Graduate News

Rancho Temescal LLC, White Fence LLC and Richard Hale Jr.’s Roll On Big Joe (Prospective – Nina’s Gift, by Victory Gallop) collared speedster Booth at the top of the stretch en route to a three-quarters of a length victory in the $220,000 Kelly’s Landing (G3) at Churchill Downs June 28, becoming one of three OBS grads to earn graded wins over the past week.

Trained by Bob Hess Jr., the gelded son of Prospective earned his second graded stakes win having previously annexed the $100,000 Palos Verdes (G3) at Santa Anita in February. 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 Woodbine on Saturday, Al and Bill Ulwelling’s Mansetti (Collected-Gidget Girl, by Sky Mesa) rebounded from a troubled fifth-place finish in his previous start, the Queenston Stakes, to post a stellar showing in the $150,000 Marine Stakes (G3). The Kevin Attard trained colt previously notched stakes scores in this year’s Woodstock and the 2024 edition of the Clarendon. Consigned to the 2024 OBS Spring Sale by Eddie Woods, Agent, Mansetti was sold for $40,000 to his owners after breezing in :20 4/5.  

On June 27, D J Stable’s Dream On (Not This Time – Mamma Kimbo, by Discreet Cat) earned his first graded stakes victory when he captured the Grade 3, $400,000 Penn Mile Stakes at Penn National Race Course. The Mark Casse-trained colt, third in the Grade 1 Summer Stakes last September, was purchased by D.J. Stable for $380,000 out of the 2024 OBS Spring Sale of 2-Year-Olds in Training from the de Meric Sales consignment after breezing in :10 1/5.

Other stakes winners included Steve Asmussen’s Neom Beach (Omaha Beach – Giant’s Causey, by Giant’s Causeway) taking the $125,000 Wasted Tears on June 28 at Lone Star Park for her second straight stakes win. Neom Beach was purchased by Nwadr Stables for $210,000 out of the 2023 OBS April Sale from the consignment of Julie Davies after breezing in :10 flat.

At Aqueduct June 29, Mitre Box Stable, Clear Stars Stable and Eighth Note Stable’s Sunday Girl (Central Banker-Lady Daphne, by Harlan’s Holiday) extended her win streak to four with a pacesetting victory in the $125,000 John Hettinger. Trained by David Duggan, the daughter of Central Banker was purchased for $43,000 at the 2022 OBS October Sale by Kathryn Martin from the consignment of McMahon of Saratoga Thoroughbreds.

Also on June 29, Resolute Racing’s Verifire (Authentic – Ruby Trust, by Smart Strike) rolled down the Churchill Downs stretch to dominate the $239,685 Maxfield Stakes by 2 ¾ lengths and remain unbeaten in three starts. Trained by Brad Cox, Verifire was purchased for $1 million by Resolute Bloodstock out of the Hartley/DeRenzo Thoroughbreds consignment at the 2024 OBS March 2-year-olds in training sale after breezing in :9 4/5. All four of the top prices from that sale have gone on to become stakes performers.

Following a victory in the Group 2 Godolphin Mile, Yuesheng Zhang and Craig Dado’s Raging Torrent (Maximus Mischief-Violent Wave, by Violence) added to his impressive resume in his stateside return with a gate-to-wire victory in Saturday’s Grade 1, $1 million Metropolitan Handicap on Belmont Stakes Day at Saratoga Race Course, becoming one of two OBS grads to earn graded wins on the day.

In victory, Raging Torrent was awarded a berth into the Grade 1 Breeders’ Cup Dirt Mile in November at Del Mar as part of the “Win and You’re In” Challenge Series.

Trained by Doug O’Neill, the 4-year-old son of Maximus Mischief asserted himself over a formidable group that included champion Fierceness. The win was Raging Torrent’s sixth in his last seven outings and gave him his second Grade 1 triumph to go along with his victory in Santa Anita Park’s Malibu in December.

Raging Torrent increased his career bankroll to $1,797,400. He was purchased by Mark Davis for $75,000 out of the 2023 OBS April sale from the consignment of Randy Bradshaw after breezing in 10 flat.

At Santa Anita Park, Bob Baffert trained Cash Call (McKinzie – D’fashion, by D’wildcat ) outbattled stablemate Howin in the stretch to win the $100,000 Summertime Oaks (G3) in her first start around two turns.

