Wednesday, July 9, 2025
Effective immediately . . .
    OCALA - The Florida Thoroughbred Breeders' and Owners' Association announced that it will waive most registration fees for Florida-bred and Florida-sired foals of 2025, effective immediately. This unprecedented offer is available exclusively to FTBOA regular members whose names appear as the official breeder of record.

     "After successfully defending our industry – once again – against decoupling efforts in the 2025 legislative session, we wanted to show our appreciation for the unwavering support of Florida's Thoroughbred breeding community," FTBOA CEO Lonny Powell said. "It's our way of giving back to those who stand with us."


     The Florida-bred registration schedule for foals of 2025 is:

 •           Foals: Aug. 31, 2025 ($0 FTBOA Members / $300 Non-Members), or

•           Extended Foals: Dec. 31, 2025: ($0 FTBOA Members / $500 Non-Members), or

•           Yearlings: Dec. 31, 2026: ($400 FTBOA Members / $800 Non-Members).


     Florida-bred foals of 2025 sired by registered Florida stallions assume full eligibility for the Florida Sire Stakes upon successful Florida-bred registration by December 31, 2026. Late registrations (2-year-olds) for the Florida Sire Stakes remain available, as follows:

 •           Two-year-old Standalone: Jan. 15, 2027 ($5,000), or

•           Two-year-old Last Chance: May 1, 2027 ($10,000), or June 30, 2027 ($15,000).


   Florida-bred and Florida Sire Stakes registration forms reside at FTBOA.com, or contact the FTBOA office for assistance ([email protected], 352-629-2160).

     All applications must be postmarked within FTBOA's published deadlines to qualify for registration and member pricing. Registration fees and deadlines for non-members remain unchanged from prior years, as do Florida stallion registration schedules and fees.

 

 
Monday, July 7, 2025
Violence colt is 2-for-2 . . .
    Leland Ackerley Racing’s Obliteration (Violence- I’mclassyandsassy, by Master Command) improved to 2-for-2 in his burgeoning career when he scored a dominating 10 1/2-length victory in the Gr. III, $175,000 Sanford, a six-furlong test for juveniles, at Saratoga Race Course to lead the slate of stakes-winning OBS grads.

    Trained by Hall of Famer Steve Asmussen, the son of Violence broke his maiden by 7 1/2 lengths on June 12 at Churchill Downs prior to his Spa effort and hit the wire Saturday in a final time of 1:10.65. Obliteration was a $200,000 purchase by his owner at the 2025 OBS March Sale from the consignment of breeder Ocala Stud after breezing in :21 3/5.

    Other stakes-winners included Kingsolver (Omaha Beach - Famous Writer, by Speightstown) who graduated in Friday’s Listed $150,000 Schuylerville, a six-furlong sprint for juvenile fillies during the July 4th Racing Festival at Saratoga Race Course. Trained by Rodolphe Brisset, Kingsolver is owned by Storyteller Racing, who purchased her and own her in partnership with Michael Schroeck, Open Gate Horse Ventures, Brian Cahoe, Scott Catlett, Dave Russel, Matthew Ransdell, Michael Motley and Joel Braun.

    She was purchased for $95,000 at the 2025 OBS March Sale from the JVC Training and Sales consignment after breezing in :10 flat.

    At Presque Isle Downs, D. J. Stable’s Horsepower (Good Samaritan - Bear's Lightning, by Maria's Mon) rallied past by Breeders’ Cup winner Nobals for an upset win in the $100,000 Karl Boyes Stakes. Horsepower, trained by Joe Orseno, won for the third time in five starts and earned his first stakes score. He was purchased by D.J. Stable for $60,000 from the Whitman Sales consignment at the 2023 OBS March Sale after breezing in :10 1/5.

    At Prairie Meadows, Patricia’s Hope and Carolyn Wilson’s Sassy C W (Yaupon-Sassy Miss Sue, by Tiznow) went gate to wire to take the $100,000 Prairie Gold Lassie and remain unbeaten in three career starts. Trained by Larry Rivelli, the filly previously captured the $150,000 Astoria Stakes on June 5 at Saratoga. Consigned by Top Line Sales, Sassy C W was a $375,000 purchase at the 2025 OBS March Sale by Carolyn Wilson after breezing in :9 4/5.

    At Horseshoe Indianapolis, Resolute Racing’s Dana’s Beauty (Not This Time – City Siren, by City Zip) got up at the wire to win the $100,000 Indiana General Assembly Distaff and become a millionaire. Trained by Mike Maker, Dana’s Beauty improved her record to 13 wins from 47 starts with a career bankroll of $1,034,495. The daughter of Not This Time is a two-time OBS graduate, sold first by Bobby Jones Equine for $47,000 at the 2019 October Yearling Sale then sold for $70,000 by Blue River Bloodstock, Agent to Sarah Russell Stables & TNT Equine Holdings at the 2020 Spring Sale after working in :21 3/5.

    Also at Horseshoe Indianapolis, Paradise Farms Corp.’s Willy D’s (Lookin At Lucky – Boston Mine, by Mineshaft) went wire-to-wire to take Saturday’s $100,000 Michael G. Schaefer Memorial by 4 1/2 lengths, setting a track record of 1:37.98 for a mile and 70 yards. The son of Lookin At Lucky was purchased by Danny W. Brown for $60,000 at the 2023 OBS April Sale from the Woodside Ranch consignment after breezing in :22 1/5.

    At Gulfstream Park, jockey Edgard Zayas guided BC Racing’s Prevent (Neolithic - Bossy Gal, by Pioneerof the Nile) to a front-running victory in the $75,000 Soldier’s Dancer Handicap. Trained by Carlos David, Prevent was purchased for $15,000 by Brian Cohen at the 2022 OBS Winter Mixed Sale from the Las Palmas Farm consignment.

    On June 30, Golden Afternoon (Goldencents – Afternoon, by Street Cry (IRE)) prompted the pace and drew off by 2 1/2 lengths to capture the $100,000 Tom Ridge Stakes at Presque Isle Downs to give Nick Vaccarezza his first win as a licensed trainer. The gelding is owned by a partnership headed by Carlo Vaccarezza, Nick's father, and includes Eddie and Pat Greco, Scott Jaffe, and Michael Cloonan. Golden Afternoon was purchased by Carlo Vaccarezza at the 2024 OBS April Sale for $70,000 from the Ocala Stud consignment after breezing in :21 2/5.
Sunday, July 6, 2025
Zayas wins a pair of stakes . . .

    HALLANDALE BEACH - Jockey Edgard Zayas put the finishing touches on a three-win Saturday at Gulfstream Park by guiding BC Racing’s Prevent to a front-running victory in the $75,000 Soldier’s Dancer and give the Royal Palm Meet’s leading rider a sweep of the afternoon stakes.

    Racing with blinkers following an 11th-place finish in the 1 3/8-mile Mac Diarmida on March 1 on the Gulfstream turf, the 4-year-old colt by Pleasant Acres stallion Neolithic ($14.40) completed one mile and 70 yards on the all-weather Tapeta course in 1:39.31 to register his fifth career victory. It came four races after Zayas rallied Implementation to the wire first in the $75,000 Smile Sprint.

    “It’s been a great day,” said Zayas, who tops the Gulfstream riders with 74 wins. “I’ve been getting on some good horses and getting pretty good support from all the trainers and owners. It’s been really good.”

    Prevent broke alertly from Post 5 in a field of eight and went the opening quarter-mile in :23.63 seconds, given closest chase by turf stakes-winner and Gr. III-placed Tocayo in second with Spy Novel saving ground in third inside 24-1 long shot I Know I Know. The half went in :46.58 with no change in the top two, and Prevent straightened for home with a lead he held through the lane despite getting leg weary late.

    “He was drifting out a little bit late but he’s the type of horse if you start fighting with him he gets to messing around,” Zayas said. “He drifted out but there was no one to the outside and he was running pretty good so I let him go. I feel like he’s a really tough horse to deal with and he can get a little rank,” he added. “There was some speed in the race so I was trying to let him go and see if he could settle a little bit, but he didn’t. He just took the lead and just kind of let him run and do his thing and he held on.
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    Kalik, sent off at 17-1, emerged from a tight pack in second, with I Know I Know third, 3-2 favorite Just a Photo fourth and Tocayo fifth. Grand Mo the First, the 9-5 program favorite, was scratched.

Saturday, July 5, 2025
Here Comes Francis fails at 1/5 . . .

    HALLANDALE BEACH - Trainer Victor Barboza Jr. visited the Gulfstream Park winner’s circle following the $75,000 Back as expected, not with the previously undefeated 1-5 favorite, Here Comes Francis, but with 25-1 outsider Mati Gol.

    “The horse that won was a surprise at 25-1, but for me, the horse wasn’t a big surprise,” Barboza said. “The horse has been improving all the time.”

    Here Comes Francis, who won his first two career starts in commanding front-running fashion, again went right to the front in the Carry Back, a seven-furlong test for 3-year-olds. He went on to set blistering fractions of :21.80 and :43.99 during the first half-mile over a sealed sloppy track, opening up on his five rivals by four lengths under Emisael Jaramillo. Meanwhile, Mati Gol settled far back in fourth under Jose Morelos along the backstretch.

    While the sizzling pace would prove to be the undoing of Here Comes Francis, it certainly benefited late-running Mati Gol, who accelerated on the far turn while hugging the rail before swinging to the outside entering the stretch. Here Comes Francis had no answer for the fresh legs that carried Mati Gol to a commanding 3 ½-length victory.

    “The race set up perfect. I was riding the horse the way the trainer told me – to stay off the speed. In the stretch, the horse came on strong on the outside to win the race. That was the plan, and we surprised everyone,” Morelos said. “The favorite was going very fast, so I was happy the pace was extremely fast. My horse was relaxed in the back of the pack, and I knew it was perfect for him to close.”

    The Tiny Equestrian Group’s Mati Gol, who had finished a late-closing third in the five-furlong Roar on turf last time out, ran seven furlongs in 1:23.25. Insurmountable closed from off the pace to finish second, 3 ¼ lengths ahead of Forged Steel, who nosed out a tired Here Comes Francis for third.

    Mati Gol ($59.80) often ran into trouble while winning one of his first five starts but couldn’t have gotten a better trip than he received under a hot-riding Morelos.

    Here Comes Francis, a $250,000 2024 OBS April purchase, overcame early bumping to grab control of his March 15 Gulfstream debut and went on to score a 1 ½-length victory over next-out winner Pursuitneversleeps, earning a 97 Beyer Speed Figure while running six furlongs in 1:09 2/5.  He came right back to run away with a 6 ½-furlong optional claiming allowance April 26 at Tampa Bay Downs by a handy 5 ¼ lengths. Both victories came over fast tracks.


    “It’s too soon to have an analysis of his race. Was it the sloppy track, the 43-second half, the no Lasix? All very important,” Barboza said. “I need to check on the horse tomorrow.”

Wednesday, July 2, 2025
At Oak Hills in San Antonio . . .

    Ocalan Steve Albright shot a 1-over-par 73 at Golden Ocala and picked up one of the four spots in the local qualifying event for the 70th U. S. Senior Amateur. Albright will travel to Oak Hills CC in San Antonio, Texas, in late August to compete against 156 others in the large field.

    With his son Miles carrying his bag, Albright made three bogeys and two birdies to tie for second at Golden Ocala. This is the first time he has qualified for a USGA event.

    Ocala's Bo Williams won the U. S. Amateur twice, in 1986 and 1989, the second one in Texas.

