Monday, August 18, 2025
Velocity captures Gr. I Del Mar Oaks . . .

    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.

Tuesday, August 12, 2025
Baoma filly is 1/5 . . .

    Baoma Corp’s Himika (Curlin-Motivated Seller, by Into Mischief), the 1-5 favorite in a field of six fillies at Del Mar, made a successful step up in class when she captured the six-furlong, $150,500, Gr. III Sorrento Stakes by 4 1/4 lengths, becoming one of two OBS grads to earn graded victories over the weekend.

    The bay daughter of Curlin won her second race in as many starts, covering the distance in 1:10.61 for trainer Bob Baffert, who won the race for the ninth time. “She took care of business in the stretch,” jockey Juan Hernandez said.

    She was purchased by her owners for $900,000 at this year’s OBS April Sale from the de Meric Sales consignment after breezing in :9 4/5.

    A day earlier at Del Mar, Pegram, Watson and Weitman’s Desert Gate (Omaha Beach-Theogony, by Curlin) cruised to an 8 ¾ length victory in $150,000, Gr. III Best Pal Stakes over a field of five. Like Himika, the colt was handled by the meet’s leading rider, Juan Hernandez, and gave trainer Bob Baffert his 12th victory in the race. Desert Gate had scored by 2 ¼ lengths in his racing debut in June at Santa Anita. “It’s nice to see these horses develop like this,” Baffert told Del Mar publicity.

    Gate was purchased by his owners for $260,000 at the 2025 OBS March Sale from the Navas Equine consignment after breezing in :9 4/5.

    Other OBS grads who earned stakes wins during the week included Green With MV Stable’s Diciassette (Mitole-Im a Dixie Diva, by Henny Hughes), who accelerated through the lane to go on to a one-length victory in Saturday’s $75,000 Proud Man at Gulfstream Park.

    Trained by Patrick Biancone, Diciassette was making his second career start. Fellow OBS grad Khon Han, who broke last and trailed the field in the early stages, made a dramatic late run to be second, two lengths ahead of another OBS grad in Wine Candy.

    A son of Mitole, Diciassette was purchased for $34,000 by Superfine from the Abbie Road Farm at the 2024 OBS October Yearling Sale.

    At Colonial Downs, JR Ranch and MyRacehorse’s Reputation (Bolt d’Oro-Final Reward, by Arch) captured the $100,000 Tyson Gilpin Stakes by 6 ¾ lengths. Trained by Gustavo Delgado, Reputation bested a field that saw fellow OBS grad G W’s Girl finish third. Reputation was purchased by de Meric Sales for $135,000 from the Kaizen Sales consignment at the 2023 OBS October Yearling Sale.

    At Canterbury Park, Valene Farms’ Carson Bay (Midshipman - Karakorum Fugitive, by Ten Most Wanted) captured the $75,000 Minnesota Oaks, setting all the fractions before drawing away to win by 5 1/2 lengths. Trained by Gary Scherer, Carson Bay was purchased for $70,000 by Murray Valene at the 2024 OBS March Sale from the consignment of Niall Brennan Stables after galloping during the under-tack show.

    At Assiniboia on Aug. 4, Attack (Munnings - Ammannati (Ire), by Galileo (Ire)) earned the win in the $125,750 Manitoba Derby after heavy favorite Take Charge Tom, who crossed the finish line first, was disqualified for interference shortly after leaving the gate, as a result of four different claims of foul, two by jockeys and two by trainers. 

    The son of Munnings is trained by Craig Robert Smith and owned by a partnership that includes Highfield Investment Group, Inc., Dialed In Racing Stable, Bruce Appleyard, Jamie Graham, Lucky Diamonds Racing, Smokin Guns Stable, James and Robert Bauder, and John and Leslie O’Neill. Attack was purchased for $300,000 at the 2024 OBS March Sale by D. J. Stable from the Ocala Stud consignment after breezing in :21 2/5.

