Track Times Today - With Bernie Dickman - Racing, Breeding, Pari-Mutuels

OBS Sale Winds Up With Gains Over 2024

Wednesday, October 8, 2025

Sales reach more than $7.2 million . . .

Never let it be said that Nelson Arroyo doesn’t take advice to heart and put it into action. During his quest to build up his Arroyo Bloodstock business in just its second year of pinhooking, Arroyo recalled that one of the most accomplished bloodstock agents in the thoroughbred industry urged him to let one key principle guide his purchases.

“Donato Lanni set me aside this year and he said ‘Nelson, stick to buying good horses and make that type of name’. So that’s what we’re trying to do,” Arroyo said. “We’re trying to go after what I really believe in.”

The horse Arroyo believed in the most at the 2025 OBS October Yearling Sale was one he successfully acquired, going to $180,000 to land Hip 482, a bay son of Jackie’s Warrior consigned by Glen Hill Farm who paced the second and final day of selling to wrap up an exercise that posted gains across all key figures.

Arroyo, a former jockey, had already enjoyed success on the OBS grounds this year having sold a son of Midshipman for $650,000 consigned by Caliente Thoroughbreds at the OBS March Sale. His latest purchase is a product of generations of breeding from the Glen Hill program as the colt is out of Glen Hill’s homebred graded stakes-inning Broken Vow mare Broken Dreams and is a half- brother to multiple graded stakes-winner Caribou Club, who was also bred and campaigned by the farm.

“It’s a good family and he’s a nice colt,” Tom Proctor, who trained Broken Dreams and heads up the Glen Hill consignment, said of the Jackie’s Warrior colt. “I think the family goes back (to Glen Hill) about 7-8 dams. He’s a big, good looking colt who is well balanced. I hope Nelson does well with him.”

Adding to the colt’s appeal on paper is the presence of Glen Hill’s champion One Dreamer in the female family. However, Arroyo said it was the youngster’s presence that most convinced him to stretch to the price level he did.

“I loved the horse. He has a lot of substance to him,” said Arroyo, who operates his bloodstock operation along with his son Elijah. “He has all the right parts. To me, he was my favorite horse of the sale. I told my guys we might have to pay the most but thank God, we got him for less than what we thought. His page of course (is outstanding), but his physical and his mind is what got me.”

Arroyo added the colt would likely be targeted to make what he hopes is another strong appearance at the 2026 OBS March Two-Year-Olds in Training Sale. “That’s the main goal, finding horses I think will pinhook well and will make it at the races,” Arroyo said. “Hopefully he’s back here in March.”

The appeal of Glen Hill families reigned over the today’s action as the farm also consigned Hip 506, a son of Army Mule who sold to Breeze Easy for $125,000. The bay colt is out of Glen Hill’s multiple graded stakes-winning Repriced mare Closeout and was one of four horses to sell for six figures during the session. “Another old family from Glen Hill that has some really nice mares,” said Proctor, who also conditioned Closeout.

The other six-figure offerings on the day were Hip 480, a gray or roan son of Roadster out of the winning Street Sense mare Bridlewise, who sold for $120,000 to Sean S. Perl Bloodstock from the Blue Sapphire Stables consignment, and Hip 549, a bay filly by OBS grad Yaupon out of Champagne Girl, a daughter of OBS grad Into Mischief, who brought $100,000 from Mustang Farms from the Sennebec South Farm consignment.

“She’s a classy filly and she’s never put a foot wrong since she’s been here,” said Sandi Dorr of Sennebec South. “She’s everything you would want in a beautiful filly: great body, moves really well. She’s hard to pick apart. I’m happy for the opportunity to sell her.”

A total of nine horses reached the six-figure level during the two-day October auction headlined by Hip 177, a bay filly by Mo Donegal named Expectations who brought a sale-topping $240,000 from bloodstock agent Christophe Nouvellet on behalf of Dream With Me Florida. The filly was consigned by Richard Kent’s Kaizen Sales, which led all consignors with 34 head sold for gross receipts of $1,133,000.