Tuesday, July 1, 2025
Ocala pro earns $1,583,333 . . .

    Ocala's Louis Oosthuizen tied for second after losing a four-man playoff in the $25 million LIV Golf Dallas Sunday. Louis and the three others finished 54 holes at 6 under par

    Patrick Reed birdied the 18th hole to collect the winner's share of $4 million, while the other three earned $1,583,333 apiece.

    The LIV players cash in even when they play like bums. Peter Uihlein and Mito Pereira, who finished 52nd and 53rd, each picked up $50,000.

    Prior to the Dallas event, Joaquin Niemann was the 2025 money leader with $16,817,048. Bryson DeChambeau was second with $8,808,250, Seminole Brooks Koepka 12th with $3,831,905 and Oostie 32nd with $1,971,166.  

Tuesday, July 1, 2025
Roll On Big Joe rolls on in Kelly's Landing . . .

    Rancho Temescal, White Fence 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, Gr. III Kelly’s Landing at Churchill Downs, 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, Gr. III Palos Verdes 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, Gr. III Marine Stakes. 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. 

    D J Stable's Dream On (Not This Time – Mamma Kimbo, by Discreet Cat) earned his first graded stakes victory when he captured the Gr. III, $400,000 Penn Mile Stakes at Penn National Race Course. The Mark Casse-trained colt, third in the Gr. I 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.

    Steve Asmussen’s Neom Beach (Omaha Beach – Giant’s Causey, by Giant’s Causeway) captured the $125,000 Wasted Tears 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.
















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Sunday, June 29, 2025
Hall of Famer was "a true icon of the sport."

    1/ST joins the entire Thoroughbred community in mourning the loss of Hall of Fame legend D. Wayne Lukas. With a career that spanned seven decades and redefined excellence, Wayne stood as a true icon of the sport.

Throughout his storied career, Wayne’s notable accomplishments included:

20 Breeders’ Cup victories including the 1999 Breeders’ Cup Classic at Gulfstream Park with Cat Thief.
15 Triple Crown race winners including seven Preakness Stakes triumphs
Four Santa Anita Derby wins at Santa Anita Park
Two Florida Derby wins at Gulfstream Park

    In 2024, at 88 years old, he became the oldest trainer ever to win a Triple Crown race, securing the 149th Preakness Stakes with Seize the Grey.

   Beyond the victories and trophies, Mr. Lukas inspired generations with his relentless work ethic, sharp eye for talent, and unwavering belief in what was possible. His legacy lives on not only in the horses he trained and the records he broke, but also in the many horsemen and women he mentored and elevated along the way

    Our deepest condolences go out to his family, friends, and the countless lives he touched. Though we’ve lost a legend, the sport he shaped remains richer for his presence, and his rich legacy will endure.

Wednesday, June 25, 2025
Partners with BSV Digital...
    HALLANDALE BEACH - Gulfstream Park has become the first pari-mutuel facility in North America to launch a state-of-the-art, high resolution digital starting gate board to elevate the experience for fans and create new avenues for sponsorships and marketing.

    Gulfstream partnered with BSV Digital, a leading provider of integrated racing technology, to replace the static signage at the starting gate with the digital starting board, capable of dynamic branding, real-time graphics, and customized content. The new gate will display everything from post positions and race logos to seasonal branding and partner messaging. It allows Gulfstream to tailor content in real time and deliver an entertaining race-day experience.

    “Our goal is to blend tradition with technology in a way that enhances the spectacle of racing,” said Aidan Butler, President of 1/ST Racing & Gaming. “The new starting gate board from BSV Digital brings a fresh, modern look to our race presentation while offering a powerful platform for sponsors to reach fans both on-track and through our broadcast channels.”

    “We’re thrilled to partner with Gulfstream Park, a track known for its rich history and forward-thinking approach,” said Natalie Vega, Director of Partnerships at BSV Digital. “Our starting gate solution is designed not only to look great but to drive value for venues and their partners
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Sunday, June 22, 2025
He was a $45,000 OBS 2-year-old . . .
    R and H Stable’s Mo Plex (Complexity – Mo Joy, by Uncle Mo) passed his first two-turn test when he prevailed by two lengths in Saturday’s $500,000 Grade III Ohio Derby at Thistledown, leading the slate of OBS grads to earn graded wins during the week.

    Trained by Jeremiah Englehart, Mo Plex captured the Sanford (G3) and Funny Cide Stakes during his juvenile season and entered off a win in the Bay Shore Stakes at Aqueduct in his previous start. Mo Plex was purchased by JCE Racing for $45,000 out of the Hoppel LLC consignment at the 2024 OBS April Sale after breezing in :21 1/5.

    Mo Plex’s victory highlighted a week that also saw fellow OBS grad Crimson Advocate (Nyquist - Citizen Advocate, By Proud Citizen) produce a devastating turn of foot to pass all of her rivals and score by a length and three-quarters in the Group 2 Duke Of Cambridge Stakes at Royal Ascot June 18.

    This is a second Royal Ascot success for the four-year-old, who won the Queen Mary Stakes in 2023, when trained in the USA by George Weaver. Now with John and Thady Gosden after being purchased by Wathnan Racing, that speed came to the fore as she swamped the field under jockey James McDonald.

    Crimson Advocate was purchased by Dewsweepers II for $100,000 out of the Beth Bayer consignment at the 2022 OBS October Yearling Sale.

    Other stakes winners included Rosie Jeeks (World Of Trouble - Remington Rose, By Take Charge Indy) who passed three horses in the final sixteenth of a mile on the way to a 1¼-length victory in Saturday’s $102,000 Goldwood Stakes at Monmouth Park. Owned by Team Hanley and Thirty Year Farm, Rosie Jeeks earned her third in five career starts for trainer Chad Brown. Drifaros rallied for second, a half-length ahead of Epona’s Hope.

    Rosie Jeeks was purchased by Jay Hanley and Thirty Year Farm for $240,000 at the 2023 OBS April Sale out of the RiceHorse Stable consignment after breezing in :10 flat. She was previously sold by Summerfield to RiceHorse for $62,000 at the 2022 OBS October Yearling Sale.
Thursday, June 19, 2025
Gus King pays $975,000 . . .

    As the final moments of the 2025 OBS June Two-Year-Olds and Horses of Racing Age Sale wound down, consignor Randy Miles couldn’t stop moving, darting from inside the pavilion to the back ring and back again, accepting all means of congratulatory wishes along the way.

    By the time Miles paused to take his whirlwind of a 15 minutes in, history had once again been made as one of the more productive juvenile sale seasons in OBS history came to a triumphant close.

    With both the OBS March and April auctions rewriting chapters in the sales company’s record books this year, the OBS June Sale wasn’t to be left out when it came to adding to the annals. In the last hour of the two-day exercise, Hip 850, a chestnut filly by Curlin consigned by Caliente Thoroughbreds, established a record price for the June sale when she sold for $975,000 to Miles on behalf of owner Gus King while the overall average and median also established new marks for the final 2-year-old sale of the year.

    Minutes after signing that lofty ticket, Miles was hustling to be part of more fireworks as he consigned Hip 857, a gray or roan filly by Gun Runner that brought the sale’s second highest price when she went for $525,000 to representatives of My RaceHorse.

“It was a very busy 15 minutes,” Miles said.

    The lone offspring by Curlin selling during the June auction, the chestnut filly is out of the graded stakes winning Tapit mare Mufajaah, who is a daughter of multiple graded stakes winner Carolyn’s Cat. During her star turn in the ring, she bested the previous all-time June mark set in 2019 for $900,000.

    The new high mark also continued a trend of market strength during this juvenile sale season. The OBS March sale posted year-to-year gains in gross and average while the April exercise produced year-over-year gains in gross and a record average. The OBS March auction also sold a sale-record seven horses for $1 million or more, including a son of Gun Runner – now named Brant – who hammered for a record $3 million.

    When the dust settled on June, the average of $51,172 had bested the previous sale record of $43,433 set in 2021 and the median of $25,000 topped the prior record of $23,500 established in 2022. This year’s sale was held over two days compared to last year’s three-day exercise.

    “We certainly saw the same pattern that we saw in the 2-year-old market all year and I’m glad that it held all the way to June,” said Tod Wojciechowski, Director of Sales for OBS. “This time of year, you worry about buyer fatigue but a lot of that was just worry. The market proved its resiliency again. Lots of records this year, it was an excellent season. We’re grateful to the buyers that came, grateful to the consignors who bring the quality horses they bring.”

    Bidding on behalf of King, a client of his for a handful of years now, Miles stayed diligent in his pursuit of the Curlin filly as the bidding opened at $25,000 and steadily jumped up from there. Though he stretched beyond the limits of past June sales, Miles said King was determined to do what was needed in order to own the youngster, who had breezed in :10 flat during the under-tack show.

    “Gus really just wants top quality,” said Miles, who added the filly was headed to the barn of Hall of Famer Steve Asmussen. “He had Publisher in the (Kentucky) Derby this year and really wants to continue that line with really top-quality horses, and we felt the Curlin was the best horse in the sale.

    “We thought the horse could be bought for a little bit less, but we were not going to stop. We wanted to give it our all to get that horse bought. We didn’t want to spend that much money but to get that kind of horse, you have to spend that money. And Gus was very willing.”

    Saul Marquez of Caliente Thoroughbreds, no stranger to selling high-quality prospects with multiple Grade 1 winner and OBS grad Chancer McPatrick among those on his honor roll, happily found himself at a loss as he tried to describe his latest commercial success.

    “The first time we saw this filly we fell in love with her. She’s always done everything right,” Marquez said. “She’s been smart, loves what she does, she’s just a racehorse. We brought her in April but my whole idea was pointing her here in June. I was confident in her. But…right now I don’t even have words.”

    Miles had to find adjectives for both of the top horses in the sale as his Gun Runner filly out of Grade 1 winner Restless Rider gained her share of attention when she hit the ring moments later. When she breezed in :10 flat during the under tack show, Miles knew the stage would be set for her to have her own wave of suitors.

    “She was just amazing. She came in here really light on training and what she did on her breeze show was remarkable to me,” Miles said of the Gun Runner filly. “We came into Ocala thinking we may gallop her because she was so far behind. What she did had nothing to do with anything we did. She did all of it. It was a real shock; it was a pleasant shock.

    “My RaceHorse bought her and it’s going to be a fun road to watch. I love watching my babies go on and do well.”

    After Hip 104, a dark bay or brown colt by Grade 1 winner and OBS June grad Yaupon, topped the first day of the June sale when he sold to trainer Saffie Joseph Jr. for $300,000 from the consignment of Julie Davies, a total of seven horses sold for $300,000 or more during Wednesday’s session.

    On a day when consignor Ciaran Dunne was at Royal Ascot to witness OBS and Wavertree graduate Crimson Advocate score by 1 ¾ lengths in the Group 2 Duke Of Cambridge Stakes, an effort that came after fellow OBS and Wavertree grad Lennilu finished a game third in the Group 2 Queen Mary Stakes, his program notched another triumph when Hip 572, a bay colt by Bolt d’Oro sold to Gary Young, agent for $425,000.

    Though Lennliu, who is owned by a partnership that includes Amy Dunne and Caitlin Dunne, came up just short in her Royal Ascot try, the Bolt d’Oro colt provided a boost by justifying the patience and faith shown to him by his connections. Bred by Gil Masters, the colt is out of the Smart Strike mare Missile Belle, who is from the female family of graded stakes winner Fugitive Angel, and was earmarked for the June sale when it became evident his strong bodied frame would benefit from added time.

