The start of the juvenile auction season also represents the anticipated unveiling of 2-year-olds from first-crop sires. Fittingly, two of the more precocious members of their generation are already showing signs of success ahead of the Ocala Breeders’ Sales Co. 2026 March Two-Year-Olds in Training Sale.
Hip 508, a chestnut filly by Drain the Clock, and Hip 598, a dark bay or brown colt by Golden Pal, combined to produce a standout day for the Top Line Sales consignment as both flagbearers of Jimbo and Torie Gladwell’s barn worked an eighth in :9 3/5 to tie for the fastest time at the distance during the third day of under-tack shows.
:9 3/5 at the OBS March under tack show. (OBS/Photos by Z)
Both Drain the Clock, who stands at Gainesway, and Golden Pal, a member of Coolmore’s Ashford Stud roster, are represented by their first 2-year-olds this year and each appear to be stamping their offspring with the same precocity they showed during their respective Grade 1 winning careers.
The Drain the Clock filly is out of the winning Grand Appointment mare Windsail and is a half sister to stakes winner Windy Lu Who. The Golden Pal colt is out of the winning Sligo Bay (IRE) mare Bide a Wee Island and is a half brother to graded stakes winner Island Commish.
“Those horses have both been really good all year,” said Jimbo Gladwell of Top Line Sales. “We knew we had a shot at going fast today but you never think you’re going to go :9 3/5. Once the Golden Pal did it, we thought the Drain the Clock might do it because she’s been right there head and head with him all year. The Drain the Clocks have been big, beautiful horses. And the Golden Pal, he’s been straightforward. Anybody can get him to go fast.
“They’re both big horses who have a lot of balance and a lot of muscle to them and both of them have a good way of moving with really big strides,” Gladwell continued. “The way OBS has the track set up safe and fast for us, the bigger striding horses get across it easily and they come back home safe and happy.”
:9 3/5 at the OBS March under tack show. (OBS/Photos by Z)
The fastest quarter-mile on a day dotted with overcast conditions came when Hip 453, Candy Illusion, a dark bay or brown filly by Twirling Candy, covered the distance in :20 2/5. Consigned by Tom McCrocklin, Candy Illusion is out of the winning, stakes-placed Tizway mare Tizanillusion, an OBS graduate and half sister to stakes winner All That Magic.
“Very high expectations for her. She’s always been nice, a very fast filly,” McCrocklin said of Candy Illusion. “I had set myself up for disappointment because I was expecting a big breeze when she came through.
“She has a lot of length and scope. She’s deceptive because she’s not moving her legs fast but she’s covering a lot of ground which to me is always a good sign. She’s a very exciting filly.”
McCrocklin also consigns Hip 610, Dash, a dark bay or brown filly by Cyberknife who worked a quarter in :20 4/5. The filly is out of the winning Harlan’s Holiday mare Blast, who is a full sister to graded-stakes placed winner and OBS March graduate Fun. Dash is also a half sister to Grade 1 winner Velocity, an OBS March graduate.
McCrocklin, worked a quarter in :20 2/5 at the OBS March under tack
show. (OBS/Photos by Z)
A pair of horses posted the second fastest quarter of the day, going in :20 3/5:
- Hip 433, a dark bay or brown filly by Olympiad consigned by Hoppel LLC. The filly is out of the winning stakes-placed Tapit mare Tapped, who is out of graded stakes winner Gemswick Park and is a half sister to stakes winner and Grade 1 placed Scotland.
- Hip 537, a gray or roan filly by Roadster consigned by Ocala Stud. The filly is out of the winning Trippi mare Alotofappeal and is a half sister to stakes winners and OBS graduates Epona’s Hope and King Cab as well as fellow stakes winner B C’s Train.
A total of 17 horses worked an eighth in :9 4/5:
- Hip 416, a bay colt by leading sire and OBS March graduate Into Mischief consigned by S B M Training and Sales. The colt is out of the winning, graded stakes placed Will Take Charge mare Sweet Diane and is a half brother to stakes winner Miss Martini.
