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

Thursday, October 8, 2026

Overall gross tops $6.7 million . . .

Fueled by the appeal and aptitude of Florida-based connections, the Ocala Breeders’ Sales Co. wrapped up the 2026 edition of its October Yearling Sale with gains in average and median as the two-day exercise concluded.

Despite mother nature being less than welcoming with rainy conditions drenching the sale grounds both Tuesday and Wednesday, the buying base persevered in producing results that highlighted added strength in the middle and lower sections of the market. With 42 fewer horses sold and 69 fewer horses catalogued, the overall gross of $6,775,500 generated by 267 head was down from the $7,509,700 produced in 2025 when a total of 309 horses changed hands. At the close of business Wednesday, the average came in at $25,376 compared to $24,303 in 2025 while the median improved from $15,000 last year to $17,000 this sale.

The rate of horses not sold for the sale came in at 26.2 percent compared to 25.5 percent in 2025.

A commonality linking both October sessions was the fact they were highlighted by those carrying the banner for one of Florida’s signature industries. The sale’s highest priced offering came on Tuesday when Hip 12, a homebred filly by Girvin consigned by Ocala-based Glen Hill Farm, sold for $190,000 to agent Marette Farrell on behalf of CJ Thoroughbreds. On Wednesday, Florida-bred Pappacap had his turn in the spotlight as Hip 339, a bay colt by the Walmac stallion, topped the session when he sold to trainer Saffie Joseph Jr. for $140,000.

Bred and consigned by Francis and Barbara Vanlangendonck’s Summerfield, the Pappacap colt ended up as the sale’s second highest priced offering and added to the appeal of his first-crop sire. Tuesday’s session saw Hip 120, another bay colt by Pappacap, bring the sale’s third-highest overall price when he sold for $120,000 to Willow Creek Ranch, and Joseph pointed to the stallion stamping his offspring with top physical attributes as a reason behind his decision to stretch for the newest member of his stable.

“Obviously Pappacap was precocious. He won at Del Mar (the Best Pal) and was second in the Juvenile and then he carried on to run in the Florida Derby against (Joseph trainee and OBS graduate) White Abarrio, so we’re very familiar with the horse,” said Joseph, who led all buyers for the October Sale with 12 head purchased for $522,000. “He was a solid horse, and you feel like he’ll make a stallion. We’re banking on it because we’ve bought a lot of them. We bought them because to the eye, they fit the look that we want.

“This colt is the most expensive one I’ve bought this sale,” Joseph continued. “We liked him a lot…and obviously there was competition to get him. It was deservedly so because this horse is a really nice horse, very smooth with the way he carried himself. It seems like he’s going to continue to get better.”

The Pappacap colt is out of the winning Uncaptured mare Bosworthy, a half sister to stakes winner and producer It’s High Time and multiple stakes winner Let Them Watch, an OBS October graduate.

“We knew that people liked him but you never know what people are going to pay. Obviously, we’re very happy with what he brought,” Francis Vanlangendonck said. “There were a lot of people interested in him and he looked just like his mother, and she could really run. We were going to sell him as a weanling but decided to wait and put him here, hoping he would stand out and that they would like the Pappacaps.

“I did the breeding (for Pappacap)…so we were very involved with him, went to all his races with his owners. But people really like Pappacaps because they’re all really athletic. This colt brought more than we thought, which is fabulous. We’re thrilled.”

The session’s second-highest priced horse was another product of the stellar Glen Hill Farm breeding program. Hip 311, a bay filly by Oscar Performance out of the Candy Ride (ARG) mare Aspening, sold to owner Gary Barber for $100,000.

The Oscar Performance filly is a half sister to stakes winner and graded stakes placed Aspenite and hails from the female family of Glen Hill’s graded stakes winners Diversy Harbor, Keertana, and Snow Top Mountain.