Cash Call races for owner CSLR Racing Partners. She was purchased from the consignment of Eddie Woods by Bill Childs for $600,000 at the 2024 OBS April Sale of 2-year-olds in training after breezing in :20 1/5.

For Immediate Release

Hard knocking OBS graduate Skippylongstocking (Exaggerator – Twinkling, by War Chant) added another achievement to his accomplished resume when he scored at odds-on in the Grade 2, $200,000 Hollywood Gold Cup going 1 ¼ miles May 26 at Santa Anita Park.

For Skippylongstocking, who is based with trainer Saffie Joseph, Jr. the victory marked his eighth graded stakes victory at six different tracks in four-plus seasons of racing. It pushed his overall record to 11-3-7 from 32 starts with career earnings of $3,661,610.

“He’s just a hard knocking horse who takes his track with him everywhere he goes,” Joseph told the Santa Anita publicity team. “He’s a sound horse and he’s very strong mentally. We’ll be forever grateful for him.”

Skippylongstocking won in a time of 2:01.64 for owner Daniel Alonso, besting runner-up and fellow OBS grad Midnight Mammoth. He was purchased by Alonso for $37,000 out of the Top Line Sales consignment at the 2021 OBS Spring Sale after breezing an eighth in :10 2/5.

Other OBS grads to earn stakes victories over the holiday weekend included Happy Tenth Stable’s Buccherino (Bucchero – Bellimbusto, by First Dude) who rolled to a one-length victory in Monday’s $100,000 Mr. Prospector Stakes at Monmouth Park. Trained by Alfredo Velazquez, the 4-year-old son of OBS grad Bucchero is now 2-for-2 this year after being idle for more than eight months after tearing the frog off one of his hooves.

Buccherino was purchased for $75,000 from the Blue River Bloodstock, Inc. consignment at the 2023 OBS April Sale after breezing in :10 flat.

At Lone Star Park May 26, C2 Racing Stable’s Mystic Lake (Mo Town – Salty Soul, by Itsmyluckyday) notched a two-length win in the $100,000 Memorial Day Sprint for trainer Saffie Joseph.

Named the 2024 Florida-bred Horse of the Year by the Florida Thoroughbred Breeders’ and Owners’ Association, Mystic Lake 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.

The Lone Star Park holiday card also saw Steve Asmussen’s Neom Beach (Omaha Beach – Giant’s Causey, by Giant’s Causeway) earn her first stakes win when she romped to a 6 1/2-length win in the $200,000 Ouija Board Distaff, which was moved from turf to dirt. Neom Beach was purchased by Nwadr Stables for $210,000 out of the 2023 OBS April Sale from the consignment of Julie Davies after breezing in :10 flat.

On Sunday at Hawthorne, the $50,000 Work All Week Stakes took place for sprinters and was captured by King Cab (Noble Bird – Alotofappeal, by Trippi) by a half-length. Owned by Maribel Triana and trained by Heather Irion, King Cab was purchased by Plesa, Melin, and Ellman for $110,000 at the 2021 OBS June Sale from the Ocala Stud consignment after breezing in :21 4/5.

For Immediate Release

WinStar Farm and Baron Stable’s Margie’s Intention (Honor A. P. – Playful Dancer, by Into Mischief) unleashed a relentless run through the stretch to reel in pacesetter Paris Lily and register a three-quarter-length victory in the $300,000 Black-Eyed Susan Stakes (G2) at Pimlico Race Course May 16, becoming one of two OBS grads to earn graded stakes wins on the weekend.

Racing exclusively against fellow Louisiana-breds at Fair Grounds, Margie’s Intention was making her debut in open company. She ran fourth in her mid-December unveiling before registering back-to-back wins and running second in a pair of stakes.

“Obviously, a big win being a Grade 2 and we thought she would like the mile and an eighth and she pretty much needed all of it to get there,” trainer Brad Cox told the Pimlico publicity team. “She ran a big race. We haven’t had her that long, but she performed well on an off track this winter. I thought she moved forward today. It was a demanding race; she was under a ride turning for home and she finished the race off.”

Margie’s Intention was purchased by Corbin Blumberg, agent for $185,000 out of the 2024 OBS April sale from the consignment of Sequel Bloodstock after breezing in :10 flat.