Two other horses sold for $200,000 on the opening day, Hip 251, a bay colt by Jack Christopher purchased by DiBello Racing Stables, LLC from Beth Bayer’s consignment and Hip 148, a bay colt by Corniche consigned by Soler & Soler Thoroughbreds who sold to MJB Stable.

The market strength that showed itself during the juvenile sale season continued to make its presence felt. The overall gross of $7,267,700 from 309 head sold surpassed the $5,724,600 generated by 297 horses sold during the 2024 OBS October Sale, which had its schedule adjusted due to the impact of Hurricane Milton.

The overall average improved from $19,275 last year to $23,520 this season with the median coming in at $15,000, up from $10,000 in 2024. The overall rate of horses not sold came in at 25.5% compared to 36.3% in 2024. West Coast Equine, a group of investors from mainland China, led all buyers with 13 purchased for $287,000.

Continue reading ➝

Bernies Blog

Kent Sells Mo Donegal Filly for $240,00 to Top OBS Opener

Tuesday, October 7, 2025

October numbers show good gains from 2024 . . .

Richard Kent isn’t one to lean on hyperbole when discussing the plethora of horses who have come through his care. But in the moments after a filly fittingly bearing the name of Expectations exited the Ocala Breeders’ Sales Company ring during the opening session of the October Yearling Sale, the longtime consignor put some lofty hopes on the youngster who headlined his Kaizen Sales consignment Tuesday.

“I sold Serena Song’s as a yearling and this filly has that kind of class,” Kent said. “That’s big words.”

It remains to be seen if Hip 177 can come close to delivering in the manner of the Hall of Famer Kent sold during his tenure at Bridlewood Farm. During the first day of action at the two-day October exercise, however, the bay filly by Mo Donegal ended the day out front when she brought $240,000 from bloodstock agent Christophe Nouvellet on behalf of Dream With Me Florida to top the session.

Bred by Peter E. Blum Thoroughbreds, the bay filly has the pedigree to back up her elegant looks as she is out of the Speightstown mare On the Good List, a half-sister to Gr. 1 winner Dunbar Road. The female family is rich in success with Gr. 1 winner Secret Status, multiple graded stakes-winner Private Mission, and graded winner Alumni Hall also on the page.

Since arriving on the sale grounds, Kent stated the filly did nothing but signal a high level of quality in her own right.

“The price was excellent. The filly justified the price,” Kent said. “She was just a super star all week. She’d been scoped eight times and showed herself just brilliantly over 100 times. She’s a very classy filly. We had all the players in town bidding on her.”

Nouvellet, who recently purchased the 200-acre McKathan Brothers’ Farm in Citra, was the player who ultimately won out, saying the winning bid was above what he expected to pay, but nonetheless was willing to stretch to.

“She’s a good physical and we’re going to hope for the best,” said Nouvellet. “She’s a good mover and I think on paper she has everything to succeed. We just like to buy good horses.”

The Mo Donegal filly was one of four horses to reach the six-figure level during the opening session of the sale.

The day’s trade ended on a high note as Hip 251, a bay colt by Jack Christopher, elicited a final bid of $200,000 from DiBello Racing Stables. Consigned by Beth Bayer, the colt is out of the Hard Spun mare Madelyn’s Magic, who is a half-sister to graded stakes-winners Totally Boss and Super Steed.

“We had been waiting all day for him to come up,” Bayer said. “I love Jack Christopher as a new sire. All the ones we’ve seen have looked like athletes and (this colt) had a nice pedigree as well and a very good mind. He showed really well every single time.”

Champion Corniche, a graduate of the 2021 OBS April Sale, and multiple graded stakes-winner Bucchero, who sold at the 2014 OBS June exercise, again made their mark in the pavilion as they were responsible for two of the six-figure lots.

