Graduate News

Spendthrift Farm’s Further Ado (Gun Runner- Sky Dreamer, by Sky Mesa), who scored his maiden victory at Keeneland by 20 lengths last October, continued to show his affinity for the Lexington track when he captured the $1,250,000 Blue Gass Stakes (G1) by 11 lengths on April 4, cementing his status as one of the favorites for the first leg of the Triple Crown and leading the slate of stakes-winning OBS graduates for the week.

With the Blue Grass victory, Further Ado earned 100 qualifying points on the Road to the Kentucky Derby leaderboard for a total of 135 points and guaranteed a spot in the starting gate for the 152nd running of the $5 million Kentucky Derby (G1).

Trained by Brad Cox, Further Ado is now a two-time graded stakes winner and boosted his earnings to $1,146,328. 

“I felt he had moved forward since Tampa (when he finished second in the Tampa Bay Derby (G3) March 7), so I expected him to run well,” Cox told Keeneland publicity. “I thought he got a great trip. We kind of put a plan together with him last fall after he won here, to run him at Churchill and have two races leading up to what we hoped would get him to the (Kentucky) Derby, and it worked out. It’s always nice when a plan works out because most of the time it doesn’t. He’s a good colt, full of quality, athletic, a great mover.”

Further Ado was purchased by Spendthrift at the 2025 OBS April Sale for $550,000 from the Six K’s Training & Sales consignment after breezing in :21 1/5. 

About an hour after Further Ado’s victory, So Happy (Runhappy-So Cunning, by Blame) joined him as a top Kentucky Derby contender when he prevailed in the $500,000 Santa Anita Derby (G1) at Santa Anita Park.

Trained by Mark Glatt, So Happy is owned by Norman Stables and Saints or Sinners. He previously captured the Grade 2, $200,000 San Vicente Stakes at Santa Anita Park Jan. 10.

“He kept on going today,” winning jockey Mike Smith told Santa Anita publicity. “Today he really felt fit and ready to race. I can’t say enough of what a great and wonderful man Mark Glatt. The Kentucky Derby is America’s race.  Anyone in the world would want to be in that race. There’s more there in the tank for sure.”

Bred by Leverett Miller, So Happy was purchased by Glatt, agent for $150,000 at the 2025 OBS March Sale out of the First Call consignment after breezing in :10 flat.

The undercard of the Blue Grass Stakes saw Grade 1 winner Saudi Crown (Always Dreaming – New Narration, by Tapit) pounce at the top of the stretch and coast to a 2¾-length victory in the Commonwealth Stakes (G3).

Trained by Brad Cox, Saudi Crown is now a three-time graded stakes winner and increased his earnings to $3,686,508. Consigned by Top Line Sales LLC, Agent, to the 2022 OBS Spring Sale, Saudi Crown was sold for $240,000 after breezing in :10 flat. 

At Aqueduct April 4, Winning Move Stable’s Yo Daddy (Yoshida (JPN)-Elle Stormin’, by Tale of the Cat) earned his first stakes score in the $150,000 Excelsior.

Trained by Linda Rice, Yo Daddy was offered at the 2023 OBS June Sale by Britton Peak where he failed to meet his reserve after breezing in :21 4/5.

At Evangeline Downs April 4, Michael H.  Rotstein and Olof, LLC’s Tiz Mary’s Comet (Good Samaritan – Suzie’s Dream, by Tiz the One) prevailed in the $60,000 Lafayette Stakes. Trained by Rylee Magnon, the gelding was purchased by his owners at the 2025 OBS June Sale from the Omar Ramirez Bloodstock consignment after breezing in :10 flat.

One year after becoming the eighth Ocala Breeders’ Sales Company graduate to win the Dubai Golden Shaheen (G1), Sultan Ali’s Dark Saffron (Flameaway -Meadow Saffron, by Military) defended his title in the $2 million race when he outsprinted reigning Breeders’ Cup Sprint (G1) winner and fellow OBS graduate Bentornato on the Dubai World Cup undercard at Meydan Racetrack March 28, leading the slate of stakes-winning OBS graduates for the week.

Trained by Ahmad Bin Harmash, Dark Saffron joins the likes of Caller One and Mind Your Biscuits as back-to-back winners of the Dubai Golden Shaheen, which serves as a ‘Win and You’re In’ qualifier for this year’s Breeders’ Cup Sprint (G1) at Keeneland.