- Hip 419, a bay colt by Olympiad consigned by Omar Ramirez Bloodstock. The colt is out of the First Defence mare Tactical Move, a daughter of Grade 1 winner Game Face, an OBS March graduate.
- Hip 437, a dark bay or brown filly by OBS graduate Yaupon consigned by de Meric Sales. The filly is out of the Candy Ride (ARG) mare Tempered, a half sister to stakes-winner and graded stakes placed Cowan, an OBS March graduate.
- Hip 445, a dark bay or brown filly by Aloha West consigned by Top Line Sales LLC. The filly is out of the winning Smart Strike mare Thepartyneverends, who is a half sister to stakes winners Laurie’s Rocket and Greeley’s Rocket, an OBS March graduate.
- Hip 449, a dark bay or brown filly by Jackie’s Warrior consigned by Kings Equine. The filly is out of the multiple stakes winning and graded stakes placed Sky Mesa mare Thundering Sky and is a half sister to graded stakes placed winner Corruption, an OBS graduate.
- Hip 466, a dark bay or brown colt by Early Voting consigned by L. G., Agent. The colt is out of the winning stakes-placed Hold Me Back mare Truth in the Lies, a half sister to multiple stakes winner Trueamericanspirit.
- Hip 474, a dark bay or brown filly by Omaha Beach consigned by Blue River Bloodstock. The filly is out of the multiple stakes winning Hook and Ladder mare Under Serviced and is a half sister to stakes placed winners Kingpin and Lucky Mike.
- Hip 476, a gray or roan colt by Army Mule consigned by Hoppel LLC. The colt is out of the Creative Cause mare Upandtotheright, a half sister to graded stakes winner The Pamplemousse, an OBS March graduate.
- Hip 505, a bay filly by Golden Pal consigned by Blue River Bloodstock. The filly is out of the winning Wildcat Heir mare Wildcat Gaze, a half sister to stakes winners Saratoga Treasure and April Gaze.
- Hip 519, a bay filly by Nashville consigned by Blue Sapphire Stables. The filly is out of the winning Runhappy mare Zebra Cake and is from the female family of graded stakes winners Red Ruby and Mo Tom.
- Hip 526, a bay colt by Practical Joke consigned by Top Line Sales LLC. The colt is out of the Speightstown mare Air of Authority, who hails from the female family of graded stakes winner and OBS March graduate Conquest Panthera.
- Hip 533, Martha, a gray or roan filly by Independence Hall consigned by Golden Rock Thoroughbreds. The filly is out of the winning Liam’s Map mare All Over the Map.
- Hip 561, a dark bay or brown colt by Life Is Good consigned by Top Line Sales LLC. The colt is out of the stakes-winning and graded stakes placed Run Away and Hide mare Ask Bailey, an OBS graduate.
- Hip 572, a dark bay or brown colt by Mendelssohn consigned by Dark Star Thoroughbreds (Stori Atchison). The colt is out of the Street Cry mare Bachelors Walk, a daughter of multiple group winner Sander Camillo.
- Hip 576, a bay colt by OBS graduate Yaupon consigned by Kings Equine. The colt is out of the Lemon Drop Kid mare Balbina, a daughter of multiple graded stakes winner Ready’s Gal and a half sister to graded stakes winner Machen.
- Hip 595, a gray or roan filly by Drain the Clock consigned by J & R Thoroughbreds LLC. The filly is out of the Street Boss mare Bettyfromtheblock, a daughter of Balboa Betty, who is a full sister to champion Tiznow and graded winners Budroyale and Tizdubai.
- Hip 607, a bay colt by Authentic consigned by de Meric Sales. The colt is out of the winning Not For Love mare Bitterroot, a full sister to multiple stakes winner Clubman.
The under-tack show wraps up on March 7 at 8 a.m. with Hips 613 – 816. Full results can be found at obssales.com.
Having an optimistic mindset is a trademark for most horsemen engaged in the Thoroughbred industry. Following the second day of under-tack shows for the Ocala Breeders’ Sales Co. 2026 March Two-Year-Olds in Training Sale, Jesse Hoppel had tangible reason to believe great results could be on the horizon for his consignment.