HIP 48, a bay colt by Corniche out of the Take Charge Indy mare Mollyball, sold to MJB Stable for $200,000 while Hip 1, a daughter of Bucchero, got the sale off to a quick start when she hammered for $110,000 to Thorostock’s Nick Sallusto.

Named Mr. Predicted, the Corniche colt is a half-brother to stakes-placed Lawyer Mason and hails from the female family of graded stakes-winners Adriano and Strike Power. He was consigned by his breeder, Edisley Soler, who is selling for the first time under the Soler & Soler Thoroughbred Corp. banner.

“I thought he was going to bring more, that’s a good horse,” Soler said. “I raised him, he’s been my baby. I liked everything about him, he’s just a really nice colt.”

Like her sire, Hip 1 wasted little time making a strong impression as she kicked off the day’s selling and set the tone for her connections. Consigned by Kaizen Sales and bred by Rivermont Farm, the chestnut filly is out of the winning Greatness mare Dagney’s Revenge and hails from the female family of graded stakes-winners Seeking Slew and Canadian Frontier.

“She was just a real quality filly. Many people told us she was the best filly on the grounds,” said Kent, who led all consignors on the day with 18 head sold for $605,000. “We were not coming in with that high of expectations but once we were here, she really sold herself and did all the work. She looked fabulous, behaved great. We showed her 100 times, and she did as well on the 100th time as she did on the first."

Other top prices for the day included Hip 144, a bay filly by Vekoma consigned by Bobby Jones Equine, who sold for $95,000 to Dennis Campbell, and Hip 169, a bay colt by Epicenter consigned by Summerfield, who brought a final bid of $90,000 from Red Wings.

Tuesday’s session produced year-over-year gains in gross, average, and median compared to 2024. A total of 146 head sold for gross receipts of $3,255,600, up from the $1,713,900 generated by 104 during the first session a year ago. The average improved from $16,480 in 2024 to $22,299 with the median coming in at $15,000 compared to $10,000 last year.

Last year’s OBS October Yearling Sale had its sale sessions adjusted due to Hurricane Milton.

The RNA rate for the session came in at 32.4 percent compared to 35.4 in 2024.

Continue reading ➝

Bernies Blog

Douglass to Join OBS as International Representative

Monday, October 6, 2025

Native of England . . .

Ocala Breeders’ Sales Company announced that bloodstock agent Will Douglass will join OBS as their International representative.

A native of England, Douglass began his career as a bloodstock agent in January 2010 when he started working with industry veteran Charlie Gordon-Watson. Prior to his time with Gordon-Watson, Douglass served as assistant to classic-winning trainers Luca Cumani and Ed Dunlop, and champion Australian trainer David Hayes.

“I am looking forward to working with the team at OBS and helping them expand their international client base,” Douglass said. “OBS has a long history of selling outstanding horses that are successful all over the world such as Crimson Advocate winning at Royal Ascot whilst (Group 3 placed and OBS October graduate) The Publican’s Son looks be a horse to follow next year.”

Will Douglass Bloodstock was established in January 2025, advising clients on all aspects of private sales, auction purchases, bloodstock, and racing management. Among the top horses in training acquisitions Douglass has been responsible for include classic and multiple Group 1 winner Al Riffa (FR); Hong Kong Group winner Helene Feeling, dual Hong Kong Group 1 winner Peniaphobia, Qatari champion Kerindia, and Gr. II winner Nancy from Nairobi (GB).

Douglass also selected Group 1 placed Shes Perfect (IRE) and Luther (GB), winner of this year’s Gr. II National Museum of Racing Hall of Fame Stakes at Saratoga.

"Will’s expertise in the Europe and Asia provides the perfect complement to the global appeal of OBS graduates,” said Tod Wojciechowski, OBS Director of Sales. “We are excited to bring him on board as his knowledge and skillset will be an invaluable asset in promoting our sales."

Continue reading ➝

Bernies Blog

Choose Joy Wins at Gulfstream After 435-Day Layoff

Saturday, October 4, 2025

Huge payoff in Rainbow 6 . . .