“It’s a good family. I thought she was a nice horse. (Trainer) Mark Casse saw her for the first time today and loved her,” said Craig Bernick, president of Glen Hill Farm. “I told a few people the reserve was $100,000 and (Casse) bought her. I would have thought she would have made more but the main thing is she’s going to a very good trainer and a very good owner. We still have the mother; we have the sister and a lot of the family. They made a good buy and she’s going to a good person.”

In addition to being responsible for the session topper, Pappacap had the day’s third-highest price horse when Hip 272, a bay colt by the stallion, sold to NdM Bloodstock for $80,000. Consigned by Potrero Stables, the colt is out of the winning Unbridled’s Song mare True Love Is Yare and is from the female family of Grade 1 winner and producer Tranquility Lake.

For Wednesday’s session, the gross receipts of $3,093,500 from 129 head sold was slightly down compared to the 149 sold for $3,947,100 during last year’s corresponding session. The session average came in at $23,981 compared to $26,491 in 2025 with a median of $15,000 compared to $19,000 last year.

Lisa McGreevy’s Abbie Road Farm led all consignors by gross for the October sale with 42 head sold for $816,500.

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Lucky Bettor Makes Gulfstream Score

Sunday, October 4, 2026

Hits Rainbow 6 by himself . . .

HALLANDALE BEACH - The 20-cent Rainbow 6 was solved by one lucky bettor for a $90,495.60 jackpot payoff Saturday at Gulfstream Park.

Geaux Amy ($6.20), one of four horses live to take down the jackpot entering the Race 10 finale, rallied up the rail to edge 14-1 longshot Junegenai and compete the winning 8-2-7-9-5-2 combination.

Other winners in the sequence were Lady of City ($78.80) in Race 5; Lindsay Smiles ($14) in Race 6; Stick Talk ($4.60) in Race 7, the $75,000 Palm Bay overnight handicap; Neat ($7.40) in Race 8, the $65,000 Miami Mile overnight handicap; and Degree of Risk ($8.40) in Race 9.

There will be a Players Pick 8 carryover today of $8,945.47.

The Rainbow 6 begins anew today, spanning Races 4-9, starting with a claiming event for 3-year-olds and up sprinting 5 ½ furlongs on the main track. The 4-year-old Adios Mate seeks his first win this year and third overall after finishing second four times in six prior starts.

Qatar Racing and Soldi Stable’s 4-year-old gelding Gabaldon is the 5-2 program favorite in Race 5, a starter optional claimer for 3-year-olds and up scheduled for five furlongs on the grass. Entered for a $50,000 tag, Gabaldon won the 2024 Royal Palm Juvenile at Gulfstream in debut and ran second in that summer’s Windsor Castle at Royal Ascot second time out.

Since then, Gabaldon has won one of seven starts, an optional claimer on Gulfstream’s all-weather Tapeta course Dec. 11. In his two races this year, he was fifth in a similar spot on the grass at Tampa Bay Downs in January and last out was second by a half-length in an optional claimer Aug. 16 on the Del Mar turf. Among his rivals are Jose D’Angelo-trained stablemate Fulanito and stakes winners Xy Speed and Eamonn.

The $1 Sunset Six begins with Gulfstream’s Race 8 (4:13 p.m. post) and continues with Race 2 at Santa Anita and Race 9 at Gulfstream before wrapping up with Santa Anita’s Race 4, the $100,000 Zuma Beach (G3) for 2-year-olds, and Race 6, the $100,000 Surfer Girl (G3) for 2-year-old fillies, both on turf.

Notes: Jockey Edwin Gonzalez swept the day’s stakes on Stick Talk ($4.60) in the $75,000 Palm Bay overnight handicap and Neat ($7.40) in the $65,000 Miami Mile overnight handicap, and completed his hat trick on Geaux Amy ($6.20) in Race 10 … Lindsay Smiles and Geaux Amy are each trained by Joe Orseno … Jockey Miguel Vasquez doubled with Accelerate Me ($20.60) in Race 3 and Lindsay Smiles ($14) in Race 6 … Both Stick Talk and Noble Sky ($6) in Race 4 are trained by Carlos David.