    At Hastings, Peter Redekop’s Avana (Vino Rosso-Revealing Moment by After Market) drew clear late for the victory in the $50,000 BC Cup Distaff Handicap for trainer Barbara Heads. She was purchased by Mike Ryan, agent, for $150,000 at the 2023 OBS March Sale from consignor Cary Frommer after breezing in :10 2/5.

Thursday, August 7, 2025
Backed by horseman's groups . . .
    HALLANDALE BEACH - Effective this weekend, 1/ST RACING will discontinue selling the simulcast signal from Gulfstream Park and Santa Anita Park to Hipódromo Camarero in Puerto Rico to address increasing concerns regarding horse welfare and safety at that racetrack. This announcement comes in agreement with the horsemen’s groups in Florida and California after other measures in recent years have failed to substantially bolster the care for racehorses in Puerto Rico, particularly when horses are no longer racing.

    “Exporting our signal to Hipódromo Camarero represents millions of dollars of handle to 1/ST RACING but we, along with our horsemen’s groups in Florida and California, have agreed this is a necessary step to ensure Puerto Rican racing stakeholders understand that we will not do business with individuals or companies that do not make horse safety, welfare and post-racing retirement a top priority,” said Aidan Butler, President, 1/ST. “I am grateful for the support of the Florida Thoroughbred Horsemen’s Association as well as the Thoroughbred Owners of California in this decision and together we hope Hipódromo Camarero will work quickly to improve the treatment of horses both during and following their racing careers.”

    “The Florida horsemen stand firmly behind 1/ST RACING’s decision to suspend its racing signal to Puerto Rico,” stated Tom Cannell, President of the Florida Thoroughbred Horsemen’s Association. “The ongoing welfare issues surrounding the treatment of Thoroughbreds on the island are unacceptable, and meaningful change will only come when the industry demands accountability. We commend 1/ST for taking this principled stand.”

    “In addition to discontinuing the simulcast signal to Hipódromo Camarero, any license holder who chooses to ship or sell a horse to Puerto Rico will no longer be welcome to race or train at 1/ST facilities,” said Butler. “We are mindful of the potential impact these policies could have on the horses currently racing in Puerto Rico. To help protect and support the safety and welfare of these racehorses, we will be donating $100,000 to the Caribbean Thoroughbred Aftercare.”

    “There is no place in our sport for neglect or inhumane treatment of horses,” said Bill Nader, President of Thoroughbred Owners of California (TOC).  “The TOC fully supports this action by 1/ST RACING as a necessary step and its $100,000 donation to help drive home the message that the horse must come first.”

    1/ST previously worked with industry stakeholders to address significant welfare and safety concerns for horses transported from 1/ST tracks and training centers to race in Puerto Rico, including banning the transport of racehorses by cargo ship from 1/ST facilities. While this measure led Puerto Rico to change its policies on horse shipment, it exposed inadequate funding for aftercare for horses retiring from Hipódromo Camarero. As a result, 1/ST required the connections of any horse sold to Puerto Rico from a 1/ST racing or training facility to deposit money into an account with the horsemen to cover the aftercare and potential return shipment to the United States upon the horses’ retirement.

    Previous policy changes resulted in meetings with representatives from Puerto Rico’s Racing Commission and Hipódromo Camarero to address the concerns regarding horse welfare and safety however significant issues remain necessitating these new policy actions.

    1/ST has been at the forefront of industry-leading measures to improve horse and rider safety and welfare since 2019. Widely recognized, these efforts have resulted in historic safety figures at Santa Anita Park, Gulfstream Park and each of the 1/ST training facilities.
Tuesday, August 5, 2025
OBS grads in spotlight again . . .
    D.J. Stable, West Point Thoroughbreds and Kenneth Freirich’s Ewing (Knicks Go- Sassy Ali Joy, by Indian Charlie) earned his first stakes score when he captured the Grade 2, $200,000 Saratoga Special at Saratoga Race Course Aug. 2, becoming one of three OBS grads to earn graded stakes victories over the weekend.