Multiple representatives of the Hoppel barn thrived under the clear, warm conditions that greeted workers Thursday, none more so than Hip 284, a chestnut filly by Drain the Clock who equaled the OBS track record for the distance when she breezed a quarter in :20 1/5 during the opening set.
breezed a quarter in :20 1/5 during the OBS March under tack show.
(OBS/Photos by Z)
Consigned by Hoppel LLC, the filly is out of the Street Boss, mare Queen of Aces and is from the female family of Grade 1 winners Adjudicating and Time for a Change. From what Hoppel has seen from offspring by Drain the Clock thus far, the filly’s precocious effort was right in line with expectations.
“We knew she was fast. We let her run and found she was faster than most of them here,” Hoppel said. “She had a good day. I have a lot of Drain the Clocks right now…and to tell you the truth, I can’t think of one I don’t like. I think all in all, the sire might be a pretty decent stallion.”
The 2025 OBS June Sale also produced a :20 1/5 time when a son of Beau Liam became the first horse to hit that mark since a pair of entrants at the 2024 OBS Spring Sale of Two-Year-Olds in Training. One of the :20 1/5 workers in the 2024 April Sale was graded stakes winner Cash Call. Graded stakes winner Nooni, a graduate of the 2024 OBS March Sale, also worked in :20 1/5.
Bred by Southern Comfort Farm, the Drain the Clock filly was one of several standouts sent forth by Hoppel on the day. Her barnmate, Hip 299, a dark bay or brown colt by Mo Town, posted the second fastest quarter when he went in :20 2/5. The colt is out of the mare Reckon, by OBS March grad and leading sire Into Mischief, who is a half sister to Japanese stakes winner Hug (JPN).
“That horse has been unreal. I bought him as a baby and was thinking I would call somebody and get a partner on the way home. And I ended not calling anybody and keeping him for myself,” Hoppel said of the Mo Town colt. “He just grew up and got better and better and better. You pull him out on the end of the shank and he’s absolutely striking. Fellow consignors that I respect on the way up to the chute today were asking, “Who is that?”. Just a physically imposing individual.”
Hoppel also saw Hip 294, a bay colt by Tiz the Law, and Hip 250, a bay filly by Aloha West, cover the quarter-mile distance in :20 4/5.
The Tiz the Law colt is out of the Dixieland Band mare Ragtime Road and is a half brother to stakes-placed winner Decimator, an OBS graduate. The Aloha West filly is out of the winning Shackleford mare Perfect Impression, a half sister to graded-stakes winner Take Charge Paula, an OBS March graduate.
“Having a good breeze show always gives you confidence,” Hoppel said. “We work all winter for a single day with these horses and to make it all come together and peak on that day at that time, it’s great feeling for us. I like seeing other people have great days and fortunately today was a good day for us.”
Two horses tied for the fastest eighth on the day as Hip 372, a bay filly by Nyquist consigned by Wavertree Stables (Ciaran Dunne), and Hip 391, a bay colt by OBS graduate Yaupon consigned by Kings Equine, each worked in :9 3/5.
The Nyquist filly is out of the Lucky Pulpit mare Smooth and Savvy, a half sister to Grade 1 winner Smooth Like Strait. The Yaupon colt is out of the Giant’s Causeway mare Stand Back and is a half brother to graded stakes placed winner Step Forward, an OBS graduate.
One horse worked in :20 3/5, Hip 293, a bay colt by Caracaro consigned by Global Thoroughbreds LLC. The colt is out of the American Pharoah mare Racing Royalty, a half sister to multiple stakes winner Train the Trainer and from the female family of Grade 1 winners Outwork and Fierceness.
Consignor Tom McCrocklin joined Hoppel in having a pair of horses cover a quarter in :20 4/5, Hip 343, a bay filly by Upstart and Hip 330, a bay filly by Army Mule.
The Upstart filly is out of the stakes winning Eltish mare Shananies Song and is a half sister to graded stakes winners Favorable Outcome, an OBS March graduate, and Mouheeb, also an OBS graduate.
