OBS April

Speedier furlongs were harder to come by during Friday's sixth session of the under-tack show ahead of next week's Ocala Breeders' Sales Company's Spring Sale of 2-Year-Olds in Training with only a pair of juveniles breaking out of the pack to share the co-fastest time in :9 4/5. A pair of colts, both from the consignment of Hoppel LLC, had no issue however in putting up blazing fast times during their quarter-mile works Friday morning. Going about an hour apart, colts by Yaupon (hip 875) and Maclean's Music (hip 1017)...

A quartet of juveniles shared the fastest time during the fifth session of the under-tack show held Thursday ahead of next week's Ocala Breeders' Sales Company's Spring Sale of 2-Year-Olds in Training. Freshman stallion Yaupon, whose first runners hit the track this year, had another standout breeze session held under "ideal" conditions when a filly (hip 788) from his first crop worked in :9 4/5 for Joe Pickerrell's Pick View LLC. "She's been lightning fast all year," said Pickerrell of the filly he picked up for just $100,000 at last...

When he has the right horse to do so, California-based conditioner Doug O'Neill isn't the smallest bit hesitant to showcase them on the foreign stage. On Apr. 5, the 56-year-old will send out Grade I winner Raging Torrent (Maximus Mischief) in an attempt to win the G2 Godolphin Mile for the third time in his career and the second time in succession. "It's a real honor to have a horse that's classy enough to travel to meetings like this," said O'Neill, a two-time winner of the GI Kentucky Derby whose...

Japanese-based horses had taken three of the first five renewals of the G3 Saudi Derby and went within a half-length of a fourth, and for the majority of Saturday's 1600-meter contest, it appeared they might add to that record. But although he required most of the long straight at King Abdulaziz Racetrack, Dubai raider Golden Vekoma (Vekoma) called on his class to grab Japan's dirt debutant Shin Forever (Complexity) with just under 100 meters to race and inched away to add to his prior success in the G3 UAE 2000...

3rd-GP, 94K, Msw, 3yo, 6f, 1:18 p.m. POP ART (Medaglia d'Oro) sold to Glen Hill Farm for $750,000 as a Keeneland September yearling last year. She is the first foal out of GSW Painting (Distorted Humor) while second dam Handpainted is a full-sister to Canadian champion older mare Serenading. This is also the family of GI Toyota Blue Grass Stakes winner Brilliant Speed (Dynaformer) and MSW/GI Arkansas runner up Conquest Mo Money (Uncle Mo). TJCIS PPS 6th-GP, 94K, Msw, 3yo, 1m, 2:49 p.m. A $700,000 OBS April buy for 30...

In this continuing series, we take a look ahead at US-bred and/or conceived runners entered for the upcoming weekend at the tracks on the Japan Racing Association circuit, with a focus on pedigree and/or performance in the sales ring. Here are the horses of interest on the Japan Cup undercard Sunday at Tokyo Racecourse: Sunday, November 24, 2024 6th-TOK, ¥13,720,000 ($89k), Newcomers, 2yo, 1800mT RHINO (JPN) (c, 2, Into Mischief--Princess Noor, by Not This Time) is the first foal for his dam, the $1.35-million topper at the 2020 OBS April...

A field of 16 juveniles--13 colts and a trio of fillies--will head to the Tokyo 1600-meter start for Saturday's $199,488 Cattleya Stakes (allowance), a contest that serves as the first of four legs on the Japan Road to the Kentucky Derby and offers points on a 10-5-3-2-1 scale. American-breds comprise a quarter of the field and Godolphin homebred Snappy Dresser (Union Rags) is the best-backed of the foursome at just over 5-2 in early wagering. A full-brother to MGSW & GISP Caramel Swirl, the May 19 foal debuted in a...

1st-Belmont The Big A, $90,000, Msw, 10-13, 2yo, f, 7f, 1:23.02, ft, 4 lengths. FULLY SUBSCRIBED (f, 2, Tiz the Law--Sweetbaby, by Candy Ride {Arg}) was bet down from her 6-1 morning line to 5-2 in her first start since bringing $300,000 at OBS April earlier this year. Outrun by most of the field in the opening furlong from her rail draw, she stayed along the fence under Dylan Davis and enjoyed a ground-saving trip around the far turn past the half in :46.16. Tipped outside of a pair of...

Already a two-time stakes winner, Governor Sam stretched his win streak to three in a gusty performance to take the Indian Summer Stakes at Keeneland Sunday. Since breaking his maiden at Saratoga in July, the son of freshman sire Improbable has been a tour de force in the Mid-Atlantic juvenile turf sprints--coming from off the pace to take the Tyro Stakes at Monmouth and, most recently, wiring the Exacta Systems Rosie's Stakes at Colonial Downs Sept. 7. Favored at 8-5 for the three-peat, Governor Sam again flashed good early speed...

In this continuing series, we take a look ahead at US-bred and/or conceived runners entered for the upcoming weekend at the tracks on the Japan Racing Association circuit, with a focus on pedigree and/or performance in the sales ring. Here are the horses of interest for this Sunday running at Tokyo and Niigata Racecourses: Sunday, October 6, 2024 3rd-TOK, ¥13,720,000 ($92k), Newcomers, 2yo, 1600m MALIBU ORANGE (f, 2, Vekoma--Malibu Pier, by Malibu Moon), whose dam won a trio of graded stakes on the turf and was runner-up in the GI...

John Kimmel had $25,000, and wanted an Exclusive Native filly. But he had to pass up his first choice, at Fasig-Tipton in 1978, after she went to $32,000. She turned out to be Genuine Risk. A first experience to put most people off, right? Kimmel gives a wry chuckle and shakes his head. "I'd have been ruined," he says. "I was a sophomore in vet school. Can you imagine? I'd have been wrecked." As it was, he had proved his eye. He continued absorbing the bittersweet lessons routinely dispensed by...

2nd-Belmont The Big A, $75,000, (S), Msw, 9-13, 2yo, f, 1 1/16mT, 1:45.72, fm, 1 1/2 lengths. GRACE AND GRIT (f, 2, Munnings--Sheriffa {MSW, $469,984}, by Posse) made $160,000 at last year's Fasig-Tipton Saratoga New York-Bred Sale and breezed a furlong in :10 flat before hammering for $350,000 at the OBS April Sale. An easy-in-the-market 49-10 from a 5-2 morning line, the chestnut was ridden forward by Kendrick Carmouche and settled just off the speed before striding into the lead with about five-eighths of a mile to travel. Going along...