WOW! #6 REEF RUNNER ($33.80) closes in Race 8 at Gulfstream Park with Paco López in the saddle for trainer David Fawkes and owners Alex and JoAnn Lieblong. pic.twitter.com/oiHu5EZpQC

— TVG (@TVG) February 7, 2024

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OCALA, FL-The Ocala Breeders' Sales Company's March 2-Year-Olds in Training Sale, which had four million-dollar juveniles a year ago, has matched that mark with another day to go as a colt by Good Magic topped Tuesday's trade with a sale co-record final price of $2 million. Bob Baffert, sitting in the press box alongside Donato Lanni while on the phone with Amr Zedan, made the winning bid, which matched the $2-million price tag of Chestertown (Tapit), who sold at the auction in 2019.

“It was a good day,” said OBS Director of Sales Tod Wojciechowski. “We equaled a March sale record and there were two other million-dollar sales. It shows that consignors are not afraid to bring a nice horse to the March sale. They know they can get the money for them.”

OBS president Tom Ventura added, “And the horses' race records is what brings the buyers back, so it's a good combination.”

Through two sessions, OBS has sold 293 head for a gross of $46,044,500. The two-day average of $157,148 is up 17.8% from last year's two-day auction, while the median is up 13.3% to $85,000.

With 110 horses reported not sold during the two sessions, the buy-back rate of 27.3% continued to be well ahead of last year's figure of 13.7%.

“The good horses are selling well, and some of them may be even over-selling,” consignor Eddie Woods said. “There are a lot of very average horses here and they are bringing what they are supposed to bring. Just because they go really quick doesn't mean they are nice. So when the whole package shows up and it vets well and it looks and acts like a runner, the money shows up.”

The OBS March sale concludes with a final session beginning at 11 a.m. Wednesday.

$2-Million Good Magic Colt Lights Up OBS

The topper's :9 3/5 work last week | Photos by Z

Bob Baffert sat in the press box on the phone with Saudi businessman Amr Zedan as Donato Lanni handled the bidding, ultimately securing a colt by Good Magic (hip 546) for $2 million late in Tuesday's second session of the OBS March sale. The bay colt, who turned heads with a :9 3/5 furlong work followed by a monster gallop-out during last week's under-tack preview, was consigned by Torie and Jimbo Gladwell's Top Line Sales.

“I kind of expected it because good horses command good prices and he was a standout,” Zedan said by phone Tuesday. “We were just waiting for this moment to come to get the opportunity to bid for him. He demonstrated an amazing breeze and he looked the part. And most importantly, Bob just fell in love with him. Donato flagged the horse. Bob–we call him the boss–arrived and he basically loved what he saw. We huddled up and the rest you know.”

Zedan was asked if either he or Baffert had hesitated at any point in the bidding as they saw off every volley of trainer Steve Asmussen, who sat in the pavilion on the phone.

“Not at all,” Zedan said. “It's very difficult to find this quality of horse. And if there is a horse that we like, our motto is we stop when we own him. I think we've demonstrated that in the past. I don't mean to come across as arrogant, but good horses command a premium and that's what it takes to get winners. Let's just hope he demonstrates that on the racetrack and he makes us all proud.”

The colt's attributes were in plain sight, according to Lanni.

“Everybody saw what he did,” Lanni said. “You come to the sales long enough, you see few horses do what he did. His breeze was extraordinary and how he came back from his breeze and how he handled himself. We are here to buy the top-end horses and he was one of the top-end horses, I believe. He did everything right.”

Zedan has made no secret that his goal in racing is to win the Kentucky Derby.

“Absolutely,” he confirmed. “That's the dream. That's our program. We start with the Derby in any given year, and we work backwards.” @JessMartiniTDN

More Magic for Gladwells

Jimbo Gladwell and Donato Lanni | Photos by Z

Torie and Jimbo Gladwell had already had success with a son of Good Magic at this OBS March sale–selling a colt by the champion for $725,000 during Monday's first day of the auction–but that result proved just a warm-up for the Top Line Sales team which watched as the colt the family's pinhooking partnership purchased for $190,000 at last year's Keeneland September sale sold for an eye-popping $2 million to Amr Zedan.

“I could cry, easy,” Jimbo Gladwell admitted after watching the colt sell. “We are just thrilled. It's just an unbelievable result.”

Zedan has made a habit of purchasing seven-figure juveniles out of the Top Line consignment. He gave the Gladwells their first million-dollar sale when buying future Grade I winner Princess Noor (Not This Time) for $1.35 million at the 2020 OBS April sale and he acquired this year's GIII Southwest S. winner Arabian Knight (Uncle Mo) for $2.3 million at OBS last April.