The Army Mule filly is out of the winning Tribal Rule mare Sea Smoke, a full sister to graded stakes winner Marckie’s Water.
A total of 10 horses worked in :9 4/5:
- Hip 253, a bay colt by Mo Donegal consigned by GOP Racing Stable. The colt is out the mare Petunia, a daughter of leading sire and OBS March graduate Into Mischief, and is a half brother to stakes-placed winner Zoe’s Prime, an OBS graduate.
- Hip 255, a chestnut colt by Maclean’s Music consigned by RiceHorse Stable (Brandon & Ali Rice). The colt is out of the Stormy Atlantic mare Picardia, a half sister to Grade 1 winner Lear’s Princess and Grade 1 winner and producer Pretty City Dancer.
- Hip 272, a dark bay or brown colt by Mo Donegal consigned by GOP Racing Stable. The colt is out of the winning, stakes-placed Bertrando mare Princess Bertrando and is from the female family of multiple graded stakes winner Gunnevera.
- Hip 286, a bay filly by Highly Motivated consigned by Navas Equine. The filly is out of the Buratino mare Queen of Lies, who hails from the female family of multiple graded stakes winner Tizaqueena.
- Hip 287, a dark bay or brown filly by Imperial Hint consigned by Golden Rock Thoroughbreds. The filly is out of the graded stakes winning Tale of the Cat mare Queen Ofthe Catsle and is a half sister to the dam of OBS March graduate and stakes winner Verifire.
- Hip 302, a dark bay or brown colt by Knicks Go consigned by Global Thoroughbreds LLC. The colt is out of the winning Elusive Quality mare Reflected, a granddaughter of graded stakes winner Thunder Kitten.
- Hip 315, a dark bay or brown filly by OBS graduate Yaupon that is a half sister to graded stakes winner Runaway Storm. Consigned by Parrish Farms, the filly is out of the winning Run Away and Hide mare Runaway Betty.
- Hip 316, a bay colt by Cyberknife consigned by Wavertree Stables (Ciaran Dunne). The colt is out of the winning, stakes-placed Native Ruler mare Runfastandloud, a half sister to stakes winner Run With the Brave.
- Hip 321, a dark bay or brown filly by Life Is Good consigned by S G V Thoroughbreds (Steven Venosa). The filly is out of the stakes winning and graded stakes placed Street Sense mare Sandstone.
- Hip 379, a bay colt by Practical Joke consigned by Wavertree Stables (Ciaran Dunne). The colt is out of the winning Unbridled’s Song mare Song Sung True who hails from the female family of Grade 1 winner I Want Revenge.
The under-tack show continues March 6 at 8 a.m. with Hips 409 – 612. Full results can be found at obssales.com.
Three years ago, the Ocala Breeders’ Sales Company March Two-Year-Olds in Training sale proved a milestone for Cesar Loya and it marked the time he was offering a consignment under his own banner.
If the results of the opening day of under-tack shows for the 2026 March Sale are any indication, this year’s edition of the auction could go down as another moment to remember for Loya.
With early fog giving way to clear, sunny skies, Loya saw his lone representative on the day shine during the first of four days of under-tack shows Wednesday as Hip 139, a bay colt by Army Mule, breezed an eighth in :9 3/5 to lead all workers at that distance.
tack shows for the 2026 OBS March Sale.
(OBS/Photos by Z)
Consigned by Cesar Loya Training & Sales, the colt is out of the winning mare Marching Fire, who is by champion OBS March graduate Midnight Lute and is a half sister to graded-stakes winner Sharp Sensation. After the sale was delayed for about 45 minutes due to fog in the area, the colt was the last horse to work during the first set and proceeded to back up the high opinion his consignor held for him.
“The expectations on him were pretty high, he was always very, very fast,” said Loya, who offered his first consignment during the 2023 OBS March Sale. “Every year since I’ve been out on my own, I’ve had fast horses. Obviously, he is in the top one percent you could say to go that fast. You can’t predict them going that fast, but it did not surprise me that he did it.