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Forged Steel Heads Another Successful Week for OBS Grads

Monday, September 28, 2026

Wins Gr.I Goodwood at Santa Anita . . .

C2 Racing Stable, Mathis Stables, and TCC Stables’ Forged Steel (Vekoma-Scorecard, by Tale of the Cat) made a triumphant return to Santa Anita Park, winning the Gr. 1, $300,000 Goodwood Stakes going 1 1/8 miles, leading the slate of stakes-winning OBS graduates for the week.

Forged Steel took command entering the second turn and won by 1 ¼ lengths over stablemate and fellow OBS graduate Caldera to earn a fees-paid berth to the $7 million Breeders’ Cup Classic on Oct. 31 at Keeneland Race Course.

“It’s very satisfying to win this race,” trainer Saffie Joseph Jr. said. “This victory is so good for the horse and for (jockey) Edwin (Gonzalez). Edwin gave him a great ride, and this was a tremendous effort.”

Forged Steel was purchased by C2 Racing Stable for $190,000 at the 2024 OBS March Sale from the de Meric Sales consignment after breezing in :10 flat.

Also at Santa Anita Park, Kretz Racing’s Cabo Spirit (Pioneerof the Nile-Fancy Day (IRE), by Shamardal) set the pace and fend off a late charge from fellow OBS graduate El Potente to win the Gr. II, $200,000 City of Hope Mile by a head and secure a berth to the $2 million Breeders’ Cup Mile.

Trained by George Papaprodromou, Cabo Spirit notched his sixth graded stakes win and seventh stakes victory overall in 45 starts. It pushed his earnings to more than $1.5 million. Cabo Spirit was consigned to the 2021 OBS April Sale by Eddie Woods and purchased for $575,000 by Gayle Van Leer, agent, after breezing a quarter in :20 4/5.

At Remington Park, John Oxley and Victoriam Farm’s Silent Tactic (Tacitus-Magical Sign, by Gun Runner) got back into the winner’s circle with a neck victory in the Gr. III, $400,000 Oklahoma Derby.

Trained by dual Hall of Famer Mark Casse, Silent Tactic improved his record to three wins from nine starts with a bankroll of $1,359,422. He was purchased by Justin Casse for $500,000 at the 2025 OBS April Sale from the Thorostock consignment after breezing in :10 1/5.

At Laurel Park, Amerman Racing’s Coast Highway (Corniche—Lemoncita, by Lemon Drop Kid) won the $125,000 Laurel Futurity by a head, giving the colt his first black-type stakes win. Trained by Graham Motion, he was purchased by his owners for $105,000 at the 2026 OBS April Sale from the Two Oaks Equine consignment after breezing in :10 flat.

The Laurel Park card also saw Hidden Overture (Mendelssohn—Sweeping Cherry, by Tonalist) take the $125,000 Selima Stakes by three-quarters of a length. Trained by Brittany Russell for Golden Lion Racing and Hidden Brook Farm, the filly earned the first stakes win of her career. She was purchased by Hidden Brook for $180,000 at the 2026 OBS June Sale from the Omar Ramirez Bloodstock consignment after breezing in :10 flat.

At Remington Park, Joe D. Casey’s Hola Joey (Adios Charlie—Engaged, by Malibu Moon) captured the $100,000 David M. Vance Stakes by a head over fellow OBS graduate Yo Banana Boy. Trained by Gene Jacquot, the 4-year-old gelding was purchased by his owner at the 2024 OBS June Sale for $3,000 from the Ocala Stud consignment after breezing in :21 2/5.