On the undercard of the Preakness Stakes (G1) May 17, William Heiligbrodt, Corinne Heiligbrodt, Jackpot Farm and Whispering Oaks Farm’s Booth (Mitole – Sophia’s Song, by Bellamy Road) extended his win streak to four races with his third consecutive graded triumph, a front-running score in the $150,000 Maryland Sprint (G3).

Trained by Hall of Famer Steve Asmussen, Booth improved to 4-for-5 in his 4-year-old season. His sire, fellow OBS grad Mitole, won the 2018 Chick Lang at Pimlico and was the champion male sprinter of 2019.

Booth was purchased by the Heiligbrodts and Jackpot Farm for $225,000 out of the 2023 OBS March sale from the Wavertree Stables consignment after breezing in :10 flat.

Among the other OBS grads to earn stakes wins on the weekend were Fergus Galvin’s Play With Fire (Oscar Performance – Streaming Fire, by Street Sense), who swept up to take the lead in mid-stretch and continued to the wire en route to capturing the $125,000 Hilltop by a length at Pimlico on May 16.

Trained by Brendan Walsh, Play With Fire was purchased by Galvin for $85,000 at the 2024 OBS March sale from the consignment of Niall Brennan Stables after galloping during the under-tack show.

At Gulfstream Park May 17, Most Handsome (Neolithic – Precious Lady, by Songandaprayer) led every point of call to notch a victory in the $75,000 Roar Stakes. Owned by trainer Ronald Spatz and David Romanik, Most Handsome was offered at the 2024 OBS March Sale from the the On Track consignment but failed to meet his reserve after breezing in :9 4/5.

At Horseshoe Indianapolis May 14, Smoken Boy (Catholic Boy – Smoken Deb, by Cairo Prince) got the edge late to win by a head over Chasing Liberty in the $150,000 Caesars Handicap. Trained by Cheryl Winebaugh for KEM Stables, Smoken Boy was purchased for $15,000 out of the 2024 OBS June Sale by C.H.P.R. from the consignment of Niall Brennan Stables after breezing in :10 2/5.

For Immediate Release

Shisospicy (Mitole – Mischief Galore, by Into Mischief) led the slate of stakes-winning OBS graduates this past weekend when she earned her second straight stakes victory and first graded score with a dominant 4 ¼-length win in the $224,625 Mamzelle Stakes (G3) for 3-year-old fillies at Churchill Downs May 10.

Ridden by Jose Ortiz and trained by Jose D’Angelo, Shisospicy clocked 5 ½ furlongs on firm turf in a stakes record time of 1:01.46 for Josh Mendez’s Morplay Racing LLC. The victory was worth $129,820 and increased Shisospicy’s earnings to $415,370 with a record of 6-4-1-1. She is unbeaten in three starts on grass.

“Our goal is always to have fun and this was a lot of fun,” said Rich Mendez, the founder of Morplay Racing, to the Churchill Downs publicity team. “We knew after the Limestone (Stakes at Keeneland) we had a lot of confidence with her moving forward. She’s run so well in all of her starts.”

Shisospicy was offered at the 2024 OBS April sale by Hartley/DeRenzo where she was an RNA after breezing in :9 3/5.

At Gulfstream Park, Lennilu (Leinster – Lulu’s Pom Pom, by Pomeroy), owned by Amy Dunne, Caitlin Dunne, Brenda Miley, Jean Wilkinson, Hoffman Family Racing, Tranquility Lake Farm, Maury Harrington and Christopher Harrington, punched her ticket to Royal Ascot when she romped to a 3 ¾ length victory in the $100,000 Royal Palm Juvenile Fillies.

The Royal Palm Juvenile Fillies winner earned an automatic berth in one of six juvenile stakes during the prestigious Royal Ascot meeting in mid-June, plus a $25,000 travel stipend.

“The plan is Royal Ascot as long as she is healthy and everything goes right,” winning trainer Patrick Biancone said to the Gulfstream Park publicity team.

Lennilu was purchased by Glencrest Farm for $23,000 from the Abbie Road Farm consignment at the 2024 OBS Winter Mixed Sale.

At Monmouth Park on Saturday, Kentucky Outlaw (Outwork – Fend, by Street Sense) gave owner-trainer Felissa Dunn her first career stakes win, rolling to 1 1/2-length victory in the $102,000 Long Branch Stakes – earning a free entry and free start fees to the Grade 1 Haskell Stakes on July 19.