“Obviously he won this race last year and he come back and run really well, it was a bit of a workout first time he ran this season,” winning jockey Connor Beasley told Dubai Racing Club publicity. “Then he had a bit of an incident in the stalls and banged his head and sort of lost his way. I think he lost a bit of confidence for his next three or four runs, but his last run we felt he was coming back to himself.”

Consigned by Julie Davies, Dark Saffron was purchased by Harmash Racing for $120,000 out of the 2024 OBS April sale after breezing in :9 4/5.

At Oaklawn Park on March 27, West Point Thoroughbreds’ Counting Stars (Honor A.P.- Paynterbynumbers, by Paynter) cemented her spot in the Kentucky Oaks (G1) field when she rolled to a 5 ½-length victory in the $1 million Fantasy Stakes (G2).

The Fantasy awarded 150 total points to its top five finishers (75-37.5-18.75-11.25-7.5, respectively) toward starting eligibility for the Kentucky Oaks. A daughter of Honor A. P., Counting Stars raised her career earnings to $972,606 following her fourth victory from seven starts.

Trained by dual Hall of Famer Mark Casse, Counting Stars was purchased by her owners at the 2025 OBS April Sale for $150,000 from the Wildheart Thoroughbreds consignment after breezing in :10 flat.

The Oaklawn Park card March 28 saw Doubledown Stables’ Nu What’s New (Munnings-Heavenly Scat, by Scat Daddy) hold off Grade 1 winners East Avenue and Full Serrano to win Saturday’s $500,000 Oaklawn Mile (G3) by three-quarters of a length.

The Oaklawn Mile represented the first career stakes victory for the speedy Nu What’s New, who was exiting a runner-up finish behind subsequent Dubai World Cup (G1) winner Magnitude in the $500,000 Razorback Handicap (G3) Feb. 28.

Trained by Jimmy DiVito, Nu What’s New was purchased by DiVito, as agent, for $300,000 at the 2024 OBS April Sale from the Eddie Woods consignment after breezing in :10 1/5.

At Gulfstream Park March 28, Lou Donato, Theodore Manziaris, Paul Borrelli and Lanni Bloodstock’s Sultana (Always Dreaming- Private Offering, by Pulpit) pulled off a late-rallying upset in the $175,000 Orchid Stakes (G3).

The Kevin Attard-trained daughter of Always Dreaming had run on turf only once in five prior starts.  She was a $50,000 purchase by Harbour 60 Club at the 2023 OBS June Sale from the New Hope consignment after breezing in :21. 

At Oaklawn Park on March 26, Grade 3 winner Desert Gate (Omaha Beach-Theogony, by Curlin) showed his class with a wire-to-wire romp in the one-mile $200,000 Hot Springs Stakes.

Desert Gate finished 9 3/4 lengths ahead of fellow OBS grad Soldier N Diplomat in the four-horse field. Hall of Famer Bob Baffert trains Desert Gate for longtime clients Mike Pegram, Karl Watson and Paul Weitman. He was purchased by his owners for $260,000 at the 2025 OBS March Sale from the Navas Equine consignment after breezing in :9 4/5.

At Tampa Bay Downs March 29 during the 23rd edition of the Florida Cup, Maykomotion (Vekoma-Maymont by Unbridled’s Song) made light work of the $110,000 Ocala Breeders’ Sales Sophomores by tapping into his early speed for a two-length victory.

Trained by George Weaver, he is owned by Bona Venture Stables and Bianco Thoroughbreds. He was purchased by SGV/GRW, Agent for Bona Venture Stable at the 2025 OBS April Sale for $160,000 from the Niall Brennan Stables consignment after breezing in :10 1/5.

The Florida Cup card also saw Mr Mo’s Magic (Uncle Chuck- Magical Flair, by Defrere), a Lynn Rarick trainee, pull off the 13-1 upset in the $110,000 Sophomore Turf.

Owned by Ray Huelsman and Keith Anderson, Mr Mo’s Magic is a dual OBS grad, having been sold by Summerfield to Laureles Racing for $12,000 at the 2024 OBS Winter Mixed Sale and then purchased by his owners for $50,000 at the 2025 OBS April Sale from the Majestic consignment after breezing in  :10 1/5.

Daniel Alonso’s Grade 1 winner Skippylongstocking (Exaggerator – Twinkling, by War Chant) made short work of his overmatched rivals when he cruised to a 5 ¼-length victory in the $500,000 Essex Handicap (G3) at Oaklawn Park March 21, leading the slate of stakes-winning OBS graduates.

