Leland Ackerley Racing

Smidgeon (f, 2, Jack Christopher), overlooked at 7-1 in her five-furlong unveiling at Churchill Downs Saturday, shot out to the front beneath Keith Asmussen and kicked for home as the one to catch. She let it out a notch in the stretch and kept on finding down the lane to graduate by 1 3/4 lengths. Energy Flows (Constitution) was a narrow second over favored House Boat Party (Flightline). Smidgeon, a $20,000 Keeneland November weanling, $60,000 Keeneland September yearling and $300,000 OBS March breezer, is the second winner for her freshman...

Keeneland September may be winding down time-wise with only one session remaining, but the momentum from the record-breaking sale continued in kind Friday in the 11th session with an 88.57% increase in through-the-ring sales. The session's top price belonged to a colt by Vekoma (hip 4190) as bloodstock agent Mahmud Mouni's buying spree continued. Bred by Seven Springs Farm and consigned by Almar Farm, the colt sold for $220,000 as one of the last hips through the ring Friday. Out of an unplaced Mizzen Mast mare, he is a half-brother...

'TDN Rising Star' Obliteration (c, 2, Violence--I'mclassyandsassy, by Master Command), a runaway debut winner at Churchill Downs June 12, lived up to his name with another dominating victory in Saturday's GIII Sanford S. at Saratoga. Blinging It Back (Volatile) was second; Imagine John (Maclean's Music) was third. The 4-5 favorite shot out to the front beneath Flavien Prat, was hounded by Blinging It Back through fractions of :22.74 and :45.56 and powered clear from that rival in the stretch to win by 10 1/2 lengths. "He's just a very special...

Obliteration (c, 2, Violence--I'mclassyandsassy, by Master Command), one of a debuting pair available at double digits for the reliable Steve Asmussen stable, ran away from a very promising group of 2-year-old males to become the afternoon's second 'TDN Rising Star', this one at Churchill Downs. A $200,000 purchase at this year's OBS March Sale--one of four horses bought out of the auction by the re-engaging Leland Ackerley--the bay colt was in front not long after the start and led for just short of a furlong before being displaced on the...