OBS

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 Sunday running at Chukyo Racecourse, including the return of last-out Group 3 winner Shivaji (First Samurai). Over at Tokyo, a field of 17 is set for the world's richest Derby, the G1 Tokyo Yushun, headed by the undefeated Efforia (Jpn) (Epiphaneia {Jpn}): Sunday, May...

In the wake of 2020 June graduate Medina Spirit (Protonico)'s victory in the GI Kentucky Derby, the catalog for the Ocala Breeders' Sales Company's 2021 June Sale of Two-Year-Olds and Horses of Racing Age was released Monday and is now available via the OBS website at obssales.com. The iPad version of the catalog is available via the equineline Sales Catalog app. Supplemental entries are being accepted until May 19. There are 858 2-year-olds and 15 older horses cataloged for the three-day sale, with all sessions beginning at 10:30 a.m. EST....

Sure, it's a very different game from our own. On the face of it, horse racing and soccer appear to have little more in common than the same generic umbrella as sports. But then it turns out that "soccer" is itself a very different game--or a very different industry, at least--from what the British know as "football." And if you happen to have followed an extraordinary week for its European elite, then it would be remiss not to ask whether there might actually be one or two highly pertinent lessons...

A son of leading sire Quality Road was the first to hit the seven-figure mark at the OBS Spring Sale's second session Wednesday, bringing $1.5 million from Marette Farrell. Bred by Bart Evans and Stonehaven Steadings, the bay is a son of MGSW & MGISP Wasted Tears (Najran). Consigned by de Meric Sales, the :10 flat breeze RNA'd for $385,000 at KEESEP.

A Liam's Map filly (Hip 1188) from the Flying Fish consignment looks to become the next star to come out of Art Fisher's training center after being one of eight juveniles to work a bullet in :9 4/5 during the Ocala Breeders' Sales Company's Spring Sale under-tack show Saturday. The start of the sixth and final session was delayed until 9:30 a.m. due to storms in the forecast. "The third time I breezed her, I called the guy who owns her and said, 'This filly is diseased with speed.' So,...

The sixth and final session of the under tack show for the Ocala Breeders' Sales Company's 2021 Spring Sale of Two-Year-Olds was delayed by weather Saturday morning, but is now underway. OBS issued a press release saying that the situation is being closely monitored and it is anticipated that conditions will be favorable for the session to begin at 9:30 a.m. Further changes will be announced if necessary, the sales company said. The National Weather Service issued a "significant weather advisory" for the area. "At 7:23 a.m. EDT, National Weather...

A colt from the first crop of Florida stallion Valiant Minister was one of two to breeze a bullet quarter mile in :20 3/5 at the Ocala Breeders' Sales Company's Spring Sale under-tack show Friday. Hip 996 will attempt to follow in the hoofprints of his Bridlewood-based sire, who topped OBS's 2015 June sale after a bullet work, selling to Charles Chu of Baoma Corp. For $680,000 after breezing an eighth in :9 4/5. "I remember Valiant Minister when he sold here," said SGV Thoroughbreds' Steve Venosa, who consigns Hip...

The first session of the under tack show for the Ocala Breeders' Sales Company's 2021 Spring Sale of Two-Year-Olds was cancelled, according to a press release Sunday morning from the sales company. "With severe impending weather approaching it has been determined that cancellation is the best and safest course of action for both horses and people," read the release. Sunday's weather in Ocala called for thunderstorms, some potentially severe, and heavy rain with more than an inch of rainfall predicted. The under tack show will now be scheduled over six...

The catalog for the Ocala Breeders' Sales Company's 2021 Spring Sale of Sale of Two-Year-Olds in Training is now available via the OBS website at www.obssales.com. A total of 1,214 juveniles have been cataloged for the four-day sale, set for Tuesday through Friday, Apr. 20 - Apr. 23. All sessions will begin at 10:30 a.m. The online catalog's main page allows access to a sortable master index providing searchable pedigree, consignor information and updated pedigrees. Advanced search and filter capability has been added to allow shortlist creation. A link to...

By Brian DiDonato & Steve Sherack What a difference a year makes. With a $750,000 filly from the first crop of Practical Joke leading the way, the first auction of 2-year-old sales season completed a very promising two-day run as the 2021 OBS March sale concluded with across-the-board gains compared to last year and numbers not too far off of 2019 stats recorded during more normal circumstances. Consigned by Top Line Sales as hip 311, Wednesday's highest-priced lot and the sale's overall topper was purchased by Japan's Hideyuki Mori, who...

OCALA, FL- Hardy attempts at optimism were made at last year's Ocala Breeders' Sales Company's March Sale, but an unmistakably ominous atmosphere hung over the grounds. Before the first hip had even reached the walking ring in Ocala, both Keeneland's April Sale and Fasig-Tipton's Gulfstream Sale had been canceled as the tentacles of the Coronavirus pandemic tightened their grip around the nation. There was an unforgettable discord between the then-normalcy of crowded local restaurants and stores while sporting event and festival cancellations seemed to happen between the start of each...

Four more juveniles breezed in a bullet :9 4/5 and two stopped the clock in :20 4/5 at the final day of the OBS March Breeze Show Saturday. The first :9 4/5 breezer of the day was a Blame filly (Hip 439) out of the unraced Cry Value (Street Cry {Ire}). A $17,000 FTKFEB purchase, she was acquired by King's Equine for $28,000 at Keeneland September. A colt from the first crop of Gormley (Hip 531) stopped the clock in :9 4/5 for consignor Eddie Woods, who purchased him for...