Also on the Remington Park card, Rileytole (Mitole—Picolata, by Bellamy Road) won the $200,000 Remington Park Oaks by 1 ¾ lengths. Trained by Steve Asmussen for Bill and Corinne Heiligbrodt, the filly was purchased by her owners for $50,000 at the 2024 OBS Winter Mixed Sale for $50,000 from the Summerfield consignment.

At Finger Lakes, Torie Gladwell’s homebred Sun Kissed Bliss (Mind Control—Kiska, by Into Mischief) won the $100,000 Lady Finger Stakes by 1 1/2 lengths. Trained by Joe Sharp, Sun Kissed Bliss was offered by the Top Line Sales consignment at both the 2026 OBS April Sale, where she breezed in :10 flat, and OBS April Second Chance Online Sale.

The Finger Lakes card also saw Screen Door Stables’ D I Wire (Yaupon—Hard to Stay Notgo, by More Than Ready) take the $99,615 Aspirant Stakes by 2 1/4 lengths. Trained by Kelly Breen, D I Wire was purchased by his owner for $135,000 at the 2026 OBS April Sale out of the Sequel Bloodstock consignment after breezing in :10 1/5.

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John Hancock Signs On for Duke of Mischief

Friday, September 25, 2026

3rd race back after long layoff . . .

HALLANDALE BEACH - One-time Triple Crown hopeful John Hancock, on the comeback trail after going nearly 14 months between races, will make his third start off the layoff and first for new connections in Saturday’s $65,000 Duke of Mischief overnight handicap at Gulfstream Park.

The Duke of Mischief for 3-year-olds and up going a one-turn mile on the main track precedes the $100,000 Hollywood Beach, a five-furlong dash for 2-year-olds scheduled over the turf course, on a 10-race program that begins at 12:20 p.m.

By 2014 Florida Derby (G1) winner Constitution, John Hancock was bred and at the time co-owned by WinStar Farm and trained by Brad Cox when he debuted as a 3-year-old with back-to-back wins four weeks apart at Tampa Bay Downs, each as the favorite in front-running fashion, the latter in the 1 1/16-mile Sam F. Davis last February. The runner-up that day, Owen Almighty, subsequently won the Tampa Bay Derby (G3) and went on to run fifth in the Kentucky Derby (G1).

John Hancock was again favored and led the way before fading to be fourth in the 2025 Louisiana Derby (G2), after which he was sidelined by a condylar fracture. He didn’t race again for 407 days, returning to finish sixth after setting the pace in a one-mile optional claimer May 2 at Churchill Downs.

The setup and result were repeated in John Hancock’s most recent start June 10 at Churchill. He was entered in Fasig-Tipton’s horses of racing age sale July 26, purchased for $75,000 by Paula Rose Szalay’s Golden Kernel Racing Stable and sent to trainer Bobby Dibona at Gulfstream.

“I thought I would pay more. I was willing to pay [$100,000] and I got him for [$75,000]. I think I stole him for that money,” Dibona said. “I gelded him and I did a myectomy with him. I didn’t rush anything. He’s amazing. I’m very excited to run him.

“He had won the Sam Davis, so he was on the way to be something pretty good,” he added. “He suffered a condylar fracture in his hind leg, so they put a screw in, which [horses] do so well from, especially in behind. I don’t worry at all.”

John Hancock has breezed six times for Dibona at Gulfstream, including a bullet half mile in :46.62 seconds Sept. 7. Most recently, he went three furlongs from the gate in :35.78 Sept. 19.

“I’ve had him a few months. You can see he was cut out to be a good horse,” Dibona said. “Since he’s been with me, he’s just gone up, up, up, up. Every time I work him, he impresses me more. He went the other day from the gate in 35 and change and [the rider] was just sitting on him. He wasn’t riding hard or anything.”

Miguel Vasquez is named on John Hancock from Post 6 as the 2-1 program favorite in a field of nine, carrying co-topweight of 121 pounds. Supplemented into the Duke of Mischief, he is stablemates with undefeated multiple stakes-winning 2-year-old Sum of Success. “Right now, he’s impressing me more than anyone in my barn,” Dibona. “We’ve got to get going with him, but he’s ready. He’s good to go.”