    Trained by dual Hall of Famer Mark Casse, the son of Knicks Go previously notched a 12-length victory on debut on July 5 in a 5 1/2-fuirlong maiden race. Ewing and fellow OBS grad Obliteration were wide exiting the turn, but Ewing fended off his rival to win by one length.

    Casse added he would likely target the Grade 3 Iroquois in September at Churchill Downs with Ewing, who was purchased by D.J. Stable & West Point Thoroughbreds for $585,000 from the Hidden Brook consignment at the 2025 OBS April Sale after breezing in :10 1/5.

   At Woodbine Aug. 2, Swift Delivery (Not This Time- Raegen Harper, by Rockport Harbor) named after music superstar Taylor Swift and co-owned by her boyfriend, Travis Kelce of the Kansas City Chiefs, earned his first graded win when he took the $150,000 Seagram Cup (G3).

   It was the second straight score for Swift Delivery, who entered the Seagram Cup off a two-length triumph on June 22. Swift Delivery was offered at the 2023 OBS June Sale by the White Lilac consignment where he breezed in :10 2/5.

   At Ellis Park on Aug. 3, Steve Landers Racing’s Destino d’Oro (Bolt d’Oro- Heart of Destiny, by Lion Heart) sat a perfect trip and drew off with authority to win the $399,400 Pucker Up Stakes (G3). Trained by Brad Cox, Destino d’Oro earned her first graded stakes victory.

   Destino d’Oro was purchased by her owner for $185,000 at the 2024 OBS April Sale from the consignment of CM Thoroughbreds after breezing in :10 flat.

Two other OBS grads also earned stakes wins on the Aug. 3 card at Ellis Park.

   Susan and Jim Hill's Highway Robber (Hard Spun – Yabba, by Lemon Drop Kid) found racing room in the nick of time and stormed down the lane to defend his title in Sunday’s $300,000 KY Downs Preview Turf Cup.

   Trained by Brian Lynch, Highway Robber earned his sixth from 15 career starts and increased his career earnings to $1,315,573. Consigned by Vickers Racing to the 2022 OBS April Sale, he was purchased by his owners for $30,000 after breezing in :10 2/5.

     Charles Marquis’ Bear River (Flameaway – Sixtyfivenorth, by Midshipman) battled on the front end and got his head down in time to score a 17-1 upset in Sunday’s $250,000 KY Downs Preview Turf Sprint.

   Trained by Keith Desormeaux, Bear River earned his sixth win from 20 starts and increased his career earnings to $543,923. At the 2023 OBS June Sale, he was purchased by his owner for $50,000 out of the Randy Miles consignment after breezing in :10 2/5.

   During the previous day’s card at Ellis Park, Ironhorse Racing Stable and T-N-T Equine Holding’s Tomasello (Authentic- Dakota Queen, by War Front) tracked just off the pace before drawing clear by 1 ½ lengths to win Saturday’s $250,000 KY Downs Preview Nashville Derby.

   Trained by Mark Casse, Tomasello earned an automatic berth to the Nashville Derby (G3) held on Saturday, Aug. 30 at Kentucky Downs.

     Tomasello was purchased by Thomas and Mitchell Bloodstock for $125,000 at the 2024 OBS April Sale from the consignment of Golden Rock Thoroughbreds after breezing in :21 1/5.

    At Colonial Downs Aug. 2, Midway Racing’s Trendsetter (Modernist - Suyapa, by Astrology) went from last of six to first in the $100,000 Hickory Tree. Trained by Ben Colebrook, Trendsetter earned his first stakes score. He was purchased by Davant Latham, agent for $130,000 at the 2025 OBS April Sale from the Grassroots Training and Sales consignment after breezing in :10 flat.