HALLANDALE BEACH - Multiple stakes-winning 8-year-old mare Choose Joy, unraced in 435 days, made a dramatic triumphant return by rallying from far back to edge Etrurian by a head in Friday’s feature at Gulfstream Park.

Ridden by Miguel Vasquez for owner-trainer Steve Dwoskin, Choose Joy ($14.60) completed five furlongs on the all-weather Tapeta course in :55.93 seconds for her 10th win from 27 career starts. The optional claiming allowance for fillies and mares 3 and older was moved off the grass following overnight rain.

“I’d rather it had been on the turf, but she’d had some good races on the Tapeta. I knew she was ready,” Dwoskin said. “She was fit, and she’s just a good horse.”

Choose Joy was unhurried early, trailing all but one horse as Etrurian led her stablemate and narrow 2-1 favorite Beauty of the Sea through a quarter-mile in :21.53 seconds and a half in :43.76. Vasquez swung Choose Joy to the far outside leaving the far turn and they came with a steady run down the center of the stretch to catch Etrurian at the wire.

In a career marked by stops and starts, Choose Joy hasn’t raced since she was third as the favorite behind a pair of next-out winners in a five-furlong optional claimer on Gulfstream’s all-weather Tapeta last July 26. She now has been third or better in seven of eight tries over Tapeta, with three wins.

Dwoskin purchased Choose Joy for $35,000 at auction in 2019, and Friday’s $27,000 winner’s share of the purse pushed her career bankroll to $439,745.

“I’m very proud of her,” he said. “She keeps getting closer to half a million [dollars].”

Rainbow 6 Solved Friday for $143,083 Jackpot Payout

The 20-cent Rainbow 6 was solved by one lucky bettor for a $143,083.80 jackpot payout Friday.

The last multiple mandatory payouts of $8,569.28 came on Sept. 14, and the multi-race wager had gone unsolved for five racing days.

Joey Platts’ Call Me Angel ($13.40), ridden by Elijah Greenidge, captured Race 10 finale to complete the winning 2-7-3-3-3-8 combination. It was Ocala trainer Terry Oliver’s first win since April 10, 2011, also at Gulfstream

Continue reading ➝

Bernies Blog

OBS Grad Wins Gr. II Zenyatta Stakes

Monday, September 29, 2025

Another big week for OBS . . .

Despite a less-than-ideal break following a six-plus month layoff, Speedway Stables’ Cavalieri (Nyquist-Stiffed, by Stephen Got Even) was unbothered as she remained unbeaten with a victory in the Gr. II, $200,000 Zenyatta Stakes going 1 1/16 miles at Santa Anita Park to lead the slate of stakes-winning OBS grads for the week.

After hopping at the start and trailing the field, Cavalieri improved to 5-for-5 for trainer Bob Baffert while also earning a fees-paid berth to the $2 million Breeders’ Cup Distaff at Del Mar. It was Cavalieri’s first start since winning the Gr. I Beholder Mile in March at Santa Anita.

“She is just so talented, the further the better for her,” Baffert said.

A 4-year-old daughter of Nyquist, Cavalieri was purchased by Peter Fluor’s Speedway Stables for $900,000 from the Wavertree Stables consignment at the 2023 OBS April Sale after she breezed in :20 2/5.

At Aqueduct, R. Lee Lewis’s Gun Song (Gun Runner – Nicole H, by Mr. Greeley) overtook Gr. 1 winner Randomized and powered away to a score in the Gr. II, $250,000 Beldame Stakes. By winning the Beldame, part of the Breeders' Cup Dirt Dozen series for the $2 million Breeders' Cup Distaff in November at Del Mar, Gun Song receives a credit of $30,000 toward entry fees for the Distaff. Trained by Mark Hennig, the 4-year-old daughter of Gun Runner enjoyed a tremendous sophomore season that included a win in the Gr. II Black-Eyed Susan at Pimlico Race Course.