    “It’s the age-old story, you can’t hide a good one and he exceeded expectations,” Dunne said by phone from England. “But the way he performed; we weren’t surprised. He was a bit big and backwards early on. We had initially targeted April, but it was coming a little too soon, so we decided he was worth waiting a little bit longer for to give him the time to show himself at his best.”

    The colt first rewarded that patience during the under-tack show when he breezed in :9 4/5, catching Young’s eye with the way he was able to gather himself and finish up down the lane.

    “In his preview, he left the pole on his left lead, and he took about 7 or 8 strides to figure things out,” said Young, who purchased the colt on behalf of an undisclosed client. “But once he got into his stride and got over to his right lead, I thought he was a machine. We figured that there would be people on him, and we figured right about that (price) range is where we would have to go.”

    The day’s fourth highest price came when trainer George Weaver went to $375,000 for Hip 471, a son of OBS grad Into Mischief from Steven Venosa’s S G V Thoroughbred consignment who breezed in :10 flat. The appeal of six-time leading sire Into Mischief needs no justification as the Spendthrift Farm stallion continues to dominate both in the commercial arena and with his offspring on the track.

    “You see an Into Mischief that you like, and they look athletic and have a good look to them, you can’t go wrong,” Weaver said from Saratoga. “He’s a homerun type sire and has been for several years now. We’ll be glad to (have the colt) in the barn.”

    Out of the multiple stakes winning Kafwain mare Kadira and a half-sister to Grade 1 winner Paola Queen, the Into Mischief colt added to an already standout year for Venosa, who sold the two highest priced horses at the OBS April sale.

    “He’s a horse we held back specifically for this sale. He’s a late May foal so we gave him the time that he needed,” Venosa said of the Into Mischief colt. “And he did everything right here and on the farm. The horse was slated for an earlier sale, but we felt like it wasn’t his time. To me the most important thing is to do right by the horse.”

Other top prices included:

    Hip 563, a bay colt by Practical Joke consigned by de Meric Sales who sold for $350,000 to Donato Lanni, agent on behalf of Frank Fletcher. The colt, who breezed in :9 4/5, is out of the Drosselmeyer mare Midnight Girl, a half-sister to multiple Grade 1 winner Midnight Lucky, who is out of a full sister to Grade 1 winner and producer Hookedonthefeelin.

     Hip 654, a bay filly by Bolt d’Oro consigned by Woodside Ranch who sold for $325,000 to Legion Bloodstock, Agent. The filly, who breezed in :9 4/5, is out of the winning Elusive Quality mare Platonic Love and is from the female family of Grade 1 winner and producer Toussaud.

    Hip 734, a bay colt by Maclean’s Music consigned by de Meric Sales, who sold for $310,000 to Jeff Kresnak. The colt, who breezed in :10 flat, is out of the winning Mineshaft mare Sengekontacket, who is a full sister to stakes winner and OBS grad Wolf Man Rocket.

    Hip 512, a bay colt by Modernist consigned by Omar Ramirez Bloodstock who sold for $300,000 to Bill Childs. The colt, who breezed in :9 4/5, is out of the winning Sidney’s Candy mare Lila Ruth and is from the female family of multiple Grade 1 winner Win.

    Total gross receipts for the June sale saw $25,688,500 generated from 502 head sold, up from last year when up from last year when 592 2-year-olds sold for $21,702,300. The average soared past the $36,659 established in 2024 while the median also bested the $20,000 put up a year ago.

    The leading consignor by gross was de Meric Sales who sold 14 horses for $1,494,000 while King’s purchase of the Curlin filly made him the leading buyer.

    “This ended up being a really good sale,” Miles said. “We’re looking forward to next year and the yearling owners are happy to see this was a vibrant market because it will carry over. We just need to keep it going.”

    A total of 101 horses failed to meet their reserve, resulting in an RNA rate of 16.8% compared to 18.5% a year ago.

    The next sale on the OBS calendar is the October Yearling Sale taking place Oct. 7-8. Entries for the October sale close Aug. 5.

Wednesday, June 18, 2025
Sells to Saffie Joseph for $300,000 . . .

    Six years after his sire stepped foot in the OBS sales pavilion and set his high-level career into motion, a son of Yaupon took his own turn in the ring at the 2025 OBS June Two-Year-Olds and Horses of Racing Age Sale - and departed with a highlight moment of his own.

    The opening session of the OBS June sale showcased both market strength and the demand for one its most famous graduates. Hip 104, a dark bay or brown colt by Grade 1 winner and Spendthrift stallion Yaupon, sold to trainer Saffie Joseph Jr. for $300,000 to lead the first day of the final major 2-year-old sale of the year, which posted gains in average and median.

    With a stakes winner already to his credit, Yaupon – who sold at the 2019 OBS June Sale - has gotten off to hot start in his burgeoning stud career. The same precocity he showcased as a juvenile has shown itself in his offspring thus far with the session-topping colt the latest example of such.

    Out of the winning mare After the Party, by OBS grad Into Mischief, the Yaupon colt was originally entered in the OBS March Sale where he breezed in :9 4/5 but had a minor ankle issue. He duplicated that effort during the under-tack show for June, covering an eighth in :9 4/5 once more for consignor Julie Davies.

    “We came up here expecting him to sell well,” said Davies. “How well, you don’t know but he did have plenty of action. A lot of people liked his breeze and liked him on the shank. He’s very classy so he came out like he owns the place. He’s got a good mind to him, and he just presents himself well.”

    From the female family of Grade 1 winners Callback, Girolamo, and Kentucky Derby (G1) winner Super Saver, the Yaupon colt first caught Joseph’s eye back in March and the Grade 1 winning trainer was grateful for the opportunity to add him to his barn.

    “If I like them, I buy them and then I worry about selling them after,” Joseph said. “I had seen this horse in March and obviously, he worked fast there. He came back and duplicated it and for me, if he can duplicate that time, that means you’re pretty good.”

    The opening session got off to a strong start when Hip 35, a bay son of Constitution consigned by Cortez Racing & Sales, sold for $280,000 to Sleeper Thoroughbreds & Full of Run Racing LLC.

    Out of the Medaglia d’Oro mare Traffic Blimp, the colt is a half-brother to graded stakes-placed winners Allworthy and Miss Mattie B and is from the female family of multiple Grade 1 winner Bellafina. The colt galloped during the under-tack show.

    “He’s a super nice horse. We brought him here in April and he bruised his foot in a workout,” said Alex Cortez of Cortez Racing & Sales. “But everyone was on him. I did the right thing for the horse, I gave him time off and he came over here and I told everyone about him. Thank God everyone listened. (The price) was not surprising, because I know how good he is.”

    Two youngsters posted the day’s third highest price: Hip 120, a chestnut colt by Munnings consigned by Paul Sharp, and Hip 410, a bay colt by Twirling Candy consigned by Tom McCrocklin, both of whom sold for $250,000. The Munnings colt, who breezed in :10 1/5, was purchased by trainer Dallas Stewart on behalf of John Hall. The colt is out of the Tapit mare Amagansett and is a half-brother to Grade 1 winner and OBS grad Tenma.

    The son of Twirling Candy, who worked in :20 4/5, was purchased by Case Clay Thoroughbred Management. He is out of the Speightstown mare Brooke and Emory, who is out of multiple Grade 1 winner Hard Not to Like.

    Hip 421, a dark bay or brown colt by Charlatan consigned by Wavertree Stables, elicited the next highest price when he sold for $240,000 to JPM Bloodstock. The colt, who breezed in :10 flat, is out of the winning Scat Daddy mare Elandess, who is a half-sister to graded stakes winner Peace Achieved.

    Hip 399, a chestnut colt by Gun Runner consigned by Top Line Sales, brought the session’s fifth highest price when he was purchased for $220,000 by Salli Foushee. The colt, who breezed in :10 flat, is out of the graded stakes winning After Market mare Volcat and is a half-brother to graded stakes placed winner Dream Friend, an OBS grad.

    The session saw a total of 11 horses sell for $150,000 or more including:

    Hip 390, a chestnut colt by Midshipman consigned by Top Line Sales who sold for $170,000 to Sean S. Perl Bloodstock LLC. The colt, who breezed in :10 flat, is out of the Gemologist mare The Girls, a half-sister to multiple stakes winner Wink. The colt is a three-quarter sibling to Wink.

    Hip 50, a bay colt by Vekoma consigned by Envision Equine who sold for $160,000 to Robert Hess Jr. The colt, who breezed in :10 1/5, is out of the Yes It’s True mare Twelve Jewels, a half-sister to Canadian champion Inglorious and graded stakes winner Dixie Strike.

    Hip 174, a chestnut colt by Tiz the Law consigned by Navas Equine who sold for $160,000 to D. J. Stable. The colt, who breezed in :10 flat, is out of the winning Bernstein mare Blake’s Magic, who is a half-sister to Canadian champion Mobil.

    Hip 16, a dark bay or brown colt by Caracaro consigned by Global Thoroughbreds who sold for $150,000 to Tonja Terranova, agent. The colt, who breezed in :10 flat, is out of the Purge mare Texas to a Tee and is a half-brother to graded stakes winner Mississippi Delta.

    Hip 125, a dark bay or brown colt by Rock Your World who sold for $150,000 to Jim Divito. Consigned by Cardozo’s Brothers, the colt, who breezed in :10 flat, is out of winning, stakes-placed Tribal Rule mare Anniversary Kitty.

    The strong returns yielded by the 2-year-old market this season added another notch to its belt Tuesday. The overall gross came in at $9,758,500 from 222 head sold while the average improved from $37,755 last year to $43,957 this session. The median came in $26,000, up from $20,000 one year ago.

    The sale is being held over two days compared to last year’s auction which took place over three sessions.

    “Good solid day,” said Tod Wojciechowski, Director of Sales for OBS. “It felt like horses were moving and changing hands and there was good depth of buyers. Given the strength of the market coming in, we were hopeful and we’re looking forward to tomorrow.”

    Top Line Sales led all consignors by gross with 12 head sold for $832,000. C.H.P.R was the leading buyer with 32 purchased for $422,500.

Monday, June 16, 2025
Each worth more than $47,000 . . .
    HALLANDALE BEACH - There were 25 winning tickets in Gulfstream Park’s mandatory payout of the 20-cent Rainbow 6 on Sunday, with each ticket worth $47,670.

    There was $1,356,903 of new money wagered into the Rainbow 6 which started the day with a carryover of $129,340.

    The sequence began in Race 4 when Granka, trained by Antonio Sano, led gate-to-wire at odds of 30-1. The winning sequence:

              Race 4: Granka - $64

              Race 5: Three Zero - $7

              Race 6: Nana’s Corn Muffin - $19.20

              Race 7: Lace Up - $10.40 

              Race 8: Beach Gold - $3.20

              Race 9: Try to Make Cents - $12.80

              Frosted Punk was the only single going into the last race. There were 301 live tickets.

Live racing resumes Thursday with a nine-race program. First race post is 12:50 ET.
Saturday, June 14, 2025
Only 3 have broken par . . .

    Heading into the 10th U. S. Open that is being played at revered Oakmont Country Club in Oakmont PA, the top 10 names on the FedEx Cup points list were Scottie Scheffler, Rory McIlroy, Sepp Straka, Justin Thomas, Ben Griffin, Russell Henley, Maverick McNealy, Andrew Novak, Corey Connors and Ludvig Aberg.

    At the halfway point, Griffin is tied for fourth and Maverick is tied for eighth. The rest have a lot of work to do over the par-70 layout about which the TV analysts say "is humbling" the best players in the world. 