The victory marked the 12^th career graded triumph for Skippylongstocking and increased his overall earnings to $5,746,250 after winning for the 14^th time in 37 starts. The 7-year-old son of Exaggerator has won his last three starts, including the $3 million Pegasus World Cup Invitational (G1) Jan. 24 at Gulfstream Park.

Trained by Saffie Joseph Jr. Skippylongstocking’s winning time was 1:48.82, the quickest since the Essex was extended from 1 1/16 to 1 1/8 miles in 2024.

“Obviously before the race, you’re the favorite” Joseph told Oaklawn Park publicity. “There’s a lot of pressure and you’re thinking all different variables, but it worked out great. He was very impressive once again.”

Skippylongstocking was purchased by Alonso for $37,000 out of the Top Line Sales consignment at the 2021 OBS April Sale after breezing an eighth in :10 2/5.

Paradise Farms Corp.’s Willy D’s (Lookin At Lucky-Boston Mine, by Mineshaft) out finished defending winner Mercante to capture the $295,000 Kentucky Cup Classic (G3) at Turfway Park March 21 and earn his first graded stakes win.

Trained by Mike Maker, Willy D’s boosted his earnings $757,008. The six-time winner was purchased for $60,000 by Greg Compton, agent for Danny W. Brown at the 2023 OBS April Sale from the Woodside Ranch consignment after breezing in :22 1/5.

At Fair Grounds on March 21, Twin Oaks Bloodstock’s Way to Be Marie (Not This Time –Woman of the World, by Henrythenavigator) successfully defended her title in the $150,000 Tom Benson Memorial, part of the undercard stakes on Louisiana Derby Day.

Way to Be Marie was making her first start for trainer Eddie Kenneally and rallied down the center of the stretch to capture the Tom Benson Memorial for the second straight year. She was purchased by Madaket Stables for $95,000 out of the 2023 OBS April sale from the GOP Racing Stable consignment after breezing in :21 1/5.

The Louisiana Derby undercard also saw Keith Plaisance’s Nine Part (Leofric – Alva, by Into Mischief) earn his first stakes victory in just his second turf start in the $100,000 Costa Rising.

Trained by Bobby Felks, Nine Part prevailed by one length to earn his sixth win from seven career starts. He was purchased by Nick Hines, agent for Plaisance, for $46,000 at the 2023 OBS June Sale from the Grassroots Training and Sales consignment after breezing in :10 1/5.

At Laurel Park March 21, Miss Fulton Gal (Rock Your World-Leah Forestiere, by Not This Time) managed to snatch victory from the jaws of defeat in Saturday’s $100,000 Beyond the Wire Stakes when she scored by a head.

Miss Fulton Gal is trained by Michael Gorham and is a two-time OBS graduate, having sold for $5,000 as a yearling at the 2024 OBS October Sale out of the Afleet Equine Services consignment before being purchased $35,000 at the 2025 OBS June Sale by jockey Vincent “Jimbo” Bracciale on behalf of co-owners Trott Racing Stables and Five Sisters Farm, who campaign her with John Polizos, out of the Blue Sapphire Stables consignment after breezing in :21 3/5.

At Turfway Park March 21, Highlander Training Center’s Stylish Sue (Nyquist-Maria Maria, by Curlin) went straight to the front and was never headed en route to the victory in the $248,000 Latonia Stakes.

Trained by Joe Sharp, Stylish Sue was offered by Clary Bloodstock at the 2023 OBS March Sale where she failed to meet her reserve after breezing in :10 3/5.

The Gulfstream Park card on March 22 saw Amy Dunne, Caitlin Dunne, Brenda Miley, Jean Wilkinson, Hoffman Family Racing, Tranquility Lake Farm, Maury Harrington and Christopher Harrington’s Lennilu (Leinster – Lulu’s Pom Pom, by Pomeroy) kick off her season with a victory over fellow OBS grad Mystical Belle in the $125,000 Leinster Melody of Colors.

Trained by Patrick Biancone, Lennilu earned her fifth win from seven career starts and fourth in a stakes. She was purchased by Glencrest Farm for $23,000 from the Abbie Road Farm consignment at the 2024 OBS Winter Mixed Sale.

