OLDSMAR - By winning the Suncoast Stakes on Feb. 10 at Tampa Bay Downs and the Gr. II Gulfstream Park Oaks on March 30, 3-year-old filly Power Squeeze proved she belongs in next Friday’s $1.5-million Longines Kentucky Oaks at Churchill Downs.

    So did her jockey, six-time Tampa Bay Downs riding champion Daniel Centeno.

    Following the 52-year-old Venezuela product’s outstanding performance in the Gulfstream Park Oaks – in which Centeno avoided an early squeeze play going into the first turn after breaking from the No. 1 post position, then timed her power stretch move perfectly to upset 1-2 favorite Ways and Means – owner Bill Cosgrove of Lea Farms and trainer Jorge Delgado agreed they need look no further for their filly’s rider under Churchill’s Twin Spires.
Centeno, who will be making his first-ever appearance at Churchill Downs, is still (figuratively) pinching himself to be sure it’s for real.

    “You never know in this business,” said Centeno, whose previous brush with the classic scene came in 2019 when he rode Alwaysmining to an unplaced finish in the Preakness at Pimlico. “You only have to get the opportunity to ride the right horse and try to keep on her for something like this to happen.

    “When I talked to the owner and he told me he wants me to come to Louisville and ride her again, I said ‘Sure, no problem. I’ll follow her wherever you want me to go.’ The filly and I get along real well, so now we’re going to the Oaks,” Centeno said.

    While Power Squeeze’s credentials are topnotch – she is 4-for-6 in her career, with a four-race winning streak – she is expected to face such standouts as 2023 Eclipse Award Champion 2-Year-Old Filly Just F Y I, Grade I Central Bank Ashland Stakes winner Leslie’s Rose, Grade II Fantasy Stakes winner Thorpedo Anna and Ways and Means, along with eight or nine others.

    Despite the imposing lineup, if Power Squeeze can duplicate her Florida form, she should be right in the mix for the garland of pink stargazer lilies awarded to the winner.

    “It’s very exciting,” said Centeno, who plans to fly to Louisville on Thursday with his wife Brooke and his father Enrique. “I’ve ridden a lot of nice horses in my career, and it’s never too late to get another one. I’m blessed and grateful to Jorge and Mr. Cosgrove to be going.”

    Power Squeeze completed the mile-and-a-sixteenth at Gulfstream in 1:44.19. Her winning time of 1:40.22 in the mile-and-40-yard Suncoast, the Oldsmar oval’s “Road to the Kentucky Oaks” prep race, was less than a second off Nest’s stakes record. Nest went on to finish second in the 2022 Longines Kentucky Oaks to Secret Oath. Centeno thinks Power Squeeze, a daughter of Union Rags out of the Awesome Again mare Callmethesqueeze, will welcome the added distance of the mile-and-an-eighth Longines Kentucky Oaks.

“I think the longer she goes, the

    HIP No. 915, a daughter of Nyquist consigned by Wavertree Stables (Ciaran Dunne) Agent, was sold to Donato Lanni, Agent for Baoma Corp. for $850,000 to top the fourth and final session of the Ocala Breeders’ Sales Company’s 2024 Spring Sale of 2-Year-Olds in Training. The dark bay or brown filly, whose Under Tack eighth in :9 4/5 was the Saturday session’s co-fastest, is out of Amagansett, by Tapit, a daughter of graded stakes-placed stakes winner Twirl (IRE).

    Kimmel & Sallusto, Agent, went to $725,000 for Hip No. 995, a son of McKinzie consigned by Caliente Thoroughbreds, Agent. The bay colt, who breezed a quarter in :21 flat, is out of Bernadreamy, by Bernardini, a daughter of Gr. I stakes-winner Dream Empress.

    Hip No. 1005, a son of Twirling Candy who breezed an eighth in a co-fastest :9 4/5 on Saturday was purchased by Marquee Bloodstock, Agent, for $700,000. Consigned by Global Thoroughbreds, Agent, the bay colt is out of Bite the Stars, by Flatter, a half-sister to graded stakes-winner Stanford.