    Only three players have broken par after 36 holes - Sam Burns is 3 under, J J  Spaun is 2 under, and Viktor Hovland is 1 under.  Scheffler, the No. 1 player in the world, is tied for 23rd at 4 over, and defending champ Bryson DeChambeau missed the cut by a mile - 10 over. The cut came at an unbelievable 7 over, and a long list of A+ players didn't make it. Dustin Johnson also bombed out at 10 over. 

    Seminole Brooks Koepka is tied for 8th at 2 over, and Seminole Daniel Berger is tied for 23rd with Scheffler. There are no Gators in the field. But there is George Duangmanee; he shot 86-89, 35 over. 

Tuesday, June 10, 2025
Earns berth in BC Dirt Mile . . .
    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 Gr. 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.

   With the victory, Raging Torrent was awarded a berth in the 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 Gr. 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, Bob Baffert-trained Cash Call (McKinzie - D'fashion, by D'wildcat) outbattled stablemate Howin in the stretch to win the $100,000, Gr. III Summertime Oaks 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
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Friday, June 6, 2025
Leinster filly is 2-for-2 . . .
    HALLANDALE BEACH - Undefeated in two career starts, Lennilu has given trainer Patrick Biancone confidence that the gray 2-year-old filly is ready to take on Royal Ascot. “I think we have the right horse to do that,” Biancone said Wednesday.

    Lennilu earned a stakes berth at the Royal Ascot meeting (June 17-21) with her 3 ¾-length romp in the May 10 Royal Palm Juvenile Fillies at Gulfstream Park. 

    The daughter of Leinster had debuted April 6 at Keeneland with a length victory in a 4 ½-furlong maiden special weight race on dirt. In the five-furlong Royal Palm Juvenile Fillies, in which she prompted the early pace before taking over and drawing clear, Lennilu took to the turf in a big way to earn her trip to England.

    “She’s doing good. Everything is going perfectly. She will be leaving the 10th for Newmarket and will run June 18 at Ascot,” Biancone said.

    Lennilu returned to the work tab at Palm Meadows, Gulfstream’s satellite training facility in Palm Beach County, last Friday with an easy half-mile breeze in preparation for a planned start in the Group 2 Queen Mary June 18. Like the Royal Palm Juvenile Fillies, the Queen Mary will be contested at five furlongs on turf.

    Lennilu, who is owned by Amy Dunne, Caitlin Dunne, Brenda Miley, Jean Wilkinson, Hoffman Family Racing, Tranquility Lake Farm, Maury Harrington and Christopher Harrington, will not be accompanied by stablemate Squire to Royal Ascot. Squire, a son of Leinster who won at first asking April 18 at Gulfstream, finished second in the May 10 Royal Palm Juvenile, in which he dueled for the lead before weakening late.

    “Squire, we gave him a break. He wasn’t mature enough mentally to go to Ascot,” Biancone said. “He went back to the farm to relax a little bit for a month and come back in a month.”

    Leinster, a son of Majestic Warrior who stands at Pleasant Acres Stallions, was a multiple graded stakes- winner on turf who closed out his career with a third-place finish in the 2020 Breeders’ Cup Turf Sprint (G1) at Keeneland and a victory in the 2021 Gulfstream Park Turf Sprint (G3). Biancone said all offspring of Leinster have one thing in common. “They’re all fast,” he said.

    Biancone-trained Emerald Ember, who lost his recent debut by a nose, and Jose D’Angelo-trained Monster, who graduated in his turf debut last week by nine lengths for Arindel, were also sired by Leinster, the nation's leading a first crop sire.
Thursday, June 5, 2025
Vasquez reaches riding milestone . . .
    HALLANDALE BEACH - Dropping down from Gr. 1 company, Amy Dunne and trainer Patrick Biancone’s Classic of Course figures to be on firmer footing in Saturday’s $75,000 Not Surprising at Gulfstream Park. At least, that’s what Biancone is hoping.

    Classic of Course, who finished far back in the May 3 American Turf (G1) over a less-than-firm turf course at Churchill Downs, has been installed at 2-1 in the morning line in the 1 1/16-mile turf stakes for 3-year-olds that will co-headline Saturday’s 10-race program with the $75,000 Martha Washington, a 1 1/16-mile turf stakes for sophomore fillies.

    “He’s training good. I’m very happy with him,” Biancone said. “In his last race, he ran on soft ground, and he hates that. You can see it in his action.” Classic of Course earned a shot in the American Turf on the Kentucky Derby undercard March 29 over firm footing at Gulfstream Park with a rallying victory in the Cutler Bay in his first start on turf.

    Prior to breaking through with his first stakes success in the Cutler Bay, Classic of Course was multiple stakes-placed on dirt. “It was two things: he likes turf, and he has matured,” Biancone said. “Last year, he was a baby. This year he’s no longer a child. He’s more mature.” Jonathan Ocasio has the call.

    Arindel’s Tank, who is rated second at 5-2 on the morning line, will seek his third straight stakes victory. The Carlos David-trained son of Adios Charlie followed up a win over Florida-breds in the Sophomore Turf at Tampa Bay Downs with a triumph in the mile English Channel May 3 at Gulfstream. Emisael Jaramillo, who guided Arindel’s Mythical to a front-running victory in Thursday’s Tremont at Saratoga, returns to South Florida to ride.

    e Five Racing Thoroughbreds’ Nemo, who was beaten by 1 ¼ lengths while finishing fourth in the English Channel, is rated third at 9-2 on the morning line. The Saffie Joseph Jr.-trained son of Into Mischief had previously rallied from far back to win on debut at a mile on turf March 30. Joseph will also be represented in the by Ken Ramsey’s Back in the Saddle, a son of Oscar Performance who graduated in a $50,000 maiden claimer by 5 ½ lengths last time out. Wilfred Vasquez is slated to ride Nemo for the first time, while Edgard Zayas has the return call on Back in the Saddle.

    Gary Barber’s Bluff is scheduled to seek his third straight victory while making his stakes debut. The son of Flatter, who is trained by Hall of Famer Mark Casse, captured an April 27 optional claiming allowance at Tampa Bay Downs, four months after breaking his maiden at Gulfstream. Miguel Vasquez has the call.

    Chad Stewart and Anthony Lenci’s Lastabitlonger, Cloud Nine Lumoni’s Bakers Street, and Rolling Meadows Farm’s Blue Casanova round out the field. Laura Murphy’s Win With Faith was entered but will not start.

Vasquez Notches No. 1,500 

     Miguel Vasquez notched Win No. 1,500 in North America today while scoring aboard Mi Amore ($17.40) in Race 2 on a nine-race program. The 30-year-old journeyman, who is a graduate of Panama’s Laffit Pincay Jr. Jockey School, has established a strong year-round presence at Gulfstream since his arrival in South Florida in 2014. Vasquez ranked 10th in North America in 2020 with 195 winners, including six in one day at Gulfstream. In 2022, he rode a personal-best 2003 winners.

    Vasquez made a second visit to the winner’s circle with Torch Is Passed ($4.60) following Race 8, a 5 ½-furlong starter allowance on Tapet
a.
Monday, June 2, 2025
Rides 5 winners on Sunday . . .
    HALLANDALE BEACH - Leading jockey Edgard Zayas rode five winners on Sunday’s nine-race program at Gulfstream Park.

    Zayas opened the program with a win aboard Murabeh ($4.20) in Race 1.  He went on to visit the winner’s circle following subsequent victories aboard Basilea ($5.20) in Race 5, Nate the Great ($4.60) in Race 7 and Saratoga Flash ($5.20) in Race 8. The 31-year-old native of Rio Grande, P. R. finished his big day with a victory aboard Corta Fuego ($4) in Race 9.

    The 20-cent Rainbow 6 went unsolved on the first racing day following a jackpot hit for $143,445. The multi-race wager’s jackpot pool is expected to grow to an estimated $75,000 Thursday
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Sunday, June 1, 2025
Maybe not with LIV in the background . . .

    It's anybody's guess if Scottie Scheffler will ever reach Tiger Woods and Sam Snead's PGA Tour record of 82 victories. Red-hot Scottie won No. 16 today at Muirfield Village, the rich Memorial and its $4.4 million payout that brought his Tour earnings to a stunning $87.7 million. 

    So, barring Scottie driving off the road and into a tree, he appears to be a cinch to break Tiger's earnings record of $120 million. Scottie's only 28. He shot 10 under par over the tough Jack Nicklaus layout and won by four strokes over Ben Griffin, but there was no time over the back nine that Scottie was in trouble. 

    Scottie's No. 1 feature is that he hits fairways and greens much more consistently than his buddies. The one knock on his situation - if knock is the right word - is that Dustin Johnson, Bubba Watson, Jon Rahm, Bryson Dechambeau, Patrick Reed, Sergio Garcia, Louis Oosthuizen and the rest of the LIVers only get to face him in the four Majors. When Scottie hangs up his cleats, will he be admitted as one of the really elite of the sport?

    Surprisingly, there were no Gators in the Memorial, and the lone Seminole, Daniel Berger, shot 9 over par and missed the unusually high cut of 5 over.

    Speaking of LIV, they have the worst graphics in history on their telecasts. Too small, too confusing. I hope nobody was paid to come up with them.

     Sidelights: The balls and strikes calls in MLB are horrendous. Close games are being decided by bad calls and it's not supposed to be that way. They need to use the TV images and have studio analysts make the calls, like they do with close plays.

     Also: The NBA refs are worse than the home plate umps. Their non-calls on walking and charging have ruined the game. Big guys race toward the basket, smash into three defenders and they call a foul on one of the defenders. Ridiculous.   

 

 

Sunday, June 1, 2025
Rainbow six player makes big score . . .
    HALLANDALE BEACH - Steven Friedfertig and Shining Stables’ Luvumorgan did her namesake proud Saturday at Gulfstream Park, where the Saffie Joseph Jr.-trained daughter of Union Rags rallied through the stretch to capture the $75,000 Game Face.

    But which one?

    “My brother-in-law’s name is Morgan and he had a horse called Morganmorganmorgan who won the (1983) Tampa Bay Derby,” Friedfertig said in the winner’s circle following Luvumorgan’s 2 ¾-length victory in the 6 ½-furlong stakes for 3-year-old fillies. “And Saffie’s wife’s name is Morgan. Saffie and I bred the horse, so…Both.”

    Luvumorgan, who was coming off a maiden victory at 1 1/16 miles in her second career start, conceded experience to her six rivals but would employ a perfect trip under Edgard Zayas to establish herself as a stakes-winner. Zayas positioned his lightly raced filly behind Joseph-trained stablemate Andrea, who disputed the pace set by Unchained Elaine, before swinging four wide on the turn into the homestretch and drawing clear through the lane.

    “It set up perfectly following Andrea. I was surprised at the speed [Luvumorgan] showed. Last time, she ran a mile and a sixteenth,” Zayas said. “She’s had a little bit of a layoff, so she was pretty sharp.”

    Luvumorgan ($22) ran 6 ½ furlongs in 1:18.85. Andrea held second, three-quarters of a length ahead of 3-2 favorite Win N Your In.

    In the co-featured $75,000 Powder Break for fillies and mares, Flying Finish Farm Inc.’s Lets Go Koko ($16.80) was fast to start and never looked back on her way to a front-running victory under Edwin Gonzalez.

    “I told Edwin, ‘If you’re going to break on the lead, break on the lead, back her up a little and then let her roll,’” trainer Rory Miller said. “I felt very confident about that. At the three-eighths pole, I said, ‘They’re not going to catch this filly.’ She really game, easy to train.”