Robert Wayne Jacobs and Dwight Puckett’s To the Eastside (Post 1, Edgar Perez, 3-1, 120) is the lone horse entered off a win, exiting a front-running one-length triumph over multiple stakes winner Classic of Course in the seven-furlong Benny the Bull Aug. 29 at Gulfstream.

The 5-year-old son of two-time graded-stakes winner Enticed drew the rail for the third straight race, including a neck loss to Grade 3-placed 9-year-old Mish in a six-furlong starter optional claimer Aug. 3. “It seems like he’s been on the inside quite a bit,” trainer Andrea Puckett said. “He came back great and we’re excited to run him back. We weren’t thrilled with the one hole again but if he can repeat what he did the last race, we’d be happy.

“He ran the race of his life last time,” she added. “We’ll see what happens, but we’re excited and hoping for a repeat, obviously. I think he looks pretty good in there.”

Puckett was not surprised with the effort put forth last out by To the Eastside, whose best races have come running on or near the lead. He will face familiar foes such as stakes winner Pure Class (Post 7, Diego Herrera, 7-2, 121) and stakes-placed Icelander (Post 2, Anthony Thomas, 15-1, 118), who respectively ran third and fifth in the Benny the Bull.

“We knew the horse was doing really well and he was training forwardly,” Puckett said. “He’s kind of a laid-back horse until he hits the racetrack. He lets you know when he’s ready and we think he improves every time he goes out there. He gains a little bit more experience and his confidence is on high right now.”

Gerald Bennett-trained stablemates Chrome Ghost (Post 3, Samy Camacho, 6-1, 120) and El Principito (Post 4, Jonathan Ocasio, 20-1, 117); Awesome Train (Post 5, Marcos Meneses, 15-1, 117), Fiveeyesonskystars (Post 8, Leonel Reyes, 15-1, 118) and Lightning Tones (Post 9, Jose Morelos, 8-1, 121), winless in three starts since defending his title in the Jan. 10 Sunshine Classic, complete the field.

Duke of Mischief was bred in Florida by Marilyn McMaster, who co-owned the horse with Alex and JoAnn Lieblong and trainer David Fawkes. The son of Graeme Hall ran first or second 12 times in 30 starts with seven wins and $1.9 million in purse earnings. Five of his wins came in stakes – the 2009 Iowa Derby, 2010 Fort Lauderdale (G3), Oaklawn Handicap (G2) and Iselin (G3) and 2011 Charles Town Classic (G3).

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The Puma Captures Gr. I Pennsylvania Derby

Monday, September 21, 2026

Heads list of stakes-winning OBS grads . . .

The Puma (Essential Quality- Eve of War, by Declaration of War) made a sweeping move on the far turn to take the lead and held off fellow OBS graduate Further Ado to win the $1 million, Grade 1 Pennsylvania Derby at Parx Racing on Sept. 19, leading the slate of stakes-winning OBS graduates for the week.

Owned by High Step Racing, OGMA Investments, TCC Stables, YNG Stables and JR Ranch, The Puma opened a three-length advantage at the stretch call, which turned out to be enough, winning by a half-length to earn his first top-level score. “He went very fast. You always want to win the Grade 1," trainer Gustavo Delgado told Parx publicity. “For all the people, the family, it’s very good. The best race for me is right now. Very happy and very exciting. Right now, we will wait before thinking about the Breeders’ Cup. We will go back to Saratoga, and we will meet with my partners and my son (assistant trainer Gustavo Jr.) and then decide.”

The Puma was purchased by Marquee Bloodstock for $150,000 out of the Hidden Brook consignment at the 2025 OBS April Sale after breezing in :10 flat.