At Fair Grounds on March 22, Blue Fire (Aurelius Maximus – Mystic Blue, by Maimonides) sped to the lead and held off fellow OBS grad Margie’s Intention in the four-horse field to win the $100,000 Shantel Lanerie Memorial

Owned by Stonestreet Stables and Peter Leidel and trained by Steve Asmussen, Blue Fire was purchased for $32,000 by Fast Horses out of the 2023 OBS Winter Mixed Sale from the Kaizen Sales consignment.

Taking command on the outside turning for home, Spendthrift Farm’s Goodall (Yaupon-Moon Over Mag Bay, by Malibu Moon) drew off to a 4 ½-length victory in the $150,000 Purple Martin Stakes at Oaklawn Park March 14, leading the slate of stakes-winning OBS graduates.

Ridden by Erik Asmussen, Goodall prevailed over fellow OBS grad River Wind and covered six furlongs over a fast track in 1:08.78, besting the previous stakes record (1:09.01), set in 2021 by Pretty Birdie.

Trained by Steve Asmussen, Goodall was purchased by Spendthrift for $525,000 at the 2025 OBS April Sale from the consignment of Tom McCrocklin after breezing in :20 2/5.

At Turfway Park on March 14, Bradley Thoroughbreds, Gainesway Stable, Laura Leigh Stable, Scott Estes, and Cambron Equine’s Lithe Spirit (Speightstown – Spooky Woods, by Ghostzapper) prevailed in $125,000 Queen Stakes for the second year in a row.

Trained by Steve Asmussen, Lithe Spirit won both the Wishing Well Stakes and Queen Stakes at Turfway last season. She was purchased by Bradley Thoroughbreds for $485,000 from the Scanlon Training & Sales consignment at the 2023 OBS Spring Sale of Two-Year-Olds in Training after breezing in :9 3/5.

At Colonial Downs March 14, St. Elias Stable, WSS Racing, Turf Express and Stefania Farms’ Eunomia (Tiz the Law-Speedy Vanessa, by American Pharoah) stalked and pounced to win the second division of the $100,000 Sandy Bottom Stakes.

Making her third start since joining Saffie Joseph Jr.’s barn, Eunomia bided her time before surging past the leader in mid-stretch and holding firmly to win by 2 ¾ lengths.

Eunomia was purchased for $190,000 by Jewel Box Racing 2 at the 2024 OBS March Sale from the Niall Brennan consignment after galloping during the under-tack show.

OGMA Investments, JR Ranch and High Step Racing, LLC’s The Puma (Essential Quality- Eve of War, by Declaration of War) stalked and pounced in the lane to capture the Grade 3, $400,000 Tampa Bay Derby at Tampa Bay Downs on March 7, earning 50 points on the Road to the Kentucky Derby and leading the slate of stakes-winning OBS graduates for the week.

Fellow OBS grad Further Ado, trained by Brad Cox, was the runner-up.

“We’re a small barn. We have to scout, we have to buy the horses. It’s more gratifying when you only get one or two horses at the sale, and they end up like this,” Gustavo Delgado, Jr., the assistant trainer to his father, Gustavo Delgado, Sr., told America’s Best Racing from the winner’s circle “From the first time he ran, I said that this is a very good horse, and I kept telling everyone.”

The Puma dueled through the lane with Further Ado before edging clear by three-quarters of a length at the wire. He was purchased by Marquee Bloodstock for $150,000 out of the Hidden Brook consignment at the 2025 OBS April Sale after breezing in :10 flat.

In the Grade 2, $225,000 Hillsborough Stakes on the undercard of the Tampa Bay Derby, Steve Landers Racing’s Destino d’Oro (Bolt d’Oro- Heart of Destiny, by Lion Heart) overcame a troubled trip to triumph in a five-horse blanket rush to the finish.

Trained by Brad Cox, the daughter of Bolt d’Oro took the Grade 2 Pegasus World Cup Filly and Mare Turf at Gulfstream Park in her previous start and is now a three-time graded stakes winner. She was purchased by Cary Bloodstock on behalf of her owner for $185,000 at the 2024 OBS April Sale from the consignment of CM Thoroughbreds after breezing in :10 flat.

The Tampa Bay Derby card also saw Tagermeen Racing’s Dandona (Tiz the Law-Tulsa Queen, by Cactus Ridge) make her first foray into stakes company a winning one as she rallied from the back of the pack to capture the Grade 3, $200,000 Florida Oaks for trainer Saffie Joseph, Jr. 