    Bred by Miller’s Flying Finish Farm, the 4-year-old daughter of Adios Charlie ran 1 1/16-miles over a firm turf course in 1:33.51 to prevail over a late-rushing Dancing N Dixie. Starship Agenda finished third. Lets Go Koko collected her eighth victory and first stakes triumph from 22 career starts.

Rainbow 6 Solved 

    The 20-cent Rainbow 6 was solved Saturday. good for a $143,445.12 jackpot payoff. The winning combination was: 6-5-7-8-8-4.

    The multi-race wager will start anew today. The sequence will span Races 4-9, featuring a 1 1/16-mile starter allowance on Tapeta in Race 7 that pits Bobby DiBona-trained Nate the Great, a winner at Sunday’s level last time out, against Carlos Perez-trained Navy Cross, and impressive winner of his two starts off the claim.
Sunday, June 1, 2025
Kings Plate winner wins 2025 debut . . .
    Baoma Corp.’s Nysos (Nyquist – Netta Z, by Bernardini) returned to his winning ways Saturday with a 5 ½-length win in the Gr. III, $100,000 Triple Bend Stakes going seven furlongs at Santa Anita Park to lead a slate of four OBS grads who earned graded stakes wins on the day.

    Nysos returned from a 15-month layoff on the Kentucky Derby undercard May 3 and came up a neck short in the Gr. I Churchill Downs, his first loss in four starts for trainer Bob Baffert. On Saturday, the 4-year-old Nyquist colt shook clear of Dr. Venkman at the top of the stretch and then extended his advantage to earn his third graded stakes win.

    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 Spring Sale after breezing in 9 4/5.

    At Woodbine, Classic Mo Town (Mo Town - Potra Clasica (ARG), by Potrillon (ARG)) finally charted his first stakes success with a win in the $175,000, Gr. II Eclipse Stakes. Classic Mo Town, trained by Marty Drexler and owned by Bruno Schickedanz, crossed the wire a three-quarter length winner over Webslinger, who rallied to net second. The gelding was purchased by Saffie Joseph Jr. from Sue Vacek for $18,000 at the 2021 OBS October Yearling Sale.

    Also at Woodbine, WinStar Farm’s Caitlinhergrtness (Omaha Beach – Belatrix, by Giant’s Causeway) was much the best in the $150,000, Gr. III Belle Mahone Stakes.

    The daughter of Omaha Beach was making her 4-year-old debut in the 1 1/16-mile race. 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, longshot Durante (Distorted Humor - Seahawk Girl, by Pioneerof the Nile), owned and trained by David Jacobson, took advantage of a torrid early pace to win the $275,000, Gr. III Aristides by one length. This was Durante’s second stakes win following his victory in the 2023, Gr. III $200,000 Bold Ruler at Aqueduct. Consigned by Richardson Bloodstock to the 2021 OBS March Sale, Durante sold for $130,000 to Dennis O’Neill after breezing in :10 1/5.
Wednesday, May 28, 2025
OBS grads enjoy another successful week . . .
    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 Gr. 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 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 by Blue River Bloodstock, Inc., Agent, 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, also 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
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Sunday, May 25, 2025
Famed trainer Clement passes away at 59 . . .
    HALLANDALE BEACH - A mandatory payout of the 20-cent Rainbow 6 jackpot pool today yielded multiple $31,481 payoffs at Gulfstream Park.

    The Rainbow 6, which was solved a week earlier for a $185, 237 jackpot payoff, offered bettors a carryover of $54,774 going into Sunday, and $904,774 was bet into the multi-race wager, which spanned Races 4-9. The winning combination was: 9-1-9-1-2-11.

    The Rainbow 6 starts anew Thursday, when the sequence will span Races 4-9, featuring a well-stocked 5 ½-furlong maiden special weight event for 3-year-old fillies on Tapeta. Joe Orseno-trained Love Actually returns from turf to the all-weather surface, over which the daughter of Caravaggio has finished second twice in as many starts. Orseno will also be represented in the nine-filly field by Lido Beach, a daughter of Curlin’s Honor who finished third her recent debut. Eddie Plesa Jr.-trained Valiant Hope, who finished 1 ½ lengths ahead of Lido Beach while finishing second in her second start, appears to be another win candidate. Saffie Joseph Jr.-trained Violence and Peace, a daughter of Violence, is slated to debut from the rail post.

Tiffany Gold Upsets Mrs. Gambolini in Lady’s Island Handicap

    Lean Entertainment’s Tiffany Gold withstood a stretch-long challenge by odds-on favorite Mrs. Gambolini to capture today’s $70,000 Lady’s Island, a five-furlong overnight handicap for fillies and mares on turf.

    The Victor Barboza Jr.-trained 4-year-old daughter of Speightster ($13.40) set the pace over a firm turf course to prevail by a head over Saffie Joseph Jr.-trained Mrs. Gambolini, the 3-5 favorite and 125-pound highweight who conceded three pounds to the winner while seeking her fourth win in five career starts.

    Tiffany Gold, who had finished fourth behind Mrs. Gambolini in the Golden Beach Handicap April 27, ran five furlongs in :54.72 seconds under Emisael Jaramillo to record her fourth win in 11 starts. Mrs. Gambolini, who was ridden for the first time by Rocco Bowen, finished 1 ¼ lengths ahead of Barboza-trained Great Venezuela, the 9-5 second betting choice ridden by Leonel Reyes.

In Memory of Christophe Clement

    The Florida racing community mourns the passing of trainer Christophe Clement who had been battling Metastic uveal Melanoma. Clement was 59.

    A native of France, Clement won his first race in the U.S. in 1991 at Belmont Park and won his first graded stakes race at Gulfstream in 1992. Gentlemanly and astute, Clement saddled 2,576 winners and won the 2014 Belmont Stakes with Tonalist, the 2021 Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies with Pizza Bianca, and trained two-time grass champion Gio Ponti.

     Clement had great success in South Florida during the winter months at Gulfstream, Calder and Hialeah, especially with turf runners. Clement won Gulfstream’s Gr. III Orchid Handicap six of 11 years between 1994-2004, including four consecutive years, and again in 2023. He won the Gulfstream Park Turf, now the Pegasus World Cup Turf, three times, and won Gulfstream’s 2022, 2024 and 2025 Pan American (G3). He also saddled stakes winners at Calder in the W. L. McKnight (G3) and at Hialeah in Bougainvillea.
Friday, May 23, 2025
Another winner for country's top-ranked freshman sire . . .

    HALLANDALE BEACH - Monster lived up to his name today at Gulfstream Park, graduating by nine lengths with a sizzling gate-to-wire performance in a five-furlong maiden special weight for 2-year-olds on turf.

    The Jose D’Angelo-trained colt also continued the impressive early-season success of Pleasant Acres' first-crop sire Leinster, while cutting out fractions of :20.82 and :43.21 seconds for the first half mile on his way to a final clocking of :55.14 under Edgard Zayas.

    Arindel’s Monster was making his third career start and his first on turf. He debuted at Keeneland with a troubled fourth-place finish at 4 ½ furlongs on April 7 at Keeneland. The Florida-bred colt showed speed while prompting the pace before fading to sixth in the five-furlong Kentucky Juvenile on May 1 at Churchill Downs.

    Monster, the 7-10 favorite in a field of eight, prepared for the stellar effort with a five-furlong breeze in 33 seconds on the turf at Palm Meadows, Gulfstream’s satellite training facility in Palm Beach County.

    “I really liked this horse from Day 1 – that’s why I brought him to Kentucky. He didn’t run the way I was expecting,” D’Angelo said. “I said, ‘Lets bring the horse back to Florida and work him on the grass.’ The horse worked in 33, showing he’s 100-percent grass.”

    Leinster was 100-percent grass, himself, winning four graded-stakes on turf, including his career finale in the 2021, Gr. III Gulfstream Park Turf Sprint. The Rusty Arnold-trained son of Majestic Warrior had finished third in the 2020 Breeders’ Cup Turf Sprint in his prior start.

    Leinster is also the sire of Lennilu, who captured the $100,000 Royal Palm Juvenile Fillies, and Squire, the runner-up in the $100,000 Royal Palm Juvenile, on the Gulfstream Park turf course. Leinster stands at Pleasant Acres Stallions in Morriston, where his 2025 stud fee was $2,500.

Mandatory Rainbow 6 Payout Set for Sunday

    The 20-cent Rainbow 6 went unsolved at Gulfstream Park Thursday on the second racing day

following Sunday’s jackpot hit for $185,237.

    A mandatory payout of the pool is scheduled for Sunday. Should the multi-race wager go unsolved

until Sunday, the pool is expected to grow to an estimated $750,000.

Wednesday, May 21, 2025
Margie's Intention's debut in open company . . .
    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, Gr. II Black-Eyed Susan Stakes at Pimlico Race Course, 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, 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, Gr. III Maryland Sprint.

    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.

    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, Most Handsome (Neolithic - Precious Lady, by Songandaprayer) led at every point of call to notch a victory in the $75,000 Roar Stakes. Owned by trainer Ronald Spatz and attorney 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, 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.
Saturday, May 17, 2025
Nails long shot Gosger at the wire . . .
    BALTIMORE – Ocala's Bridlewood Farm, Eclipse Thoroughbred Partners, Don Alberto Stable, Robert LaPenta, Elayne Stables 5, Mrs. John Magnier, Michael Tabor and Derrick Smith’s Journalism, beaten favorite in the Kentucky Derby two weeks earlier, came through for his backers at Pimlico Race Course with a courageous stretch surge to capture the 150th Preakness Stakes.  

     The 150th Preakness was the final running of the Middle Jewel of the Triple Crown to be hosted by the current Pimlico facility, affectionately known as ‘Old Hilltop,’ before it is demolished to make way for a modern building that is scheduled for completion in time for the 2027 Preakness. Laurel Park will host next year’s edition.

    The $2 million Preakness headlined a blockbuster 14-race program featuring 10 stakes, five graded, worth $3.3 million in purses.

    Michael McCarthy-trained Journalism, who finished second after being passed in the stretch by Sovereignty in the Derby, appeared to be hard-pressed to overtake longshot Gosger after encountering serious bumping in the stretch run of the historic 1 3/16-mile Classic. Yet, the 3-year-old son of Curlin, 2007 Preakness winner, two-time Horse of the Year and 2014 Hall of Famer, kicked into high gear under jockey Umberto Rispoli to edge past Gosger, a 15-1 shot ridden by Luis Saez.

    “When I saw that, I thought it was another solid effort and, unfortunately, he was going to come up just a little bit short. For sure he got the worst of it. Hats off to Umberto and Journalism for persevering,” McCarthy said. “I think today you saw what it takes to be a champion. Today was his day. He had been telling us all along he was sort of ready for an effort like that.”

    It was the second Preakness win for McCarthy, former assistant to Hall of Fame trainer Todd Pletcher, following Rombauer in 2021. Rispoli, a two-time champion rider in Italy who earlier on the card won the $150,000, Gr. II Gallorette aboard Charlene’s Dream, earned his first success in a Triple Crown race.

    Journalism’s effort was reminiscent of his victory in the Santa Anita Derby, in which he rallied late after being stopped on the turn and into the stretch. Once again he displayed his resolve to overcome trouble.

