Sunday, August 16, 2026
Captures $100,000 Sheer Drama . . .

    HALLANDALE BEACH - In a near carbon copy of her previous start, Epic Horses, BAG Racing Stables and The White House Stables’ Kerry’s Kiss jumped out to an early lead and never looked back keeping her Gr. II-winning stablemate at bay to win Saturday’s $100,000 Sheer Drama Handicap at Gulfstream Park.

    The Sheer Drama for fillies and mares 3 and up sprinting seven furlongs on the main track serves as the local prep for next month’s $250,000, Gr. III Princess Rooney, a ‘Win and You’re In’ qualifier for the Breeders’ Cup Filly & Mare Sprint on Oct. 31 at Keeneland.

    Ridden by jockey Edwin Gonzalez, who was also aboard for her 2 ¾-length triumph in the 6 ½-furlong Musical Romance on June 27, Kerry’s Kiss ($4.80) covered a fast main track in 1:23.37 for her third consecutive win and second straight over Indy Bay. Both wins since she relocated from the Midwest to South Florida after being purchased privately.

    “I didn’t have too much instruction. They let me ride her very comfortably,” Gonzalez said. “I know she’s really fast in front. She’s a quick filly, but I didn’t want to give her too much intention. I let her go on herself and she did everything right.”

    Gonzalez and Kerry’s Kiss broke alertly and immediately asserted herself up front, leading through a comfortable quarter-mile in :22.80 seconds and even-money favorite Indy Bay and Domino Vitali dueled behind her for second. The half went in :45.17 with Kerry’s Kiss still very much in control, and Indy Bay separating from a retreating Domino Vitali.

    Kerry’s Kiss rounded the far turn and straightened for home in command with only Indy Bay within reach, and she rolled home a determined 1 ½-length winner under a steady drive from Gonzalez. Just a Philly got up for third, just as she did in the Musical Romance, followed by Permian Basin and Domino Vitali. Poiema, Chilean Group 1 winner Bombacha Veloz and Girvin Star were scratched.

    “It was impressive because the last time she broke really sharp and she kept going, and she did the same thing today. She was going fast but she was doing it within herself,” Gonzalez said. “She had something left. I wanted to give her a little breather turning for home because I know the other filly and I didn’t want them to get the jump on her, and she kept going.”

    Harold Queen’s Florida homebred, Sheer Drama, trained by David Fawkes, finished third or better in 17 of 24 career starts with seven wins and nearly $1.7 million in purse earnings. She won stakes in Maryland, Delaware, Florida, New York and Kentucky including the 2015 Gr. I Delaware Handicap and Gr. I Personal Ensign and 2016 Gr. I Madison. The half-sister to Eclipse Award-winning sprinter Big Drama was Florida’s champion older female and Horse of the Year in 2015
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Sunday, August 16, 2026
Captures $100,000 Sheer Drama . . .

    HALLANDALE BEACH - In a near carbon copy of her previous start, Epic Horses, BAG Racing Stables and The White House Stables’ Kerry’s Kiss jumped out to an early lead and never looked back keeping her Gr. II-winning stablemate at bay to win Saturday’s $100,000 Sheer Drama Handicap at Gulfstream Park.

    The Sheer Drama for fillies and mares 3 and up sprinting seven furlongs on the main track serves as the local prep for next month’s $250,000, Gr. III Princess Rooney, a ‘Win and You’re In’ qualifier for the Breeders’ Cup Filly & Mare Sprint on Oct. 31 at Keeneland.

    Ridden by jockey Edwin Gonzalez, who was also aboard for her 2 ¾-length triumph in the 6 ½-furlong Musical Romance on June 27, Kerry’s Kiss ($4.80) covered a fast main track in 1:23.37 for her third consecutive win and second straight over Indy Bay. Both wins since she relocated from the Midwest to South Florida after being purchased privately.

    “I didn’t have too much instruction. They let me ride her very comfortably,” Gonzalez said. “I know she’s really fast in front. She’s a quick filly, but I didn’t want to give her too much intention. I let her go on herself and she did everything right.”

    Gonzalez and Kerry’s Kiss broke alertly and immediately asserted herself up front, leading through a comfortable quarter-mile in :22.80 seconds and even-money favorite Indy Bay and Domino Vitali dueled behind her for second. The half went in :45.17 with Kerry’s Kiss still very much in control, and Indy Bay separating from a retreating Domino Vitali.

    Kerry’s Kiss rounded the far turn and straightened for home in command with only Indy Bay within reach, and she rolled home a determined 1 ½-length winner under a steady drive from Gonzalez. Just a Philly got up for third, just as she did in the Musical Romance, followed by Permian Basin and Domino Vitali. Poiema, Chilean Group 1 winner Bombacha Veloz and Girvin Star were scratched.