“And especially for him to be the last horse of the session, that to me was like closing with style. That was really special to me.”
The 2025 OBS March Sale saw Brant, who went on to sell for an all-time OBS record price of $3 million to Zedan Racing and later captured the Grade 1 Del Mar Futurity en route to being an Eclipse Awards finalist for champion 2-year-old male, also post a breeze in :9 3/5.
While Loya isn’t so bold as to bank on that kind of lofty result, he does see similarities between his colt and another standout from last year’s March exercise.
“Solider N Diplomat came off the same racetrack as ours. Our farm is there with Nick and Tristan de Meric and I actually got to see Solider N Diplomat and this horse is as fast as him,” Loya said of the multiple graded stakes placed son of Army Mule who sold for $950,000 at the 2025 March sale. “Tristan knows I always asked him about (Solider N Diplomat), he was pretty special himself.”
Two horses tied for the fastest quarter mile on the day with Hip 96, a dark bay or brown colt by Tale of Silence, and Hip 168, a chestnut filly by OBS graduate Mitole, both breezing in :20 3/5.
Consigned by Doble J Equine Sales, the Tale of Silence colt is a three-quarter brother to stakes-placed winner Exxel. He is out of the winning Lemon Drop Kid mare Lemon Drop Belle, a daughter of multiple graded stakes winner Bourbon Belle and half sister to Canadian champion Not Bourbon.
The Mitole filly, consigned by White Lilac (Katie Miranda), is out of the winning Noble Mission (GB) mare Mission From Elle, a half sister to multiple stakes winner Cougar Ridge.
Two horses worked in a quarter in :20 4/5:
Hip 56, a bay filly by Omaha Beach out of the winning, multiple stakes-placed Mizzen Mast mare Jazz Lady, an OBS graduate. The filly is consigned by Tom McCrocklin.
Hip 138, Mane Affair, a bay colt by Practical Joke consigned by Tom McCrocklin. The colt is out of the winning Munnings mare Mane Attraction, a daughter of stakes winner Cassidy’s Pride.
At total of 20 horses worked an eighth in :9 4/5:
Hip 15, a bay filly by Mo Donegal out of the stakes winning Stonesider mare Hey Kiddo and consigned by Champions of the Future.
Hip 25, a dark bay or brown colt by Life Is Good out of the multiple graded stakes winning Trappe Shot mare Hotshot Anna and consigned by CM Thoroughbreds.
Hip 57, a dark bay or brown colt by Army Mule consigned by Thorostock LLC. The colt is out of the Speightstown mare Jeanne’s Speight, a full sister to stakes-winner Going to Kukaro.
Hip 60, a bay colt by Omaha Beach out of the winning Quality Road mare Jet Away Sue. The colt is consigned by Hartley/DeRenzo Thoroughbreds.
Hip 70, a dark bay or brown filly by Nashville out of the winning Medaglia d’Oro mare Katama consigned by Triple C Sales.
Hip 71, a chestnut filly by Nashville out of the winning Fusaichi Pegasus mare Kencho consigned by RM Stables LLC.
Hip 80, Barden, a dark bay or brown colt by Knicks Go that is a half brother to stakes winner Trickle In. Consigned by Rivera Training and Sales, the colt is out of the winning mare Knox County Zip, a daughter of OBS grad City Zip.
Hip 81, a dark bay or brown colt by Munnings out of the winning Twirling Candy mare Krissys Manicure consigned by GOP Racing Stable Corp.
Hip 86, a chestnut filly by Vekoma out of the Liam’s Map mare Lady Iris consigned by Kings Equine.
Hip 88, a dark bay or brown colt by Nyquist consigned by Wavertree Stables (Ciaran Dunne). The colt is out of Argentine champion La Extrana Dama (ARG), by Catcher In The Rye.
Hip 124, a bay colt by Mo Donegal consigned by A. G. Sales. The colt is out of the Stormy Atlantic mare Lucy Buckner, a full sister to Grade 1 winner Stormy Lucy.