    Rispoli settled Journalism along the rail to save ground in the early stages as Clever Again darted out to an early lead pressed to his outside by Gosger, the last-out, Gr. III Lexington winner. They went the opening quarter-mile in :23.19 seconds and were still in front after a half in :46.66, when River Thames worked his way into contention along with Goal Oriented.

    As they rounded the far turn Rispoli tipped Journalism off the inside to launch their bid but the opening they sought closed quickly as Goal Oriented ducked in and bumped with Journalism, causing him to bother Clever Again racing inside. As that was going on, Gosger was able to scoot away to a seemingly insurmountable lead.

     Journalism made his way through and regathered his momentum as Rispoli set his sights on the loose leader. Coming with a relentless drive through the stretch, Journalism was able to reel in Gosger and edge clear by a half-length to win in 1:55.47 over a fast main track.

    It was 2 ¼ lengths back to third-place finisher Sandman, who was four lengths in front of Goal Oriented in fourth. Completing the order of finish were British import Heart of Honor, River Thames, Pay Billy, American Promise and Clever Again, who was eased across the wire.

    Sent off at even-money by an enthusiastic on-track crowd, Journalism returned $4 to win in becoming the 74th favorite to win the Preakness and first since Triple Crown champion Justify in 2018.

    Journalism’s victory sets up a possible showdown with Sovereignty in the Belmont Stakes on June 7 at Saratoga. Eighteen horses have completed the Preakness-Belmont double, the most recent being Afleet Alex in 2005.
Thursday, May 15, 2025
Looks to make up for Derby 2nd . . .


    BALTIMORE – Eclipse Thoroughbred Partners, Bridlewood Farm, Don Alberto Stable, Robert LaPenta, Elayne Stables 5, Mrs. John Magnier, Michael Tabor and Derrick Smith’s Journalism looms as a strong favorite for Saturday’s 150th Preakness Stakes at Pimlico Race Course, two weeks after coming up short as the favorite in the Kentucky Derby.

    Saturday will mark the final running of the Middle Jewel of the Triple Crown at the current Pimlico facility, affectionately known as ‘Old Hilltop,’ before it is demolished to make way for a modern building that is scheduled for completion in time for the 2027 Preakness. Laurel Park will host next year’s 151st Preakness.

    Journalism, who endured traffic and a wide trip while finishing second behind Sovereignty as the 3-1 favorite in the Kentucky Derby, is rated at 8-5 on the morning-line in a field of nine assembled for the Preakness, in which the Derby winner will not compete.

    “He’s a wonderful athlete. He’s got the looks and size,” trainer Michael McCarthy said Wednesday morning while glancing in the direction of Journalism in his stall at the Pimlico Stakes Barn.  “He’s got the mechanics of a very good horse. His resume speaks for itself. He’s a special, special talent.”

    Journalism entered the Kentucky Derby coming off four straight victories in Southern California, including a gritty score in the Santa Anita Derby, in which he was stopped in traffic on the turn into the homestretch before shaking loose and prevailing by three-quarters of a length.

    “The one thing you can’t measure for and can’t write down in a sales catalogue is ‘try,’ ‘heart,’” said McCarthy of the determination of the $825,000 yearling purchase at the Fasig-Tipton New York Saratoga sale. Umberto Rispoli, who was aboard for all four of his wins in addition to Journalism’s runner-up finish in the Derby, has the return call from Post 2.

    McCarthy achieved the ultimate success at Pimlico in 2021 when he saddled Rombauer for an 11-1 upset victory in the Preakness. “Rombauer seemed like he was getting good at the right time. He showed up here in Baltimore and had a great week. It looked like he was getting over the track really, really well,” McCarthy recalled. “The race set up in his favor Preakness Day. He was arguably the best horse that ran that day. The time stacked up. It was wonderful to participate in a Triple Crown race and win a Triple Crown race.”

    The 54-year-old’s quest for a second Preakness triumph will encounter challenges from five Hall of Fame trainers with 18 victories in the Middle Jewel of the Triple Crown, among them – former boss Todd Pletcher, plus Ocala's Mark Casse, Steve Asmussen, Bob Baffert and D. Wayne Lukas.

    Pletcher, who entered the Hall of Fame in 2021, will seek his first Preakness victory with WinStar Farm, CHC Inc., Pantofel Stable and Wachtel Stable’s River Thames, who was withheld from the Derby to target the Preakness. River Thames, who was beaten by a neck in the Fountain of Youth at Gulfstream while finishing second behind Derby hero Sovereignty, is coming off a third-place finish in the Blue Grass at Keeneland.

    Should the son of Maclean’s Music win the Preakness it would complete a personal Triple Crown for Pletcher, who has saddled two Derby winners and four Belmont Stakes winners. He has started only 10 horses in the Preakness. “I think any time you have the opportunity to win a Classic that’s definitely something you’d like to achieve,” Pletcher said. “It would be something we’d love to get done.” Irad Ortiz Jr. has the return call on River Thames, who ranks third on the morning line at 9-2.

    Casse, who was inducted into the Hall of Fame a year after saddling War of Will for a 2019 Preakness score, is scheduled to saddle D J Stable, St. Elias Stable, West Point Thoroughbreds and CJ Stables’ Sandman for the Preakness. The son of Tapit, who is rated second on the morning line at 4-1, is coming off a seventh-place finish in the Derby, in which he dropped back to last after encountering early traffic before offering a nine-wide rally.

    “You hope you can draw a line through it,” CEO and President of West Point Thoroughbreds Terry Finley said. “Journalism obviously ran really hard. If he runs that same race, we’ve got a lot to make up. Maybe we can close the gap.” Sandman entered the Derby off an eye-catching victory in the Arkansas Derby, in which he rallied from eighth in a nine-horse field and drew away to a 2 ½-length score.

    “It’s been a whirlwind in a nutshell, getting with Sandman,” said mega-popular internet influencer Griffin Johnson, who owns a share of Sandman. “When you own a piece of a horse, you never know what you’re going to get. That’s part of the fun, right? Obviously, Sandman has been a fantastic horse with a supreme amount of talent, and he has taken me on arguably the best journey that I could ever experience. I’m really just glad to be here. I’m soaking it in. Most importantly, I’m trying to share that dream with everyone I can and be authentic and experiential as I can.”

    Hall of Fame jockey John Velazquez is scheduled to ride the striking gray colt for the first time.

    Asmussen, who was inducted into the Hall of Fame in 2016, will seek his third Preakness victory with Winchell Thoroughbreds, Mrs. John Magnier, Michael Tabor and Derrick Smith’s Clever Again. He found the Preakness winner’s circle with Curlin in 2007 and Rachel Alexandra in 2009.

    Clever Again, who is rated fourth at 5-1 on the morning line, will make his graded stakes debut in the Preakness in only his fourth career start. The son of 2015 Triple Crown champion American Pharoah, who was narrowly beaten in his debut at Keeneland in his only start as a 2-year-old, has won his two races this year, both at Oaklawn Park. After breaking his maiden with a front-running 3 ½-length score at 1 1/16 miles, he ran off with the mile Hot Springs by four lengths. Jose Ortiz has the return call on Clever Again.

    Baffert, who was inducted into the Hall of Fame in 2009, will have the opportunity to extend his record for most Preakness winners for a trainer when he saddles SF Racing, Starlight Racing, Madaket Stables’, Stonestreet Stables, Diane Bashor, Determined Stables, Robert E. Masterson, Tom J. Ryan, Waves Edge Capital, and Catherine Donovan’s Goal Oriented for his stakes debut.

    Goal Oriented is 2-for-2, entering the Preakness off a 3 ½-length debut score at six furlongs April 6 at Santa Anita and a front-running triumph in a 1 1/16-mile optional claiming allowance on the Kentucky Derby undercard. Baffert is well aware of the challenge that awaits Goal Oriented in the Preakness while racing against the likes of Journalism.

    “[Journalism] is a really good horse. Watching him, it was a great Derby,” Baffert said. “These are important races. If you feel your horse fits in this kind of race … I think he fits. You have Journalism. He is a real good horse and ran a big race in the Derby. Horses with good Derby form run good in the Preakness. My horse had good form two weeks ago. He is a big strong horse.”

    Flavien Prat has the return mount on the son of Not This Time, who is 6-1 on the morning line.

    Baffert established his Preakness record with National Treasure (2023), Justify (2018), American Pharoah (2015), Lookin At Lucky (2010), War Emblem (2002), Point Given (2001), Real Quiet (1998) and Silver Charm (1997).

    Lukas, a 1999 Hall of Fame inductee, could tie Baffert’s record should BC Stables' American Promise rebound from a 16th-place finish in the Derby with a winning performance in the Preakness. American Promise earned his stall in the starting gate for the Derby by winning the Virginia Derby at Colonial Downs. Rated at 20-1 on the morning line, the son of 2018 Triple Crown champion Justify will be ridden back by Nik Juarez.

    Lukas notched his seventh Preakness success last year with Seize the Grey, who was preceded by Oxbow (2013), Charismatic (1999), Timber Country (1995), Tabasco Cat (1994), Tank’s Prospect (1985), and Codex (1980).

    Jim and Claire Limited’s Heart of Honor is scheduled to make his U.S. debut in the Preakness following a trans-Atlantic flight from Great Britain. The Jamie Osborne-trained son of Honor A.P. is coming off a runner-up finish in the April 5 UAE Derby at Meydan Racecourse. Set at 12-1 on the morning line, Heart of Honor will be ridden back by Osborne’s 23-year-old daughter, Saffie Osborne.

    Harvey A. Clarke Racing Stables’ Gosger and RKTN Racing’s Pay Billy are both rated at 20-1 on the morning line. Brendan Walsh-trained Gosger, who won the April 12 Lexington at Keenland last time out, will be ridden for the first time Saturday by Luis Saez.

    Michael Gorham-trained Pay Billy, who earned his berth in the Preakness by winning the April 19 Federico Tesio at Laurel, will be ridden back by Raul Men
a.

Monday, May 12, 2025
She's also top 3yo filly and Sprinter . . .

    Ocala - Mystic Lake has been named the 2024 Florida-bred Horse of the Year in a vote by the Florida Thoroughbred Breeders’ and Owners’ Association board of directors and announced at the FTBOA Awards Gala held Monday night at the Circle Square Cultural Center.

    Bred by Peggy Costanzo and owned by C2 Racing Stable and Stefania Farms, Mystic Lake was also named the Florida-bred Champion 3-Year-old Filly and Florida-bred Champion Female Sprinter after winning the Gr. II Charles Town Classic, Gr. III Miss Preakness at Pimlico, Sugar Swirl (Listed) at Gulfstream Park and Stonehedge Farm South Sophomore Fillies at Tampa Bay Downs.

    Costanzo was also presented the Needles Award, recognizing the Small Breeder of the Year in Florida.

    The Florida Breeder of the Year goes to Marilyn Campbell’s Stonehedge Farm, which boasts  earnings of $2,929,004 from 33 wins, 67 seconds and 67 thirds in 601 starts. This is the fifth time Stonehedge has been recognized as the Breeder of the Year, also being honored in 1997, 2013, 2016 and 2023. 

    Charlotte Weber’s Live Oak Plantation was named the leading owner of Florida-breds by earnings with $1,683,452 from 31 wins, 25 seconds and 18 thirds. This is the seventh time Live Oak has earned the title, previously topping the standings in 2011, 2016, 2017, 2019, 2020 and 2021. Live Oak took home the trophy as the owner of Champion Older Male and Champion Male Turf Horse, Forever Souper.