“This game is not easy by any means,” Torie Gladwell said. “Every day you wake up knowing something is not going to go right. We just pray every day that we have good luck. And we have a very good team behind us. We are very blessed.”

The $2-million juvenile, bred by Don Alberto Corporation, is the first foal out of Hoppa (Uncle Mo), a 7-year-old mare who won once in just three starts for the Solari family's operation.

“We took a shot buying that horse at the Keeneland sale,” Torie Gladwell said. “He was a little light on page, but his physical is just an 11+–that horse is just amazing on the shank. Good Magic was kind of so-so at the time that we purchased the horse. So we took a little bit of a risk. Good Magic is hot right now and the horse just bloomed into an amazing athlete. He is an average-sized horse, but he has a huge stride. And he does it so effortlessly. He is just a machine on the track. It will be fun to watch him progress.”

Don Alberto purchased the mare Handoverthecat (Tale of the Cat), with Hoppa in utero, for $170,000 at the 2015 Keeneland November sale. The mare produced a filly by Violence last year and was bred back to Tacitus. @JessMartiniTDN

Arrogate Colt Heads to Japan

Shingo Hashimoto | Photos by Z

A colt by Arrogate (hip 489), who topped last year's Fasig-Tipton New York-bred Yearlings sale when selling for $700,000 just days after his full-brother Cave Rock debuted with a 'TDN Rising Star'-worthy victory, will be heading to Japan after selling for $1.05 million to the bid of Northern Farm's Shingo Hashimoto.

“Obviously, I thought he was the best horse in the sale,” Hashimoto said. “He's from the last crop of Arrogate. We are going to take him back to Japan.”

The dark bay colt is out of graded-stakes winner Georgie's Angel (Bellamy Road). Since the colt was purchased as a yearling last summer, Cave Rock has gone on to win the GI American Pharoah S. and GI Runhappy Del Mar Futurity and was second in the GI Breeders' Cup Juvenile.

Hip 489, who was consigned by Tom McCrocklin on behalf of Michael Sucher's Champion Equine, worked a quarter-mile last week in :21 1/5.

“The time itself wasn't fast,” Hashimoto said. “But he was very well balanced and he looked very attractive. When we saw him at the sales barn, he walked very nicely, which I liked a lot.”

Asked if expected the seven-figure price tag, Hashimoto said, “Yes. We were trying hard to buy yesterday and we couldn't end up with some of the good ones, so we are happy to get this good colt.” @JessMartiniTDN

Arrogate Pays for McCrocklin

Tom McCrocklin | Photos by Z

After watching a colt by Arrogate he had purchased for $700,000 last August at the Fasig-Tipton New York-bred Yearling Sale bring a final bid of $1.05 million Tuesday in Ocala, bloodstock agent Tom McCrocklin said, “This is a success story.”

The colt was one of several high-end yearlings McCrocklin purchased last year on behalf of Michael Sucher's Champion Equine.

“It was a game plan that may not work consistently over time, but it worked today,” McCrocklin said. “I think we sold a very classy, Classic-type horse to some really good people. My goal is that he's a very good racehorse for them. The money comes and goes and pinhooking is a high wire act to begin with, but it feels really good when you bring a good, sound, beautiful horse to the sale and he is well-received and somebody takes him home. My end-goal is to sell those people a really good racehorse. It's not about me, it's about the horse and it's about the horse going forward.”

McCrocklin had more success with Arrogate just a few hips later when selling a filly by the late stallion for $950,000 to Lee Searing's CRK Stables. The filly, who worked a quarter-mile in :20 4/5 last week, was acquired on behalf of Champion Equine for $250,000 at last year's Keeneland September sale.

“Class and quality,” McCrocklin said when asked what he saw in Arrogate's offspring. “They are quality horses. And they show up when you need them to show up. And they sustain their weight and their mental toughness and they are extremely sound. They are very willing, genuine horses.” @JessMartiniTDN

Twirling Candy Colt Lights Up OBS

Hip 433 | Photos by Z

Solidly into Tuesday's session, the first juvenile of the day to realize seven figures lit up the board with a $1-million final bid for a son of Twirling Candy (Hip 433). Securing Hip 345–a filly by Bernardini–earlier in the day for $600,000, Sean Flanagan was back in action later to land the day's third-biggest prize. John Kimmel signed on the day's second-leading filly earlier in the session, while Jeff Mackor was on-hand to handle the signing duties on the son of the Lane's End stallion.

“I have always wanted a Twirling Candy–he's a fantastic sire,” said Flanagan, who was flanked by trainer Saffie Joseph, Jr. and Mackor during the bidding. “I didn't think he would go that high..but we're here having fun. That's the main thing.”

The Feb. 11 foal is out of GSP Divine Dawn (Divine Park), a full-sister to GSW and GISP Divine Miss Grey.