Hip 132, a chestnut colt by Drain the Clock out of the Freud mare Making a Point consigned by de Meric Sales.
Hip 135, a chestnut colt by Jackie’s Warrior consigned by Sequel Bloodstock, agent for Chester Broman. The colt is out of the stakes-winning Carpe Diem mare Makin My Move, an OBS March graduate who is a daughter of multiple stakes winner Hard to Stay Notgo.
Hip 143, a dark bay or brown colt by Practical Joke consigned by Scanlon Training & Sales. The colt is out of the stakes-winning Afleet Alex mare Market Rumor.
Hip 172, a dark bay or brown colt by Nashville consigned by A. G. Sales. The colt is out of the War Pass mare Miss Vigilance, a half sister to Grade 1 winner Man From Wicklow.
Hip 179, a bay filly by Flameaway consigned by Wildheart Thoroughbreds. The filly is out of the winning Medaglia d’Oro mare Momentiempo, a half sister to Grade 1 winner Time and Motion.
Hip 187, a chestnut filly by Happy Saver consigned by Top Line Sales. The filly is out of the stakes-winning More Than Ready mare More for Me and is a half sister to multiple stakes winner Bishop’s Pond and graded producer Black Oak.
Hip 188, a dark bay or brown filly by Epicenter consigned by Blas Perez Stables. The filly is out of the More Than Ready mare More Than Folly, a full sister to multiple graded stakes winner Mary’s Follies, who is the dam of champion Regal Glory and Japanese champion and OBS March graduate Cafe Pharoah.
Hip 192, a chestnut colt by Practical Joke consigned by Hartley/DeRenzo Thoroughbreds. The colt is out the Frosted mare Mpemba, a half sister to Grade 1 winner Callback.
Hip 197, a bay colt by Authentic that is a half brother to stakes winners Maybe I Will and Keep Movin’ On. Consigned by Navas Equine, the colt is out of the stakes-winning Henny Hughes mare My Due Process, an OBS graduate.
The under-tack show continues March 5 at 8 a.m. with hips 205 – 408. Full results can be found at obssales.com.
For Immediate Release
The under-tack show for the Ocala Breeders’ Sales Company 2026 April Spring Two-Year-Olds in Training Sale has been consolidated to six days and will now be held April 6-11.
Each under tack session will start at 8 a.m. ET. The sale will take place as scheduled April 14-17 with sessions beginning at 10:30 a.m. ET.
For more information and updates, visit obssales.com.
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.
(NYRA/Susie Raisher photo)
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.
Salem bin Ghadayer trained Labwah (Charlatan-War Tigress, by War Chant) put herself on the Kentucky Oaks (G1) trail when she captured the G3 UAE Oaks at Meydan Racecourse Feb. 20, becoming the fifth OBS graduate to annex the race.
With the victory, Labwah earned 50 qualifying points for the Kentucky Oaks. The daughter of Charlatan powered away for a 7 ½ length victory to join past OBS grads Polar River (2016), Rayya (2018), Shahama (2022), and Manama Gold (2024) as winners of the UAE Oaks.
“She’s out of a middle-distance dam and a ten-furlong stallion so the distance was an advantage for her – we came here confident,” bin Ghadayer told Dubai Racing Club publicity.
On whether Labwah will pursue the Kentucky Oaks or face colts in the G2 UAE Derby, the trainer told Dubai Racing Club: “I will go back to His Highness Sheikh Hamdan (bin Mohammed Al Maktoum, owner) as she was his pick from the breeze-up sale. I will ask him what he wants to do, but she is ready for both options.”
Bred by Calvin Crain, Labwah was purchased by Carson McCord for $125,000 at the 2025 OBS April Sale out of the Omar Ramirez Bloodstock consignment after breezing in :21.
Another OBS graduate produced an international victory over the weekend when Susumu Fujita’s Sonshi (Night of Thunder (IRE)-Afdhaad (GB), by Nayef) captured the G3 Hankyu Hai at Hanshin Feb. 21, winning by 3 1/2 lengths and setting a new course record of 1 minute 18.9 seconds over the 1400m. Trained by Mitsumasa Nakauchida, Sonshi was purchased by Nakauchida for $300,000 at the 2023 OBS April Sale from the consignment of Eddie Woods after breezing in :10 flat.