    For a record fifth consecutive year, Khozan is Florida Stallion of Year with progeny earnings of $5,679,578. He earned the titles in 2020 ($3,521,813), 2021 ($3,671,794), 2022 ($4,513,950) and 2023 ($6,292,158). Khozan passes Montbrook (2002, 2003, 2008, 2009) and Wildcat Heir (2010, 2011, 2013, 2014) with four titles each going back to 1991. Khozan stood the 2024 season at Journeyman Stud and for the 2025 season he's at Ocala Stud. Khozan was represented by three stakes-winners and his leading earner with $144,897 was Wildwood Bye. He is property of Al Shaqab Racing and Stonehedge.

    Ocala Stud’s Win Win Win is the leading freshman sire and leading juvenile sire with progeny earnings of $797,233. His leading money earner with $218,950 was multiple stakes-winner Win N Your In. He is also represented by graded stakes-winner Nooni ($212,400), the Florida-bred Champion 2-Year-Old Filly. Win Win Win is property of Live Oak Stud, Brereton Jones and Ocala Stud.

    Other Florida-bred Champions recognized are 2-Year-Old Male Rated by Merit, Bentornato the 3-Year-Old Male and Male Sprinter; Spirit Wind Older Female, and Female Turf Horse, Dancing N Dixie.

    Points of Grace, the dam of Florida-bred Arthur’s Ride, winner of the Gr. I Whitney at Saratoga Race Course, is the Florida Broodmare of the Year. She is currently owned by Joe and Helen Barbazon, owners of Pleasant Acres Stallions in Morriston, who bred Arthur’s Ride with the Tapit Syndicate.

    The Joseph M. O’Farrell Memorial Award presented by Ocala Breeders’ Sales Company went to Tom McCrocklin and Francis and Barbara Vanlangendonck’s Summerfield, consignors of Florida-bred Horse of the Year Mystic Lake. Summerfield consigned her at the 2022 OBS October Yearling Sale while McCrocklin sold her at the 2023 OBS March Sale.

    Saffie Joseph Jr. is honored as the leading trainer of Florida-breds by black-type wins (10), total wins (83) and Florida-bred earnings ($3,446,942.)

Monday, May 12, 2025
Lennilu sharp in Royal Palm Juvenile Fillies . . .
    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, Gr. III Mamzelle Stakes 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. 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 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 1½-length victory in the $102,000 Long Branch Stakes – earning a free entry and free start fees to the Gr. 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 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.
Saturday, May 10, 2025
Lennilu wins by nearly 4. Royal Ascot is next . . .

    HALLANDALE BEACH - Lennilu, 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 in impressive fashion, overcoming some early trouble to romp by 3 ¾ lengths as the favorite in the $100,000 Royal Palm Juvenile Fillies at Gulfstream Park.

    The race co-headlined the program with the $100,000 Royal Palm Juvenile, both sprinting five furlongs on the grass. Each race winner earns 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. “But I don’t see why it would be a problem.”

    With two-time Championship Meet leading rider Luis Saez in town for the race, Lennilu ($3.60) completed the distance in :56.99 seconds over a firm turf course. It was her second race following a one-length debut triumph going 4 ½ furlongs over a sloppy main track on April 6 at Keeneland.

    “Luis loved her from the day he rode her at Keeneland. He said he wanted to ride her at Ascot and I said, ‘Easy, we have to do one stop at Gulfsteam first,’” Biancone said. “She’s a machine. She’s very relaxed.  She traveled to Keeneland, it was bad weather. She shed-rowed two days, jogged one day and ran like a monster,” Biancone said. “The father [Leinster] was a very good sprinter on turf so I had a lot of confidence in her coming into this race. The plan all along was to get to Ascot. That’s why so many partners joined in for that trip.”

    Saturday’s race saw Wesley Ward-trained Satisfied Mind, a 3 ¼-length winner of her April 16 unveiling at Keeneland, break running and establish the early lead after an opening quarter-mile in :22.03 seconds. Lennilu, who bumped with Satisfied Mind at the break, pressed in second joined by 50-1 shot Le Sunshine to her immediate outside in third.

    The half-mile went in :45.25 seconds as Lennilu came off the far turn racing two wide to take over the top spot and powered through the lane to separate from her rivals while under a hold from Saez. Bibi Dahl, a $1.35 million yearling making her first start, got up for second, 3 ¾ lengths ahead of Strada Del Sogno in third.

    “She’s a very nice filly,” Saez said. “She broke from there well [and] put herself in a good position. At the top of the stretch she was a little green first time on turf, but she’s got a lot of ability. I had a lot of horse at the end. I was pretty confident after I rode at Keeneland. She won that race very professionally. I had a lot of horse left that day, too. Now I’m looking forward to going to Ascot. That’s why we came here today.”

    The connections are hoping to follow in the footsteps of inaugural Royal Palm Juvenile Fillies winner Crimson Advocate, who used the race as a steppingstone to victory in the 2023, Gr. II Queen Mary Stakes at Royal Ascot for trainer George Weaver and jockey John Velazquez.

    “We were on the one hand very confident, because all the horses she beat at Keeneland won their next start, but that makes you a bit anxious, too,” Biancone said. “She’s a baby, but she will learn. She was a little bit green coming to the stretch, but she’s learning and, hopefully, she’ll be even better in six weeks.”

Thursday, May 8, 2025
Nine stakes on Preakness undercard . . .
    BALTIMORE – Defending champion Balnikhov, fellow millionaires Tawny Port and Trikari, and multiple graded stakes-winner Neat, on the cusp of reaching the milestone himself, are among 40 horses nominated to the $250,000, Gr. III Dinner Party May 17 at Pimlico Race Course.

    The 124th renewal of the 1 1/8-mile Dinner Party for 3-year-olds and up on the grass is among nine stakes, four graded, worth $1.3 million on the undercard of the $2 million Preakness Stakes, Middle Jewel of the Triple Crown, to be run for the 150th time.

    Pimlico’s oldest stakes race and the eighth-oldest in the country, the Dinner Party was contested at two miles for its 1870 debut, won by Hall of Famer Preakness. The distance has changed eight times over its history, returning to nine furlongs in 2023 for the first time since 2013.

    Irish-bred Balnikhov rallied from last to register a 1 ½-length victory in the 2024 Dinner Party over Crabs N Beer, also nominated to make a return. The 6-year-old gelding has placed in three subsequent Grade 2 turf stakes and most recently ran ninth in the 1 ½-mile Elkhorn (G2) April 19 at Keeneland.

    Tawny Port was a two-time graded-stakes winner on the dirt as a 3-year-old in 2022 and was seventh in the Kentucky Derby (G1) before being moved to the grass, where he has placed five times in graded-stakes, four of them by a neck or less. Trikari won four graded-stakes last year topped by the 1 3/16-mile Belmont Derby (G1) at Aqueduct and was third in the Maker’s Mark Mile (G1) April 11 at Keeneland in his first start in nearly six months.

    Neat is less than $80,000 from reaching millionaire status. Most recently fourth as the favorite in the one-mile Henry S. Clark April 19 at Laurel Park, the 4-year-old Constitution colt won the Transylvania (G3), Manila (G3) and Hall of Fame (G2) in a span of four starts last spring and summer.

    Other Dinner Party nominees include multiple graded-stakes winners Endlessly and Fort Washington and multiple stakes winners Crystal Quest, Dataman, Fulmineo, Lord Bullingdon and Seminole Chief.

    Booth, riding a three-race win streak capped by back-to-back victories in the Whitmore (G3) and Count Fleet Sprint Handicap (G3) at Oaklawn Park, tops 31 nominations to the $150,000 Maryland Sprint (G3) for 3-year-olds and up at six furlongs. Others include Grade 1 winner Millikin, graded-stakes winners Dean Delivers and World Record, 15-time winners Concrete Glory and Spikezone, and Witty, a multiple stakes winner on both turf and dirt.

    The $150,000 Gallorette (G3) for fillies and mares 3 and up going 1 1/16 miles on the grass attracted 44 nominations led by multiple Grade 1-winning millionaire She Feels Pretty and graded-stakes winners Duvet Day, For Flying, Gimme a Nother, Kehoe Beach, No Mo Candy, Ocean Club, Pin Up Betty, Sparkle Blue and Waves of Mischief as well as Five Towns, runner-up to Fluffy Socks in 2024.

    A trio of undefeated but untested 3-year-olds – Ancient World, Here Comes Francis and Moonlit Notion – join Southwest (G3) winner Speed King; multiple stakes winners Barbadian Runner, It’s Hammertime and Smoken Wicked; and stakes winner Keep It Easy, sixth behind Kentucky Derby (G1) winner Sovereignty in the Fountain of Youth (G2) among 42 nominees for the listed $150,000 Chick Lang sprinting six furlongs.

    Other grass stakes are the $125,000 Jim McKay Turf Sprint for 3-year-olds and up going five furlongs, whose 45 nominees include the top three finishers from last year in Grooms All Bizness, Witty and Smooth B; and $100,000 James W. Murphy at one mile for 3-year-olds, which attracted 44 nominees led by Studlydoright, a multiple dirt stakes winner yet to run on turf, and Just a Fair Shake and Surfside Moon, respectively 2-3 in the April 19 Federico Tesio at Laurel Park behind Preakness (G1)-bound Pay Billy.

    Most popular among horseman with 50 nominations is the $100,000 Spendthrift Farm Sir Barton to benefit the TAA for 3-year-old non-winners of an open sweepstakes going 1 1/16 miles. Prominent among them are Admiral Dennis, fourth in the Blue Grass (G1); Bestfriend Rocket, exiting the Arkansas Derby (G1); Grade 1-placed Filoso; Grade 3-placed Garamond; Just a Fair Shake and Surfside Moon; Virginia Derby runner-up Omaha Omaha; and Passion Rules, third in the Wood Memorial (G2).

    Rounding out the Thoroughbred stakes action is the $125,000 Skipat for fillies and mares 3 and up sprinting six furlongs which saw 37 horses nominated including defending champion and 2024 Barbara Fritchie (G3) winner Apple Picker, unraced since last August; multiple stakes-winning stablemates Carmelina and Disco Ebo; multiple graded-stakes winner Emery; 2024 Davona Dale (G2) winner Fiona’s Magic; Irish Maxima, who captured the April 5 Distaff (G3) to extend her win streak to three races; Ms. Bucchero, a winner of back-to-back Laurel stakes and Grade 2-winning millionaire Zeitlos.

    Returning to the Preakness undercard is the $150,000, Gr. I UAE President Cup for Arabian 4-year-olds and up going 1 1/16 miles.

    Entries will be taken and post positions drawn for all Preakness Day races on Monday
.
Thursday, May 8, 2025
McIlroy, Fowler, Spieth, etc. make it a good one . . .

    Good news for the field in the Truist Championship at the Philadelphia Cricket Club in Flourtown PA: Scottie Scheffler is taking the week off.

    After his fabulous 2024 season, in which he won nine times and was named Golfer of the Year, Scottie was off to a slow start this year - for him - although it would be considered pretty good for anyone else. In his first nine tries he had three top 10s, including a fourth in the Masters worth $1,008,000. Then he destroyed the field in the CJ Cup Byron Nelson last week with unreal, near record-breaking scores of 61-63-66-63-252, 31 under par. He picked up a cool $1,782,000 for that one and now has banked $6,711,197 for the season.

    Without Scottie, the Truist will still be a good one, with such as Rory McIlroy, Justin Thomas, Xander Schauffele, Rickie Fowler, Jordan Spieth, Shane Lowry and Seminole Daniel Berger. 

.