Dandona was purchased by Mahmud Mouni for $1.05 million from the Kings Equine consignment at the 2025 OBS April Sale after breezing in :9 4/5.

At Aqueduct on March 7, Michael Dubb’s Sculcos Folly (Redesdale- Cool Johanna, by Johannesburg) led each step of the way en route to a 5 3/4-length victory in Saturday’s $135,000 Gander, a one-turn mile for New York-bred sophomores.

Trained by Rick Dutrow, Jr., the son of Redesdale was a $70,000 purchase by Chad Schumer at the 2025 OBS April Sale from the Omar Ramirez Bloodstock consignment after breezing in :10 flat.

The Aqueduct card also saw Victory Hall (Independence Hall- Into Victory, by Into Mischief) edge clear late to notch her first black type stakes victory in Saturday’s $135,000 Maddie May.

Campaigned by Twin Sports Racing, Cypresshead Racing and Let’s Go Racing, Victory Hall was making her first start for trainer Tom Morley. She was offered at last year’s OBS April Sale by the Majestic consignment but failed to meet her reserve after breezing in :10 1/5.

Pantofel Stable, Wachtel Stable and Gary Barber’s Bold Journey (Hard Spun – Polly Freeze, by Super Saver) rallied from last-of-5 to secure his second career graded score in the Grade 3, $175,000 Tom Fool Stakes at Aqueduct Racetrack Feb. 28, leading the slate of stakes-winning OBS graduates for the week. 

Trained by Hall of Famer Bill Mott, the 7-year-old son of Hard Spun previously captured the Grade 3 Fall Highweight Handicap in 2023. On Saturday, he rallied down the outside of the track to get up and win by a nose with fellow OBS grad One Nine Hundred in third.

“He did his job today. He was able to get really comfortable,” winning jockey Eric Cancel told NYRA publicity.  “By the three-eighths (pole), he started picking it up little by little. Once we turned for home, I still had some horse, and he gave his all out there.”

Bold Journey was purchased by McMahon and Hill Bloodstock, agent for $80,000 out of the McKathan Bros. consignment at the 2021 OBS April Sale after breezing in :10 1/5.

At Fair Grounds Feb. 28, Black Hornet (Essential Quality-Brattata, by More Than Ready) tipped out in the stretch and ran down odds-on favorite Touch of Fire to win the $100,000 Black Gold Stakes.

Trained by Brendan Walsh and owned by Calumet Farm, the son of Essential Quality was purchased by his owner at the 2025 OBS March Sale for $120,000 from the Scanlon Training & Sales consignment after breezing in :10 1/5.

Saturday’s Fair Grounds card also saw Boss of All Bosses (Street Boss-Tensas Salt, by Salt Lake) take command in the final furlong to win the $100,000 Edward J. Johnston Memorial Stakes by 3 1/2 lengths for trainer Mike Maker. Owned by Paradise Farms Corp., David Staudacher, Angelo Carlesimo, and Gata Racing Stable, the colt was purchased by Maker for $90,000 at the 2024 OBS April Sale from the Grassroots Training and Sales consignment after breezing in :10 1/5. 

On March 1 at Aqueduct, Winning Move Stable, John C. Oxley, Lady Sheila Stable, Silverwood Stables and Sanford H. Robbins’ With the Angels (Omaha Beach – Sister Margaret, by Pulpit) earned a 4 1/2-length score for her first open-company stakes victory in Sunday’s $135,000 Correction Stakes.

Trained by Linda Rice, the 4-year-old daughter of Omaha Beach adds to previous state-bred stakes success in the Joseph A. Gimma, Maid of the Mist and Key Cents as part of a 4-for-4 juvenile campaign in 2024. She was purchased by Justin Casse, agent out of the Wavertree Stables consignment at the 2024 OBS April Sale for $350,000 after breezing in :9 4/5.

John Oxley’s Silent Tactic (Tacitus-Magical Sign, by Gun Runner) roared late to capture the $1 million Southwest Stakes (G3) Feb. 6 at Oaklawn Park, putting himself on the Kentucky Derby trail and leading the slate of stakes-winning OBS graduates for the week.

Ridden by Cristian Torres and trained by dual Hall of Famer Mark Casse, Silent Tactic led a sweep of the top three places by OBS grads when he finished 3 ¼ lengths ahead of Solider N Diplomat with Buetane a head farther back in third. He collected 20 Kentucky Derby qualifying points in the Southwest and has 25 points overall. Silent Tactic, a son of Tacitus, also became the first graded stakes winner for his sire.