For Immediate Release
Ocala Breeders’ Sales Company will implement additional control measures for its under-tack shows in 2026, further enhancing existing standards that prioritize the well-being of horses and riders.
Beginning with the under-tack show for the March Sale of Two-Year-Olds in Training, use of the riding crop will be restricted to where the rider will not be permitted to strike the horse with their hands off the reins before, during or after the breeze.
Also starting this year, all horses will be required to have a veterinary statement stating they are suitable to perform in the under-tack show. Any entries without an affirming statement will be scratched from the sale. This will be in addition to the existing practice of a staff veterinarian monitoring the training leading up to the under-tack show and positioned on track during the under-tack show.
The new protocols complement safety rules which have already been successfully implemented. The administration times for NSAIDS and corticosteroids were tightened to where neither are allowed to be administered within 48 hours of a horse’s under tack performance and no other medication is allowed within 24 hours of an under-tack effort.
Corticosteroids are also not permitted within 24 hours of a horse’s sale session. No NSAIDS can be administered after 6 p.m. the day prior to a horse selling. Any overages for these medications will result in a horse being subject to return.
Last year, OBS instituted a gallop only option where sellers can enter their horses with this designation which will be on the catalog page.
Last season saw all three of the OBS 2-year-old sales produce record results. The OBS March sale posted year-to-year gains in gross and average – including selling Brant, a son of Gun Runner, for a record $3 million – the April sale finished with a record average, and the June sale yielded records for both average and median.
The 2026 OBS March Sale will be held March 10-12 with under-tack shows taking place March 4-7.
For Immediate Release
Dual Hall of Fame trainer Mark Casse has been named the sixth Chairman of the Board in the history of Ocala Breeders’ Sales Company, Inc., succeeding Francis Vanlangendonck, who steps down after 35 years on the OBS board.
Vanlangendonck had held the position of chairman since 2022, succeeding Mike O’Farrell, who was elected chairman in 2007 and was an OBS board member for nearly 40 years. George Onett was the first chairman in 1975, followed by Harry T. Mangurian, Jr., Norman E. Casse, O’Farrell and Vanlangendonck.
OBS extends deep gratitude to Vanlangendonck and Treasurer, Nick de Meric, who is also stepping down from the board, for their leadership and significant contributions to the success of OBS.
Mark Casse and his wife Tina manage the vast Casse Racing operations from their base in Ocala. His father Norman was a founding member of OBS and Chairman of the Board of OBS for over twenty years and Mark became an OBS board member in 2001 and Secretary-Treasurer in 2022. Casse has won more than 4,100 races to date with career earnings exceeding $274 million. He has been inducted into the National Museum of Racing and Hall of Fame and Canadian Horse Racing Hall of Fame.
Barry Eisaman will continue as Vice President of the OBS board. Dr. Eisaman, a veterinarian, was first elected to the OBS Board in 1996 and Secretary-Treasurer from 2010-2021. Along with his wife Shari, Eisaman operates Eisaman Equine. Many of the elite racing stables in the country rely on Eisaman Equine to provide the foundation for their young horses for their racing career and to rehabilitate older horses for their return to the races.
David O’Farrell will serve as Secretary for OBS. He was elected to the OBS board in 2022 and serves as the TOBA Board of Trustees chair, steward at The Jockey Club, and a member of Breeders’ Cup Limited. The O’Farrell family’s Ocala Stud is celebrating their 70th year anniversary and is synonymous with the Florida breeding industry and OBS. David and his brother Joe are now directing operations, taking over the helm from their father, Mike O’Farrell. Another generation back, Joe O’Farrell, was a promoter of Florida breeding and pioneer of the two-year-olds in training sale concept. He was one of the founding members of Ocala Breeders’ Sales Company, Inc. in 1974 and the first vice president of OBS.