 

Thursday, May 8, 2025
Gains in every wagering category . . .
    OLDSMAR - One of the most successful meets in recent history at Tampa Bay Downs almost never got off the ground. Severe damage from Hurricanes Helene and Milton threatened to postpone the scheduled Nov. 20 opening. Had Milton first made landfall farther north, the entire 2024-25 meet could have been wiped out.

    The track posted gains in all major categories, capping a memorable campaign with its simulcast of the 151st Kentucky Derby on Saturday and a festive Fan Appreciation Day celebration Sunday.

    A crowd of 11,530, third largest in track history, attended Saturday’s 10-race program, then watched Sovereignty upset Journalism in the Run for the Roses. On Sunday, Gift Shop personnel remained on duty an hour after the final race, as patrons took advantage of 50-percent discounts on all merchandise.

That dedication to serving the public, according to Vice President & General Manager Peter Berube, is a prime factor in the track’s ongoing ability to stand out in a crowded sports and gaming market.

“It took a whole lot of people pulling together for us to start the meet as scheduled, let alone post increases over the previous season,” Berube said. “Frankly, I’m as proud as I can be of our management team, the Racing Office and our horsemen for making it happen.”

Total commingled handle of $377,972,374 on the live racing product for the 90-day meet translated to a daily average of $4,199,693, an increase of 4.56 percent from 2023-24. Handle from out-of-state sources on the Oldsmar oval’s 821 races rose to $347,327,539, up 4.87 percent from the previous season.

On-track wagering on Tampa Bay Downs races increased by 0.53 percent and intrastate off-track wagering rose by 1.86 percent. Attendance climbed to 255,147, up 4.3 percent from a year ago.

Once the meet began, Tampa Bay Downs enjoyed mostly good weather, although January was a bit colder and wetter than normal. As a result, the track was able to card 267 turf races, nearly a third of its total and 19 more than 2023-24.

That contributed to an average of 8.37 starters per race, an increase of 1.36 percent. “When most tracks are struggling to offer full fields to bettors, any increase is a positive sign,” Berube said. “Credit goes to our Racing Secretary, Allison De Luca, and her crew for putting together a schedule our horsemen embraced and to the owners and trainers for presenting a quality product.”

Total purse money paid was $22,238,425, a daily average of $247,094, representing a 0.27-percent increase.

As Tampa Bay Downs makes plans for its 100th anniversary season, which is scheduled to begin Wednesday, Nov. 19, Berube is optimistic the track can build on this season’s accomplishments, especially if the area avoids a major hurricane between now and then.

“It’s impossible to quantify the economic impact of storms of that magnitude, which can make sporting events seem unimportant,” Berube said. “We’d certainly like to think that by offering quality Thoroughbred racing, we helped lift the spirits of those who were affected.”
Tuesday, May 6, 2025
Will wait for Belmont Stakes . . .
Statement from Mike Rogers, Executive Vice President 1/ST

    “We received a call today from trainer Bill Mott that Sovereignty will not be competing in the Preakness. Bill informed us they would point toward the Belmont Stakes.

    “We extend our congratulations to the connections of Sovereignty and respect their decision. We continue to see the excitement building toward the milestone celebration of the 150th Preakness Stakes, and we look forward to an incredible weekend of world-class racing and entertainment.”
Tuesday, May 6, 2025
Florida-bred has won 4 of 8 starts . . .
    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, Gr. II Pat Day Mile at Churchill Downs on Derby day, 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 that he’d be able to handle the step up in class today.” Ironically, Macho Music's previous score came in the $110,000 OBS Sales Sophomore Stakes on Florida Cup Day in Oldsmar. He coasted by 11 1/4 lengths with an Equibase 'E' speed figure of 102, best in his eight starts.  

    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, Gr. III Unbridled Sidney.

    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 Gr. III 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 Saturday, almost exactly a year after winning the Kentucky Derby by a nose, Mystik Dan was beaten by the same margin by Gr. I 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, Gr. I Pennsylvania
Derby.

    Consigned by Top Line Sales, 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.
Friday, May 2, 2025
Locals include 3-1 Journalism . . .

    Aside from half the field having received their early training at Ocala farms, here are the Kentucky Derby entrants who have current Marion County ties.

1. Citizen Bull (Into Mischief). Has 10 owners, one of them Barbara Banke's Stonestreet Stable, which owns a branch in Summerfield.

2. Neoequos (Florida-bred by Neolithic). Bred at Pleasant Acres Stallions by the farm's owners, Joe and Helen Barbazon, in partnership with Matalona Thoroughbreds.

4. (Scratched). Rodriguez (Not This Time). Same 10 owners as Citizen Bull, including Stonestreet Stables.

8. Journalism (3-1, by Curlin). Has 5 owners, including Ocala's Bridlewood Farm (John & Leslie Malone).

15. Render Judgment (Blame). Trained by Ken McPeek, owner of the Summerfield Training Center. 

17. Sandman (Tapit). Trained by Ocalan Mark Casse, owner of the Casse Training Center. 

 

 

 

Sunday, April 27, 2025
Defeats stablemate by 1 1/2 lengths . . .
    HALLANDALE BEACH, FL – Cheyenne Stable’s Ozara made a three-wide swoop to the lead on the turn into the homestretch to get the jump on stablemate Breath Away and drew away to a 1 ½-length victory in Saturday’s $75,000 Monroe Stakes at Gulfstream Park.

    Ozara ($6) and Breath Away, the 8-5 favorite in a field of nine fillies and mares assembled for the 1 1/16-mile turf stakes, are trained by Christophe Clement.

    “They were the probably the two best fillies in the race and they ran like it today,” Miguel Clement, Clement’s son and assistant trainer, said.

    Swoonatra, a 50-1 outsider ridden by Luca Panici, set up the showdown between the Clement stablemates by opening up a long early lead while setting fractions of 23.95 and 47.28 seconds for the first half mile over a firm turf.  Breath Away, on the rail, and Ozara, to her outside, settled in third and fourth, respectively along the backstretch. On the far turn, Breath Away and Ozara advanced while overtaking De Regreso to loom as ominous threats to the tiring pacesetter.  Ozara and jockey Emisael Jaramillo had the clearer path as jockey Paco Lopez had to check slightly behind the tiring Swoonatra.

    Breath Away kicked in with a strong run in the stretch, but Ozara had already put the race away. The victorious 4-year-old Irish-bred daughter of Lope de Vegas ran 1 1/16 miles in 1:39.84. Breath Away finished 1 ¾ lengths ahead of Sensitivity and jockey Rajiv Maragh.

    “This race made a lot of sense for both fillies. It’s a black-type event. They were both at Payson and they were training really well,” Miguel Clement said. “We expected them both to run well, which they did. The immediate plan was the race.”

    Ozara, who captured the Wait a While during the 2023-2024 Championship Meet, won a Jan. 3 optional claiming allowance at Tampa Bay Downs off a nine-month layoff before coming up short in a sixth-place finish in the Honey Fox (G3) at Gulfstream March 29.

    Reeves Thoroughbred Racing, Steven Rocco and Tango Uniform Racing’s Breath Away, a graded stakes-placed 5-year-old daughter of Bated Breath, is also a stakes winner over the Gulfstream turf
.
Thursday, April 24, 2025
May have to settle for Derby day undercard . . .

    HALLANDALE BEACH - C2 Racing Stable, Ian Parsard, Shining Stables and Stefania Farms’ Neoequos breezed a half-mile this morning at Gulfstream Park in preparation for a desired start in the May 3 Kentucky Derby at Churchill Downs.

    The Saffie Joseph Jr.-trained Florida-bred colt, who finished third in both the $1 million Curlin Florida Derby and $400,000 Coolmore Fountain of Youth 1 at Gulfstream, sits 21st in the qualifying points standings for the first leg of the Triple Crown. The 3-year-old son of Neolithic will need a defection from the current Top 20 to run in the 1 ¼-mile Run for the Roses.

    Neoequos worked in company with Mr. Narcissistic and finished on even terms with his veteran stablemate in 48.43 seconds, the fastest four-furlong clocking of the morning.

    “It went good. He worked in company. He was inside his workmate. It was his last breeze and we were just looking for maintenance,” Joseph said. “It went well. He’s in good form.” Joseph reported that Neoequos will ship to Churchill Downs Friday morning.

    “We feel like we can get into the Derby, but if he doesn’t get in, he’ll run in one of the other races Derby Day,” he said.

    If unsuccessful drawing into the Derby field, Neoequos would run in either the Gr. I American Turf or the Gr. II Pat Day Mile on the undercard.

    “Right now, we’re leaning to the American Turf, but the Pat Day Mile, I’d say, is also in contention,” said Joseph. Flavien Prat will be named on Neoequos and would ride him in the Derby unless Baeza, who sits 23rd in the points standings, also drew into the field.

    Neoequos’ career got off to a rocky start last July when he stumbled and lost his rider early in his debut at five furlongs. The Florida-bred colt bounced back to graduate in his next start before finishing second in the first two legs of the Florida Sire Stakes series behind undefeated Rated by Merit, who produced the fastest Beyer Speed Figure (99) of all 2025 juveniles in the seven-furlong FSS Affirmed.

    Neoequos was sharp off a layoff to win a Jan. 23 allowance by 3 ½ lengths before finishing third behind Sovereignty and River Thames in the 1 1/16-mile Coolmore Fountain of Youth and again in the 1 1/8-mile Curlin Florida Derby behind Tappan Street and Sovereignty, both of whom are Kentucky Derby-bound.

    Joseph-trained Early On has secured a start in the May 2 Kentucky Oaks (G1) at Churchill on the strength of a second-place finish in the March 15 Virginia Oaks at Colonial Downs and a runner-up finish in the April 5 Gazelle (G3) at Aqueduct. The New York-bred daughter of Union Rags graduated at Gulfstream in her 2025 debut on Feb. 5.

Monday, April 21, 2025
Cabo Spirit wins Gr. III American Stakes at Santa Anita . . .
    Kretz Racing’s Cabo Spirit (Pioneerof the Nile-Fancy Day (IRE), by Shamardal) added to his million-dollar bankroll when he scored a front-running victory in the $100,000, Gr. III American Stakes 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 Gr. III La Jolla Handicap at Del Mar, Gr. II Twilight Derby at Santa Anita, and Gr. II 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 Gr. III Sanford and state-bred Funny Cide Stakes at Saratoga Race Course. He was a $45,000 purchase by JCE Racing out of the Hoppel 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.

    Pay Billy (Improbable - Harlington's Rose, by Harlington) earned a guaranteed spot in the starting gate for the $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.
Sunday, April 20, 2025
Will provide more than $2 million to owners . . .
    HALLANDALE BEACH - Gulfstream Park has announced the restructuring of the Florida Breeders’ Incentive Fund (FBIF) that is projected to provide over $2 million to owners beginning May 1.

    Previously, the FBIF only included claiming races of $25,000 and up, including maiden special weight, allowance and overnight handicap events. Now, the FBIF will be open to all races, regardless of value. The only exception will be state-bred races.

    Gulfstream also announced that FBIF race incentives, which were offering $5,000 per race, will be raised to $6,000 per race in maiden special weight, allowance and overnight handicaps.

    “We appreciate the work that went into this, and our focus is to have the best summer meet possible,” said Tom Cannell, president of the Florida Thoroughbred Horsemen
.

    Bill Badgett, executive director of Florida Racing Operations for Gulfstream Park, said; “The restructuring of the Florida Breeders’ Incentive Fund will provide additional incentives to Florida owners. We look forward to continuing working with horsemen to make Gulfstream’s summer meet a success.