Gun Song was purchased by her owner for $400,000 at the 2023 OBS March Sale out of the de Meric Sales consignment after breezing in :10 1/5.

Also at Aqueduct, George Mellon’s Patriot Spirit (Constitution- Mistical Plan, by Game Plan) power away late to post a 1 1/2-length score in the Gr. III, $200,000 Vosburgh Stakes, earning himself a fees paid berth to the Breeders’ Cup Sprint at Del Mar.

Trained by Michael Campbell, the 4-year-old Constitution colt was purchased by George Mellon for $235,000 out of the Clary Bloodstock consignment at the 2023 OBS March Sale after breezing in :10 flat.

At Santa Anita Park, Innovative (Complexity-Lantiz, by Tizway) roared through the stretch to win Saturday’s Gr. III, $100,000 John C. Harris Stakes on the hillside turf course. Innovative prevailed by a neck over Lee’s Baby Girl with another half-length back to morning line favorite and fellow OBS grad Warming in third.

Trained by Phil D’Amato, the daughter of Complexity is owned by Little Red Feather Racing and Sterling Stables. She was purchased by Little Red Feather Racing for $230,000 at the 2024 OBS April Sale from the consignment of Longoria Training & Sales after breezing in :9 4/5.

At Gulfstream Park, rising star Lennilu (Leinster – Lulu’s Pom Pom, by Pomeroy) booked her ticket to Del Mar for the $1 million Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Turf Sprint by capturing her third stakes victory in the $75,000 Hollywood Beach.

Owned by Amy Dunne, Cailtin Dunne, Brenda Miley, Jean Wilkinson, Hoffman Family Racing, Tranquility Lake Farms, Maury Hamilton and Christopher Harrington, the daughter of Leinster was making her return to turf after prevailing by a nose in the $100,000 Desert Vixen. Trained by Patrick Biancone, Lennilu was purchased by Glencrest Farm for $23,000 from the Abbie Road Farm consignment at the 2024 OBS Winter Mixed Sale.

At Remington Park, trainer Danny Pish sent out Essential Time (Essential Quality-Twilight Curfew, by Twirling Candy) to victory in the $150,000 Clever Trevor Stakes.

Owned by Duffy’s Racing Stable and Heider Racing Stables, Essential Time was bred by D. J. Stable and offered at the 2025 OBS April Sale where he failed to meet his reserve after breezing in :10 1/5 from the consignment of 1880 Bloodstock.

At Remington Park, Everything’s Cricket Racing’s Sabalenka (Good Samaritan-Darling Daughter, by Maria’s Mon) won the $75,000 Ricks Memorial Stakes as she rallied from sixth place to gain the victory over fellow OBS grad Neom Beach. Trained by Joe Sharp, she won by 2 3/4 lengths in a time of 1:42.12 over the firm course.

Sabalenka was purchased by Four Quarters at the 2022 OBS April Sale and for $35,000 from the Harris Training Center consignment after breezing in :10 1/5.

So There She Was (Munnings-Risk Premium, by Take Charge Indy) highlighted the Remington Park card when she put away heavy favorite Lemon Zest to take the $200,000 Remington Park Oaks. The 3-year-old filly pocketed $120,000 for owners Great Friends Stables and Mark Davis of Vista, Calif.

Trained by Doug O’Neill, she was purchased by Mark Davis for $100,000 at the 2024 OBS March Sale from the Gene Recio consignment after breezing in :10 1/5.

Another winner on the Oklahoma Derby Day card was Paradise Farms, David Staudacher, Gata Racing Stable and Turman Racing’s Woodstock (Yaupon-Hot Hippie, by Medaglia d’Oro) who captured the $50,000 E. L. Gaylord Memorial. The filly, trained by Michael Maker, was purchased by Maker from this year’s OBS March Sale for $100,000 from the Global Thoroughbreds consignment after breezing in :10 2/5.

Continue reading ➝

Bernies Blog