    Hip No. 1075, a daughter of Practical Joke consigned by Niall Brennan Stables, Agent, was sold to 30 Year Farm for $700,000. The bay filly, who breezed an eighth in :10 flat, is out of Choir, by Pulpit, a daughter of graded stakes-placed stakes-winning two-time OBS graduate Emmy Darling.

    Hip No. 920, a son of Uncle Mo consigned by Paul Sharp, Agent, went to D. J. Stable & Robert Cotran for $685,000. The bay colt, who galloped at the Under Tack Show, is a half-brother to graded stakes-winner First Captain out of graded stakes- winner America, by A.P. Indy.

    Hip No. 974, a daughter of McKinzie consigned by Julie Davies, Agent, was sold to Bradley Thoroughbreds for $675,000. The bay filly, who breezed an eighth in :10 flat, is out of Bay Harbor, by Speightstown, a daughter of graded stakes-winner Our Khrysty.

    Three Amiwgos ent to $600,000 for Hip No. 928, a daughter of Tiz the Law consigned by On Point Training & Sales. The chestnut filly, who breezed an eighth on Saturday in a co-fastest :9 4/5, is out of stakes-placed Animal Appeal, by Leroidesanimaux (BRZ), from the family of stakes-winner Triple Card.

    Hip No. 972, Metallix, a son of Quality Road consigned by Sequel Bloodstock, Agent for Chester & Mary Broman, was sold to Pedro Lanz, Agent for KAS Stables, for $600,000. The bay colt, who breezed an eighth in :10 flat, is a half-brother to graded stakes-winner Coinage out of Gr. I stakes-winner Bar of Gold, by Medaglia d’Oro.

    Hip No. 1143, a daughter of McKinzie whose Under Tack quarter in :20 1/5 equaled the track record, was sold to Bill Childs for $600,000. Consigned by Eddie Woods, Agent, the bay filly is a half-sister to graded stakes-placed stakes -winner Strategic Dreams out of D’fashion, by D’Wildcat.

    Hip No. 936, a son of Not This Time consigned by Tom McCrocklin, Agent, went to Lael Stable for $550,000. The dark bay or brown colt, who breezed a quarter in :20 4/5, is a half brother to recent stakes-winner Laughing Boy out of Applauding, by Congrats, from the family of Gr. I stakes-winner Shedaresthedevil.

    Hip No. 1064, a son of Nyquist consigned by GOP Racing Stable Corp. was sold to Donato Lanni, Agent for Zedan Racing Stable for $525,000. The dark bay or brown colt, who breezed an eighth in :10 flat, is out of Charlatana by Harlan’s Holiday,  a half-sister to graded stakes-winner Laoban.

    Hip No. 1056, a son of Omaha Beach consigned by Richardson Bloodstock, Agent, was purchased by Spendthrift Farm for $510,000. The bay colt, who breezed a quarter in :21 flat, is out of Caxambas Pass, by Tiznow, a half-sister to Gr. I stakes-winner Point of Entry.

    Bow River Ranch, Hoby Kight, Agent, went to $500,000 for Hip No. 1044, a son of OBS graduate Into Mischief consigned by de Meric Sales, Agent. The bay colt, who breezed an eighth in :10 flat, is a full brother to graded stakes- winner Into Chocolate out of Candy Drawer, by Candy Ride (ARG).

    Hip No. 1191, a son of Tiz the Law consigned by Britton Peak, Agent, was purchased by Taproot Bloodstock, Agent, for $500,000. The bay colt, who breezed an eighth in :10 1/5, is out of Enough, by Arch, a half-sister to stakes-winner Plenty of Vision.

    For the session, 141 horses sold for a total of $19,701,500 compared with 168 horses grossing $22,781,000 at last year’s final session. The average price was $139,727, compared with $135,601 a year ago, while the median price was $65,000, identical to 2023. The buyback percentage was 21.2%; it was 12.9% in 2023.

    For the entire Spring Sale, 633 horses sold for a total of $82,086,500, compared to 699 horses bringing $90,405,000, last year. The average was a sale record $129,679, eclipsing last year’s $129,335 while the median price was a sale record $70,000, compared with $65,000 a year ago. The buyback percentage was 19.2%; it was 16.8% in 2023.