James L. (Jimbo) Gladwell, IV was elected Treasurer of OBS. He joined the OBS Board in 2021. Gladwell is a third-generation horseman with deep roots in Ocala and, along with his wife Torie, operates Top Line Sales, one of the leading OBS two-year-old sale consignors. Among the Grade 1 winners who are graduates of Top Line Sales are Princess Noor, Arabian Knight, Saudi Crown, and Muth.
Joining the OBS Board for the first time are Tristan de Meric of de Meric Sales and William B. Russell, DVM Peterson Smith Equine Hospital. The rest of the board includes Tom Ventura; Jonathan I Green (DJ Stables); John Penn (Pennston Farm); Bryan Rice (Woodside Ranch); George Russell (Rustlewood Farm), Paul Sharp, and Eddie Woods.
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.
For Immediate Release
Ocala Breeders’ Sales Company has catalogued 816 horses for its 2026 March Sale of Two-Year-Olds in Training, which will be held over three days March 10-12. The catalogue is available online at obssales.com.
Sessions will begin at 11 a.m. ET each day. Hips 1-272 will sell March 10 with Hips 273-544 going March 11 and 545-816 selling March 12.
The under-tack show will run from March 4-7 starting at 8 a.m. each day. Hips 1-204 are slated for March 4 followed by Hips 205-408 March 5, Hips 409-612 March 6, and Hips 613-816 March 7. The under-tack show and sale will be streamed live via the OBS website as well as the TDN, DRF, BloodHorse, and Past The Wire websites.
The 2025 March auction posted year-to-year gains in gross and average and was highlighted by the sale of Brant (Gun Runner-Tynan, by Liam’s Map) who was purchased by Zedan Racing from the Eddie Woods consignment for an all-time OBS record price of $3 million after breezing in :9 3/5. Brant went on to capture the Grade 1 Del Mar Futurity and was an Eclipse Awards finalist for champion 2-year-old male.
March Sale after breezing in :9 3/5. (OBS/Photos by Z)
Trained by Bob Baffert, Brant is featured on the back cover along with 2025 Breeders’ Cup Sprint (G1) winner and Eclipse Awards finalist Bentornato (Valiant Minister-Her Special Way, by Put It Back), multiple Grade 1 winner White Abarrio (Race Day – Catching Diamonds, by Into Mischief), and multiple Grade 1 winner Scottish Lassie (McKinzie – Bodebabe, by Bodemeister).
Leon King Stable Corp.’s Bentornato scored a 2 ¼-length victory in the $2 million Breeders’ Cup Sprint (G1) Nov. 1 at Del Mar, besting a field that included defending race winner and champion Straight No Chaser. 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.
C2 Racing Stable, Gary Barber, and La Milagrosa Stables’ White Abarrio has four career Grade 1 wins to his credit including victories in the 2023 Breeders’ Cup Classic (G1) and 2025 Pegasus World Cup Invitational (G1). The son of Race Day, who boasts more than $7.7 million in career earnings, is a two-time OBS graduate having been sold by Summerfield (Francis & Barbara Vanlangendonck), Agent, at the 2020 Winter Mixed Sale and then purchased for $40,000 out of the Nice and Easy Thoroughbreds consignment at the 2021 March Sale after breezing an eighth in :10 2/5.
Sportsmen Stable, Parkland Thoroughbreds, Photos Finish LLC, Corms Racing Stable and Jorge R. Abreu’s Scottish Lassie captured the 2024 Frizette Stakes (G1) in her second career start and took the Coaching Club American Oaks (G1) last July. She was purchased for $85,000 out of the 2024 March sale by Parkland Thoroughbreds from the consignment of Gene Recio after breezing in :21 flat.
Other notable OBS March Sale graduates include Grade 1 winner and Kentucky Derby (G1) starter Sandman, Grade 1 winner Argos, a graduate of the 2025 March Sale, fellow Grade 1 winners Gaming, Iscreamuscream, Muth, and Velocity and graded stakes winner Nooni.
OBS will again offer online bidding during the March 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.
Current information about OBS sales, consignors and graduates is now also available via social media sites Facebook and “X”.
