OBS Grads Are Winning Everywhere
Monday, August 18, 2025

    Eclipse Thoroughbred Partners’ Velocity (Nyquist-Blast, by Harlan’s Holiday) stormed through the stretch at Del Mar to upset the field in the Gr. I, $300,000 Del Mar Oaks, earning her first graded stakes victory and leading the slate of stakes-winning OBS grads.

    The lightly-raced daughter of Nyquist proved a half-length best at the wire in what was only her fifth lifetime start, striking to the front inside the sixteenth pole and having enough in the tank to hold off the fast-closing Lush Lips and favored Thought Process.

    “She’s had a wonderful couple of weeks down here,” trainer Michael McCarthy said. “She was on her toes in a great way walking around the paddock, coming out through the tunnel. I liked everything I saw today.”

    Velocity was purchased by her owners for $75,000 from the Two Oaks Equine consignment at the 2024 OBS March Sale after breezing in :10 1/5.

    Earlier in the day, Al and Bill Ulwelling’s Mansetti (Collected-Gidget Girl, by Sky Mesa) delivered an upset of his own in the 166th running of The King’s Plate, the $1 million Canadian classic at Woodbine. Bred by Jungle Racing, Mansetti crossed the wire 2 ½ lengths in front under heady handling from rising star Pietro Moran and for champion trainer Kevin Attard.

    “He showed a lot of talent from a young age, and I really thought he was going to be a good horse, but he just got so kind of keen and eager as a baby that you didn’t think he’d stretch out. Luckily for us, he matured nicely over the wintertime,” Attard said. Mansetti was a $40,000 purchase by his owners from the 2024 OBS April Sale from the Eddie Woods consignment after breezing in :20 4/5. 

    At Monmouth Park, Respect the Valley's Dazzling Dame (Girvin - Awesome Dama, by Corinthian) earned her second victory in as many starts when she captured the $100,000 Sorority Stakes by two lengths. Trained by Brittany Russell, the daughter of Girvin was purchased by her owners for $45,000 at the 2025 OBS March Sale from the Richardson Bloodstock consignment after breezing in :21 flat. She was previously sold to Tahoe Bloodstock from the Hare Hill Farm consignment for $65,000 at the 2024 OBS Winter Mixed Sale.

    At Gulfstream Park, Blue Boy Racing and Matty Dan Racing’s Vincey Girl (Race Day-Gracious, by Elusive Quality) used a patient stalk-and-pounce trip to capture the $75,000 Sheer Drama Handicap. The 4-year-old daughter of Race Day earned her first stakes win. She was purchased by Pro Racing Stable for $40,000 from the On the Run Sales consignment at the 2023 OBS June Sale after breezing in : 21.

    At Prairie Meadows, Sandeep Patel’s Ritzaphena (Lexitonian - Ritz And Glitz, by Desert Party) remained unbeaten in two starts and became the first stakes-winner for her sire when she rallied for a 1 1/4-length win the $100,000 Prairie Meadows Debutante. Trained by Jayde Gelner, Ritzaphena was purchased by Scott Gelner for $75,000 at the 2025 OBS April sale from the consignment of SGV Thoroughbreds after breezing in :10 1/5.

    At Thistledown, Crown the Buckeye (Yaupon - Feisty Tomboy, by Unbridled's Song) powered to a 12 ¼-length victory in the $100,000 Cleveland Kindergarten Stakes. Owned by Paradise Farms Corp., David Staudacher and Hooties Racing, and trained by Mike Maker, the son of Yaupon was purchased by Sean S. Perl Bloodstock for $250,000 from the Grassroots Training & Sales consignment at the 2025 OBS April Sale after breezing in :10 flat.

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