“He wanted to go and I just waited a little bit longer,” Torres told Oaklawn Park publicity. “I knew when I got him clear he was going to fire for me. Good horse, Hopefully, he’s going to keep improving. The more distance the better, I think.”

Silent Tactic was purchased by Justin Casse for $500,000 at the 2025 OBS April Sale from the Thorostock consignment after breezing in :10 1/5.

At Santa Anita Park Feb. 7, El Potente (Temple City – Charmsil, by Silver Charm) won the Grade 3, $100,000 Thunder Road Stakes for the second year in a row when rolling to a front-running victory.

Trained by Dan Blacker, El Potente is owned by My Way Racing LLC and was purchased by McMahon and Hill Bloodstock, agent for $35,000 out of the Nice and Easy Thoroughbreds consignment at the 2021 OBS June Sale after breezing in :10 1/5.

The Feb. 7 card at Santa Anita also saw Light Won Up (City of Light-Factorofwon, by The Factor) roll to a 2 ¾-length victory in the $100,000 Sweet Life Stakes.

Trained by Doug O’Neill, the filly by City of Light bested fellow OBS grad Himika, who was making her turf debut. Light Won Up is owned by Purple Rein Racing and Mark D. Davis. She was purchased by her owners for $265,000 at last year’s OBS March Sale from the Top Line Sales consignment after breezing in :10 1/5.

At Tampa Bay Downs Feb. 7, Florida-bred stalwart Mystic Lake (Mo Town – Salty Soul, by Itsmyluckyday) broke on top and turned her speed up a notch after being headed briefly on the turn for home, powering to a 7 ½-length victory in the $125,000 Minaret Stakes.

Now 12-for-22 lifetime, Mystic Lake improved her career bankroll to $1,537,517. She is owned by Miller Racing, BAG Racing Stables and Stefania Farms and trained by Saffie Joseph, Jr. She is a two-time OBS graduate, sold by Summerfield (Francis & Barbara Vanlangendonck), Agent, at the 2022 October Yearling Sale and then purchased for $130,000 out of the Tom McCrocklin consignment at the 2023 March Sale after breezing in :20 4/5.

At Turfway Park Feb. 7, BSF Equine Athlete’s Coco Connect (Connect-Miss Chanel, by Commissioner) notched her first career stakes victory when she defeated five rivals by a half-length in the $125,000 Valdale Stakes.

Trained by John Ennis, Coco Connect was purchased by Jeremiah O’Dwyer, agent at the 2025 OBS March Sale for $150,000 from the Wildheart Thoroughbreds consignment after breezing in :21.

On Feb. 8 at Oaklawn Park, heavily favored Roll On Big Joe (Prospective – Nina’s Gift, by Victory Gallop) carried his razor-sharp form into 2026, scoring a half-length victory over Tejano Twist in the $150,000 King Cotton Stakes.

The King Cotton was the fifth career stakes victory and third consecutive for Roll On Big Joe, owned by Rancho Temescal LLC, Rancho Temescal Thoroughbred Partners, White Fence LLC and Richard Hale Jr.  All five stakes victories have come in the last year, including the $150,000 Ring the Bell Dec. 13 at Oaklawn to conclude his 2025 campaign.

Trained by Bob Hess Jr., Roll On Big Joe was purchased by Southern California-based owner Tim Cohen (Rancho Temescal) for $90,000 at the 2022 OBS June Sale from the Gayle Woods consignment after breezing in :10 flat.

At Santa Anita on Feb. 8, Jim Daniell’s Yellow Card (Lost Treasure (IRE)-Paris Girl, by Pulpit) closed to win the $100,000 Clockers’ Corner Stakes.

Trained by Michael McCarthy, Yellow Card earned his first stakes win. He was purchased by West Bloodstock at the 2023 OBS April Sale for $87,000 from the Little Farm Equine consignment after breezing in :10 flat.

At Oaklawn Park on Feb. 6, T.C. Stables and Hickory Stables’ Mackman (Union Rags-Silverpocketsfull, by Indian Charlie) earned his first stakes victory when he captured the $135,000 General MacArthur Overnight Stakes. Trained by Matt Shirer, Mackman was purchased by his owners for $160,000 at the 2022 OBS April Sale from the Mayberry Farm consignment after breezing in :10 1/5.