    “It was impressive because the last time she broke really sharp and she kept going, and she did the same thing today. She was going fast but she was doing it within herself,” Gonzalez said. “She had something left. I wanted to give her a little breather turning for home because I know the other filly and I didn’t want them to get the jump on her, and she kept going.”

    Harold Queen’s Florida homebred, Sheer Drama, trained by David Fawkes, finished third or better in 17 of 24 career starts with seven wins and nearly $1.7 million in purse earnings. She won stakes in Maryland, Delaware, Florida, New York and Kentucky including the 2015 Gr. I Delaware Handicap and Gr. I Personal Ensign and 2016 Gr. I Madison. The half-sister to Eclipse Award-winning sprinter Big Drama was Florida’s champion older female and Horse of the Year in 2015
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Wednesday, August 12, 2026
Franco wins 6, equals record . . .

    Dahman’s Bottas (Vekoma- Iadorakid, by Lemon Drop Kid) provided an emotional victory at Saratoga Race Course on Aug. 7 when he posted a stalking score in the Gr. II, $400,000 National Museum of Racing Hall of Fame Stakes, leading the slate of stakes-winning OBS graduates for the week.

    The victory in the one-mile inner turf test was a special one for trainer Miguel Clement, son of the late trainer Christophe Clement, who was inducted into the National Museum of Racing Hall of Fame hours before the race. The win was also part of a banner day for jockey Manny Franco, who won a record-equaling six races on the 11-race program.


    “Not a bad day,” Clement said. “I don’t know if it was Manny’s hot streak, Dad up above or someone deciding to help me out, but I thought it was great.”

    Bottas was a $300,000 purchase by Case Clay Thoroughbred Management at the 2025 OBS April Sale from the consignment of Paul Sharp after breezing in :10 1/5.

    At Del Mar, Eclipse Thoroughbred Partners’ Warming (Global Campaign-Haute Style, by Unusual Heat) got the job done in the Gr. II, $201,000 Yellow Ribbon Stakes for trainer Graham Motion.

    Warming picked up a winner’s share of $120,000 of the purse to improve her earnings to $473,050. She was purchased by her owners at the 2024 OBS March Sale for $100,000 from the consignment of Blue Sapphire Stables after breezing in :10 1/5.
    At Gulfstream Park, David and Teresa Palmer’s Liberty Rings (Awesome Slew- America First, by Uncaptured) earned a decisive three-length victory in the $100,000 FHBPA Scandalous Act. Liberty Rings became a stakes winner on two different surfaces after capturing the May 9 Royal Palm Juvenile Fillies over Gulfstream’s turf course.

    Trained by Nicholas Palmer, the daughter of Awesome Slew was purchased by Palmer for $27,000 from the Camelot Acres Racing and Sales consignment at the 2025 OBS October Yearling Sale. 

    At Woodbine, Chivalry Thoroughbred Racing and Hubert Vester’s Katie’s Grace (Independence Hall – Bella Joy, by Kitten’s Joy) produced a polished off the pace performance to win the $250,000 Bison City Stakes and earn her first stakes victory.


    The bay daughter of Independence Hall is trained by Catherine Day Phillips. She was purchased at the 2025 OBS April Sale by Taproot Bloodstock, agent for $80,000 out of the Shooting Star Sales consignment after breezing in :10 1/5.

    At Thistledown, Emcee Stable’s Panda Listen (Tiz the Law—Lightning Lucy, by Giant's Causeway) won the $100,000 Best of Ohio Miss Ohio by six lengths to earn the first stakes victory of her career. Trained by Brendan Walsh, Panda Listen was purchased by Corbin Blumberg, agent for $200,000 at the 2026 OBS April Sale from the Grade One Investments consignment after breezing in :9 4/5.

Sunday, August 9, 2026
Amounts to $79,000 . . .

    HALLANDALE BEACH - The Florida Horsemen’s Benevolent & Protective Association (FHBPA) has awarded $79,000 in college scholarships to the families of 23 qualified, licensed backstretch employees, including grooms, hotwalkers, exercise riders and trainers.

    The Kent Stirling Memorial Scholarship Program will be used to further the education of backstretch employees and dependents attending an accredited college or university undergraduate program and graduate level program.

    Since 2000 when the scholarship was conceived, the FHBPA has awarded more than $330,000 in scholarships. Before scholarships are awarded, the candidates provide financial statements and school records to the FHBPA. 

    Trainer Ron Spatz, co-chairman of the scholarship program along with Kathy Davies said: “The FHBPA is very proud of this year’s recipients. Since 2000, when this program was started by our late executive director and horseman Kent Stirling, we’ve seen the impact these scholarships have made for the recipients and their families, who work so diligently and affectionately each day with the horses.”

    The scholarship recipients will be recognized today with brunch in Ten Palms and a winner’s circle presentation. They will be joined by Spatz, Davies and FHBPA assistants Debra Iglesias and Debbie LaRue.