The Sept. 19 card at Parx also saw Kaleem Shah’s Stradale (Yaupon-Twitterpated, by Stormy Atlantic) pick up his first graded stakes win on dirt and second straight overall in the $400,000 Gallant Bob (G2).

Trained by Steve Asmussen, Stradale came into the Gallant Bob off back-to-back turf sprint stakes at Saratoga Race Course including a narrow win in the Grade 3 Mahony. He was a $1.3 million purchase by his owner at the 2025 OBS April Sale from the de Meric Sales consignment after breezing in :9 4/5.

At Presque Isle Downs Sept. 18, St. Elias Stable, BAG Racing Stables LLC, Turf Express, Inc and Watkins Diamond Stables LLC’s Reagan’s Flame (Flameaway – Mizzen Donald, by Mizzen Mast) scored a three-quarter length win in the $300,000 Presque Isle Downs Masters (G2) to earn the third graded stakes win of her career

Trained by Saffie Joseph Jr., the 5-year-old daughter of Flameaway was purchased by dual classic winning trainer Cherie DeVaux for $185,000 at the 2023 OBS April Sale from the consignment of Eddie Woods after breezing in :10 1/5.

Also at Presque Isle Downs Sept. 18, Neoequos (Neolithic—Bold Birdie, by Birdstone) captured the $150,000 Presque Isle Mile Stakes by 4 3/4 lengths. Trained by Saffie Joseph Jr. and owned by C2 Racing Stable LLC, Ian Parsard, Shining Stables LLC, Stefania Farms LLC, Ken Reimer, Paul Braverman and Timothy Pinch, Neoequos was purchased by Joseph for $22,000 at the 2023 OBS October Yearling Sale from the consignment of Abbie Road Farm.

The Presque Isle Downs card on Sept. 18 also saw Bossy Wossy (Maclean's Music—Family Friend, by Lemon Drop Kid) capture the $100,000 Fitz Dixon, Jr. Memorial Juvenile Stakes by five lengths to earn his first career stakes win. Owned and trained by Juan Arriagada, Bossy Wossy was purchased by Arriagada for $10,000 at the 2026 OBS April Sale from the Double R Equine Sales consignment after breezing in :10 1/5.

The Sept. 19 card at Parx also saw WSS Racing’s U Lite Up My Life (City of Light—Dido, by Bernstein) win the $150,000 Philly Special Stakes by 2 1/4 lengths. The 5-year-old mare, trained by Saffie Joseph Jr., earned the first stakes victory of her career. The daughter of City of Light was purchased by The Winning Stables at the 2023 OBS April Sale for $30,000 from the Eddie Woods consignment after breezing in :10 1/5.

Happy Tenth Stable’s Buccherino (Bucchero – Bellimbusto, by First Dude) was another winner on the Sept. 19 card at Parx, capturing the $150,000 Stable Recovery Stakes by a head. Trained by Alfredo Velazquez, the 5-year-old son of OBS graduate Bucchero was purchased for $75,000 from the Blue River Bloodstock, Inc. consignment at the 2023 OBS April Sale after breezing in :10 flat.

The undercard of the Pennsylvania Derby card at Parx also saw DeSales 85’s Icona Mama (Maximus Mischief-Classe Signora, by Bernstein) score a two-length victory in the $150,000 Liberty Bell Stakes. Trained by Flint Stites, she was purchased by her owner for $75,000 at the 2024 OBS April Sale from the Grassroots Training and Sales consignment after breezing in :10 flat.

At Woodbine Sept. 19, Epic Style (Good Magic—Final Mesa, by Sky Mesa) won the $89,387 Sweet Briar Too by 1 1/4 lengths to earn her first stakes victory. Trained by Michael Stidham for Speedway Stables, Epic Style was purchased by her owners for $300,000 at the 2024 OBS April Sale from the Hartley/DeRenzo Thoroughbreds consignment after breezing in :10 flat.

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