Daniel Alonso’s Skippylongstocking (Exaggerator – Twinkling, by War Chant) finally added a top-level victory to his accomplished resume when the hard-knocking 7-year-old captured the $3 million Pegasus World Cup Invitational (G1) at Gulfstream Park Jan. 25 in his unprecedented fourth try in the race, leading the slate of stakes-winning OBS graduates.

In taking the 1 1/8-mile stakes for 4-year-olds and up, Skippylongstocking defeated the 2025 Pegasus World Cup winner and fellow Saffie Joseph Jr. trainee and OBS grad White Abarrio by 1 ¾ lengths. The veteran runner also earned a fees paid entry into the $7 million Breeders’ Cup Classic (G1) Oct. 31 at Keeneland.

 “It just means everything. He’s an amazing horse, and he deserves it,” Alonso told Gulfstream Park publicity. “Watching the races today we knew it was going to be tough coming from that far back, but he just found another gear today that we hadn’t seen before. To beat a champion like White Abarrio, it’s amazing.”

The Pegasus gave Skippylongstocking his 13^th win from 36 career starts and improved his bankroll to $5,461,250. He was purchased by Alonso for $37,000 out of the Top Line Sales consignment at the 2021 OBS April Sale after breezing an eighth in :10 2/5.

The Pegasus World Cup card also saw Steve Landers Racing LLC’s Destino d’Oro (Bolt d’Oro- Heart of Destiny, by Lion Heart) capture the $500,000 Pegasus World Cup Filly and Mare Turf Invitational (G2).

Trained by Brad Cox, the 4-year-old filly previously won the Pucker Up (G3) at Ellis Park in August and has now improved her career earnings to more than $830,000. She was purchased by her owner for $185,000 at the 2024 OBS April Sale from the consignment of CM Thoroughbreds after breezing in :10 flat.

Norman Stables LLC and Saints or Sinners’ So Happy (Runhappy-So Cunning, by Blame) made a successful leap into graded company when he prevailed in the Grade 2, $200,000 San Vicente Stakes at Santa Anita Park January 10, leading the slate of stakes-winning OBS graduates for the week.

Bred by Leverett Miller and trained by Mark Glatt, So Happy’s victory kicked off a banner weekend that saw OBS graduates sweep all three graded stakes scheduled. The son of Runhappy surged to the lead inside the final furlong and held off a late charge from 1-2 favorite and fellow OBS grad Buetane to score by two lengths.

“I was really happy with the way he handled the seven-eighths because usually that’s a pretty good indication they will go two turns,” winning jockey Mike Smith told Santa Anita publicity. “He was well within himself running underneath the wire. I was really happy with the way he did things.”

So Happy was purchased by Glatt, agent for $150,000 at the 2025 OBS March Sale out of the First Call consignment after breezing in :10 flat.

So Happy’s triumph set the stage for an outstanding couple of days for Glatt and Saints or Sinners. The following day’s Santa Anita card saw the connections enjoy more success with another OBS grad when Margarita Girl (Twirling Candy-My Day, by Uncle Mo) was victorious in the Grade 3, $100,000 Las Flores Stakes to notch her first career graded win.

A 4-year-old daughter of Twirling Candy, Margarita Girl joined Glatt’s barn as a juvenile with high expectations after being purchased by Saints or Sinners for $575,000 at the 2024 OBS March Sale from the Wavertree Stables consignment after breezing in :9 4/5.

The Jan. 11 card at Santa Anita also saw Queen Maxima (Bucchero – Corfu Lady, by Corfu) earn her fifth stakes and third at the graded level when prevailing in the Grade 3, $100,000 Las Cienegas Stakes for older fillies and mares on the hillside turf course.

A 5-year-old daughter of fellow OBS grad Bucchero, Queen Maxima is owned by Dutch Girl Holdings LLC and Irving Ventures and trained by Jeff Mullins. Consigned by Blue River Bloodstock, she was purchased by Michael Pender, agent for $40,000 from the 2023 OBS June Sale after breezing in :20 3/5.

At Fair Grounds on Jan. 10, Blue Fire (Aurelius Maximus – Mystic Blue, by Maimonides) proved too much in the $100,000 Bob F. Wright Memorial Stakes, winning by 2 1/4 lengths. Owned by Stonestreet Stables and Peter Leidel and trained by Steve Asmussen, Blue Fire was purchased for $32,000 by Fast Horses out of the 2023 OBS Winter Mixed Sale from the Kaizen Sales consignment.