained by Riley Mott, was making his third career start in the Summer after winning his debut over 5 ½ furlongs on the Ellis Park turf in July, and then finishing third in the Soaring Free Stakes at Woodbine Aug. 16. The bay son of Nyquist was a $165,000 purchase by Romanik at this year’s OBS March Sale from the Majestic consignment after breezing in :20 3/5.

Saturday’s Woodbine card produced another OBS highlight as Caitlinhergrtness (Omaha Beach – Belatrix, by Giant’s Causeway), named after WNBA superstar Caitlin Clark, got herself back in the winner’s circle with a victory in the $150,000 Ontario Matron Stakes (G3).

It was the fifth win from 14 starts for the chestnut filly, who was named Canada’s champion 3-year-old female. Owned by WinStar Farm LLC, last year’s King’s Plate winner, trained by Kevin Attard, was consigned by Off the Hook to the 2023 OBS Spring Sale where she sold for $375,000 after breezing in :10 flat.

At Churchill Downs Sept. 13, Khrysselv Mavarez’s Leon King Stable Corp.’s Bentornato (Valiant Minister-Her Special Way, by Put It Back), who was making his first start since his narrow loss to Straight No Chaser in last year’s $2 million Breeders’ Cup Sprint (G1), dazzled in his 4-year-old debut when he drew of for a 5 ¼-length win in the $300,000 Louisville Thoroughbred Society Stakes. It was the fifth stakes win for the son of Valiant Minister, who is trained by Jose De’Angelo, and boosted his career earnings to $1,282,180.

Bentornato is a two-time OBS graduate, having been sold by Stuart Morris at the 2022 October Yearling Sale and then purchased by Champion Equine for $170,000 out of the Golden Rock Thoroughbreds consignment at the 2023 March Sale after breezing in :20 4/5.

At Monmouth Park on Sept. 13, heavily favored Dripping Gold, (Lemon Drop Kid – Aurelia, by Danzig) trained by Shug McGaughey, surged late to win the $1000,000 Presious Passion by three-quarters of a length.

Dripping Gold was purchased by West Point Thoroughbreds, which campaigns the gelding in partnership along with NBS Stable and Titletown Racing Stables, for $300,000 at the 2021 OBS March Sale from the consignment of Woodford Thoroughbreds after breezing in :10 1/5.