    The recipients attending Broward College are: Valeria Aboughaida, Edgar Agustin, Julio Fernandez, Mia Fernandez, Angie Fuenmayor, Jorge Gallegos, Yiovani Gallegos, Keisha Huerta, Arnold O’Farrill, Erick O’Farrill, Daniela Sanchez.

            Attending Florida International University: Valerie Collazo, Gabrielle Kopach, Katie Ramos.

            Attending University of Florida: Yazmin Agustin, Liseli Coy, Ana Ruiz.

            Attending Nova Southeastern University: Adriana Monterrey.

            Attending University of Central Florida: Nathan Truong
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            Attending Miami Dade College: Yubelki Morales.

            Attending Eastern Michigan University: Ashley Grullon.

            Attending Santa Fe College: Ronald
Coy.

           Attending Palm Beach State College: Antonella Pizarro.

Tuesday, August 4, 2026
OBS grads on fire again . . .

    St. Elias Stables and WSS Racing’s Eunomia (Tiz the Law-Speedy Vanessa, by American Pharoah) shipped into Del Mar to capture the $400,000, Gr. I Clement L. Hirsch Stakes, coming home a half-length in front to lead the slate of stakes-winning OBS graduates for the week.

    “Saffie just told me to find a good spot and make her comfortable. She did just that,” winning jockey Micah Husbands, told Del Mar publicity. “I could tell they weren’t going that fast for these type horses, so I was comfortable with her all the way around. She gave me a good kick and we got it done. My first ride at Del Mar and it was a good one.”

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

   At Saratoga Race Course, Spendthrift Farm’s Local Knowledge (Yaupon - Chestnut Street, by Scat Daddy) was the least experienced horse in the field but proved best when besting fellow OBS graduates Solitude Dude and Obliteration in the Gr. II, $250,000 Amsterdam Stakes.

    Trained by Hall of Famer Todd Pletcher, the son of Yaupon was a $625,000 purchase from the Hoppel consignment by his owners at the 2025 OBS April Sale after breezing in :20 2/5.  

    The Saratoga card on Aug. 2 saw Flanagan Racing’s Sea Strike (Midshipman- Meetmeonline, by Line of David) roll to an 8 ¼-length victory in the listed $150,000 Curlin Stakes.

    Trainer Chad Brown indicated Sea Strike could potentially step up in class and distance in the 10-furlong Gr. 1, $1.25 million Travers on Aug. 29. The son of Midshipman sold for $650,000 at the 2025 OBS March Sale to Kimmel/Sallusto, Agent for Flanagan Racing from the Caliente Thoroughbreds consignment after breezing in :20 2/5.

    At Colonial Downs, JR Ranch's Mashallah (Maxfield-All in With Aces, by Quiet American) turned in another commanding performance, cruising to victory in the $100,000 Tyson Gilpin and crossing the wire 5½ lengths in front for her first stakes victory.

    Trained by Brendan Walsh, Mashallah was purchased by Marquee Bloodstock, agent, for $1.25 million at the 2025 OBS March Sale from the de Meric Sales consignment after breezing in :9 4/5.

    Also at Colonial, Resolute Racing, Delta Squad Racing and Anderson Stables' Verifire (Authentic – Ruby Trust, by Smart Strike) punched past pacesetter Celtic Contender in deep stretch to capture the $100,000 Reigh Count Stakes.

    Trained by Brad Cox, Verifire earned his second stakes victory. He was purchased for $1 million by Resolute Bloodstock out of the Hartley/DeRenzo Thoroughbreds consignment at the 2024 OBS March Sale after breezing in :9 4/5.


    At Ellis Park, Lugamo Racing Stable’s Cloe (Tiz the Law – Nuhood, by Smart Strike) prevailed by 2 3/4 lengths in the $250,000 Hummingbird Stakes. Trained by Mike Maker, the 4-year-old daughter of Tiz the Law was offered at the 2024 OBS March Sale by de Meric Sales where she was an RNA after breezing in :9 4/5.

     Also at Ellis Park, Moore Management’s Bohemian (Essential Quality- Eileen’s Song, by Kitten’s Joy) unleash a powerful late rally to win the listed $250,000 Pucker Up Stakes. Trained by Joe Sharp, Bohemian was purchased for $85,000 by JWS Racing at the 2025 OBS March Sale from the Top Line Sales consignment after breezing in :10 3/
5.

    At Evangeline Downs July 31, Nola Queen (Imperial Hint- Queen Ofthe Catsle, by Tale of the Cat) won the $100,000 D. S. Shine Young Futurity by a length, marking her first stakes win. Trained by Sturges J. Ducoing for owner Valene Farms, Nola Queen was purchased by her owner for $62,000 at the 2026 OBS March Sale from the Golden Rock Thoroughbreds consignment.