     At Saratoga on July 31, Tristar Farm’s Doc Sullivan (Solomini- Queen Frostine, by Giant’s Causeway) returned to form when nailing fellow OBS grad The Wine Steward to win the $150,000 John Morrissey Stakes.

    Doc Sullivan was making his first start for trainer John Ortiz after 14 outings for conditioner Michael Miceli and earned his first win since capturing the state-bred Mike Lee last June. He was a $59,000 purchase by Glen Lostritto from the consignment of Omar Ramirez Bloodstock at the 2023 OBS June Sale after breezing in :21 1/5
Friday, August 1, 2025
Stallions breed 546 mares . . .
    MORRISTON – Pleasant Acres Stallions has successfully concluded the 2025 breeding season with 546 mares bred across its diverse stallion roster – demonstrating continued confidence in Florida breeding despite ongoing industry uncertainties.
 
    The 2025 season marked a significant milestone for the Florida-based operation with the addition of two exceptional first-year stallions: Champions Dream, a son of Triple Crown winner JUSTIFY, and Mr Fisk, who represents one of the few remaining sons of the late, great ARROGATE.
 
    "We're thrilled with the response to our roster this season," said Christine Jones, Director of Stallion Services. "Despite the challenges facing Florida breeders with decoupling concerns and various industry obstacles, the support from our mare owners has been tremendous. Several of our stallions increased their book size compared to 2024, which speaks to the quality and confidence breeders have in our horses."

    The season saw particularly strong support for established stallions. Leinster – currently in the TOP 5 2025 Leading 1st Crop Sire for progeny earnings and is #1 for 1st Crop Sires by % of BT Winners in all of North America – more than doubled his book from the previous season. Resident stallion Neolithic – the 2021 Florida Freshman Sire of the Year – saw significant growth as his progeny continue to excel on the racetrack in 2025. He currently is the #1 5th Crop Sire by % of BT Winners – ahead of Kentucky stallions Gun Runner ($250,000 fee) and Practical Joke ($100,000 fee.) The success of Leinster and Neolithic gaining such strong support based on their progeny's performances in the sales ring and on the track, validates Pleasant Acres Stallions’ commitment to standing quality horses.
 
    "The Florida breeding industry continues to face headwinds, but operations like Pleasant Acres Stallions prove that quality stallions and dedicated service still attract mare owners," Jones continued. " We're optimistic about the future and committed to supporting Florida breeders through these transitional times."
 
    Pleasant Acres Stallions stands a diverse roster including Grade 1 and multiple graded stakes winners, regional champions, proven sires, and promising young stallions – all supported by the expert care of owners Joe and Helen Barbazon and their dedicated team. The farm’s loyalty to Florida-Bred Excellence includes the important ingredient of Florida-bred progeny BY Florida stallions, strengthening the entire state breeding program. Reflecting their excellent commitment to the industry, the Barbazons were recent recipients of the 2024 Florida Broodmare of the Year Award.  
 
    Standing at Pleasant Acres Stallions: Champions Dream (Justify), Chess Chief (Into Mischief), Doppelganger (Into Mischief), Leinster (Majestic Warrior), Magic on Tap (Tapit), Mr Fisk (Arrogate), Neolithic (Harlan's Holiday), Simplification (Not This Time) and Verifying (Justify) at the 220-acre farm located just northwest of Ocala. Pleasant Acres Stallions and Joe and Helen Barbazon have received many accolades for excellence, including the 2024 Florida Broodmare of the Year Award, 2021 Florida Freshman Sire of the Year for Neolithic, 2017 Florida Freshman Sire of the Year for Poseidon's Warrior, 2017 DRF Florida-bred Beyer Award, 2009 Florida Breeder of the Year, 2009 Florida Broodmare of the Year, Breeder of the 2009 Florida Horse of the Year, and was ranked third in the nation for leading breeders in 2009 by average earnings per starter with 10 or more starters.