It marked the third win in four career starts for the son of Outwork, who was picked out of the 2024 OBS June Sale from the Kinsman Farm consignment for $12,000 by Felissa’s husband John Dunn after breezing in :10 3/5. The colt previously sold for $10,000 at the 2023 OBS October Yearling Sale to Angel Martinez out of the Whitman Sales consignment.

At Prairie Meadows, Patricia’s Hope LLC and Richard Ravin’s Rich City Girl (City of Light – Hassler (IRE), by War Front) earned her first stakes win when she captured the $50,000 Goldfinch Stakes in her seasonal bow. Trained by Larry Rivelli, the filly was purchased by Patricia’s Hope for $435,000 out of the Top Line Sales consignment at the 2024 OBS March sale after breezing in :9 4/5.

For Immediate Release

Mark Fletcher Taylor, trainer Rohan Crichton and Daniel Walters’ Macho Music (Maclean’s Music-Southern Girl, by Tapit) went to the front and never was headed en route to a 3 1/4-length victory in the $600,000 Pat Day Mile (G2) at Churchill Downs May 3, becoming one of two OBS grads to earn graded stakes victories on the weekend.

Ridden by Javier Castellano, Macho Music completed the mile over a sloppy track in 1:35.65. The Florida-bred son of Maclean’s Music has won four of eight starts with Saturday’s triumph being his first graded-stakes score.

“He’s a very fast horse and he’s very competitive,” Castellano told Churchill Downs publicity. “His last race down at Tampa when he stretched out in distance gave me a lot of confidence he’d be able to handle the step up in class today.”

Macho Music’s owners purchased him for $60,000 from the Pick View consignment at the 2024 OBS March Sale after breezing in :10 2/5.

Fellow OBS grad Gaming was third.

One day earlier at Churchill Downs, Dutch Girl Holdings and Irving Ventures’ Queen Maxima (Bucchero – Corfu Lady, by Corfu) uncorked a four-wide rally at the top of the stretch and then drew off to score a 3 1/2-length victory in the $400,000 Unbridled Sidney (G3).

Trained by Jeff Mullins and ridden by Juan Hernandez, Queen Maxima completed the 5 ½ furlongs over a course rated as good in 1:01.29 to establish a course record.

A 4-year-old daughter of OBS grad Bucchero, Queen Maxima has won five consecutive races and earned her second consecutive Grade 3 score. 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 Oaklawn Park on May 3, almost exactly a year after winning the Kentucky Derby (G1) by a nose, Mystik Dan was beaten by the same margin by Grade 1 winner Saudi Crown (Always Dreaming – New Narration, Tapit) in the $200,000 Lake Ouachita Stakes.

Trained by Brad Cox for FMQ Stables (Faisal Alqahtani), Saudi Crown collected $117,000 for the victory, his seventh in 15 lifetime starts, and improved his bankroll to $3,427,385. He recorded his biggest career victory to date in the 2023 $1 million Pennsylvania Derby (G1).

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 Gulfstream Park, Starship Stables’ Starship Impulsive (Improbable – K P Wildcat, by Include), a front-running winner in her two-turn debut last month, used similar tactics to become a stakes winner for the first time in Saturday’s $80,000 Honey Ryder Stakes.

Ridden by Leonel Reyes for trainer Steve Dwoskin, Starship Impulsive registered her second straight win and third in six starts. Consigned by Wildheart Thoroughbreds, she was sold for $50,000 at the 2024 OBS April Sale after breezing in :10 flat.

For Immediate Release

Kretz Racing LLC’s Cabo Spirit (Pioneerof the Nile-Fancy Day (IRE), by Shamardal) added to his million-dollar bankroll April 20 when he scored a front-running victory in the $100,000 American Stakes (G3) on the turf at Santa Anita Park to lead the slate of stakes-winning OBS grads over the weekend.

Trained by George Papaprodromou, Cabo Spirit crossed the wire in 1:34.42 to win by three-quarters of a length. His previous graded stakes wins included the Grade 3 La Jolla Handicap at Del Mar, Twilight Derby (G2) at Santa Anita, and Grade 2 John Henry Turf Championship at Santa Anita.

“He is a really nice horse. Since we gelded him, he is much more relaxed in his races,” Papaprodromou told the Santa Anita publicity team. “He is a nice horse and hopefully we can win some more races with him.”

A 6-year-old gelding, Cabo Spirit was consigned to the 2021 OBS April Sale by Eddie Woods, Agent, and purchased for $575,000 by Gayle Van Leer, Agent, after breezing a quarter in :20 4/5.

At Aqueduct on April 19, R and H Stable’s New York-bred Mo Plex (Complexity-Mo Joy, by Uncle Mo) earned a head score in the $150,000 Bay Shore Stakes.

Trained by Jeremiah Englehart, the colt previously prevailed in the Grade 3 Sanford and state-bred Funny Cide Stakes at Saratoga Race Course. He was a $45,000 purchase by JCE Racing out of the Hoppel LLC consignment at last year’s OBS Spring Sale of 2-Year-Olds in Training after breezing quarter in :21 1/5.

Three OBS grads earned stakes wins at Laurel Park April 19.

Pay Billy (Improbable – Harlington’s Rose, by Harlington) earned a guaranteed spot in the starting gate for the Grade 1, $2,000,000 Preakness Stakes on May 17 when he captured the $150,000 Federico Tesio Stakes. Trained by Michael Gorham, the bay colt was purchased by RKTN Racing for $60,000 from the Scanlon Training & Sales consignment at the 2024 OBS April’s OBS Juvenile auction after breezing in :10 2/5.               

In the $150,000 Weber City Miss Stakes, Complexity Jane (Complexity – Bestinthebusiness, by Ghostzapper) put her opponents to sleep with a pacesetting victory. Owned by Michael Golden of Golden Lion Racing, Complexity Jane was purchased by Sycamore Hall Thoroughbreds for $170,000 at the 2024 March Sale from the Scanlon Training & Sales consignment after breezing in :10 1/5.

“We went down to OBS looking for a nice horse,” trainer Brittany Russell told the Laurel Park publicity team. “She was one of the top fillies on the list that we liked, and we got her. I couldn’t believe it, honestly. I was pumped. Out of all of them, she was the one I wanted.”

In the $100,000 Henry S. Clark Stakes, Signator (Tapit – Pension, by Seeking the Gold) avoided traffic congestion early and persevered late for a half-length victory for trainer Shug McGaughey. Owned by a group led by West Point Thoroughbreds, Signator was a $1.7 million purchase by Lane’s End Racing & West Point Thoroughbreds from the Eddie Woods consignment out of the 2022 OBS April Sale after breezing in :20 4/5.

For Immediate Release

Steve Asmussen-trained Booth (Mitole – Sophia’s Song, by Bellamy Road) earned his third career stakes victory and sixth victory in 10 starts overall when he scored a three-quarter length win over stablemate Ryvit in the $500,000 Count Fleet Sprint Handicap (G3) at Oaklawn Park April 12 to lead the slate of stakes-winning OBS graduates this past week.

Booth previously captured the Grade 3 Whitmore Stakes on March 15 and represented the fourth consecutive Count Fleet victory for Asmussen.

“Just extremely proud to win such a significant race; been a very special race,” Asmussen told the Oaklawn publicity team. “The (co-owners William and Corinne) Heiligbrodts and their partnership group, and with a son of Mitole who had also won this race for us, on a beautiful day here at Oaklawn – couldn’t be any nicer.”

William and Corinne Heiligbrodt, along with Jackpot Farm (Terry Green), purchased Booth for $225,000 at the 2023 OBS March Sale from the Wavertree Stables consignment after he breezed in 10.0. Whispering Oaks Farm (Carrol Castille) is now a co-owner.

Booth’s triumph was part of a strong weekend for OBS grad and Spendthrift sire Mitole. At Keeneland, Morplay Racing’s Shisospicy (Mitole – Mischief Galore, by Into Mischief) earned her first stakes win when she took the lead out of the gate and maintained it throughout en route to a half-length victory in the $300,000 Limestone Stakes April 11.

Trained by Jose D’Angelo and ridden by Irad Ortiz Jr., Shisospicy is now 2-for-2 on the grass. She was offered at the 2024 OBS April sale by Hartley/DeRenzo where she was an RNA after breezing in :9 3/5.

At Laurel Park April 12, J R Sanchez Racing Stable’s Cataleya Strike (Catalina Cruiser – Eiffel Tower, by Smart Strike) roared from off the pace to earn his first stakes score in the $100,000 Native Dancer Stakes. Trained by Rudy Sanchez-Salomon, Cataleya Strike was offered at the 2023 OBS April sale by Little Farm Equine where he was an RNA after breezing in :10 3/5.