“I have a great team,” added Flanagan. “John Kimmel is a dear friend of mine and he also signed on a couple of them today. And Saffie will train all of them.”

Consigned by Eddie Woods, the colt breezed an eighth in :9.4 last week. Bred by International Equities, the grey was a $200,000 purchase at Keeneland last September.

“This horse is a magnificent horse,” said Woods. “He's been a lovely horse from the first day we worked him. He showed up every day and worked fantastic and he galloped out really well. We had a lot of the top-end people on him.”

He continued, “I didn't think he'd bring seven figures. I thought maybe he'd bring $750,000, if everyone went in on him. Twirling Candy is a very good stallion. But to say you're going to get a million might be a stretch. When you're dealing with Uncle Mo, Arrogate, Curlin, Into Mischief and all those fancy stallions, you can expect to get a million for some of them because it happens. But for this horse, I was just delighted. He's been a smart horse all year, he's found a good spot and I hope he's good to them.”  @CBossTDN

Searing Gets His Arrogate Filly

Hip 526 | Photos by Z

Lee Searing of CRK Stables had his eye on a small group of horses, but he came away with his pick of the group when acquiring a filly by Arrogate (hip 526) for $950,000 Tuesday in Ocala. Consigned by Tom McCrocklin, the gray filly is out of graded-placed Heart of Paradise (More Than Ready). She worked a quarter-mile last week in :20 4/5.

“We came here to look at four or five horses,” Searing, who did his bidding while sitting alongside trainer John Shirreffs, said. “But we loved this horse from the minute she breezed to the time we bought her. She didn't turn a hair. And Arrogate is a top sire. It's such a shame he died.”

Searing was prepared for the filly's final price tag.

“I knew it,” he said with a rueful smile. “That was the horse. We bought one other one, but that was the horse [we wanted].”

CRK Stables has been represented over the years by Grade I winners Express Train, Switch, Beyond Brilliant and Honor A.P.

“It's always fun,” Searing said of Tuesday's bidding. “I've bought some expensive horses before, but when I can get John Shirreffs a really nice horse, it's really nice to be able to do it.” @JessMartiniTDN

Curlin Colt Brings $900K at OBS Tuesday

Hip 505 | Photos by Z

The fireworks continued late into the session with Hip 505, a colt by Curlin, realizing a $900,000 final bid. Terry Finley, situated out back, signed the ticket on behalf of a partnership between Talla Racing, Woodford Racing and West Point Thoroughbreds. Consigned by Al Davis's Old South Farm, the Florida-bred is out of GI Alcibiades S. winner Gomo (Uncle Mo). The colt will be trained by California-based John Sadler.

“He is a beautiful physical and is very well bred,” said Will Farish III, speaking on behalf of Ingordo Bloodstock. “We're really excited we had the chance to buy him.”

When asked about the price, he said, “We thought it would be somewhere in that range, and we were hoping it wasn't going to get out of control.”

He continued, “He was just an amazing mover. He looked great during the breeze and we went to see him a few times at the barn and we just loved the way he was walking.”

Bred by Bridlewood Farm, the bay was a $250,000 Keeneland September yearling purchase by Hoby Kight on behalf of Beryl 'Sonny' Stokes, who just passed away last week at age 89. According to Kight, Stoke's daughter Lauren is expected to take over her father's equine operation.

“I was expecting north of $500,000 by the amount of play at the barn and as well as he worked,” said Kight, who was visibly moved by the passing of his longtime friend. “He's such a beautiful horse with pedigree and everything went his way.”

He added, “I like to buy fast horses with pedigree. Every once in a while one falls in my lap. I try to scatter them out with good guys and I hope I come out with a runner.” @CbossTDN

Nyquist Colt to Ryan

Bloodstock agent Mike Ryan, bidding on behalf of an undisclosed client, purchased a colt by Nyquist (hip 472) for $600,000 during Tuesday's second session of the OBS March sale.

“I am very partial to Nyquist–I pinhooked him as a yearling to 2-year-old a number of years ago,” Ryan said. “He's a sire that we feel has tremendous upside potential. He has a couple Grade I winners in his first crop. And this colt is out of a very good mare–she won $600,000 on the dirt and was Grade I placed and a stakes winner in New York. This is a horse who is going to go two turns. That's what we are looking for, 1 1/8 miles and 1 1/4 miles, we hope he has that potential.”

The colt, consigned by Wavertree Stables, is out of Flora Dora (First Dude), who was third in the 2016 GI Coaching Club American Oaks. He was bred by Coffee Pot Stables and RNA'd for $185,000 at last year's Fasig-Tipton Saratoga sale.

Asked if a trainer had been picked out for the juvenile, Ryan said, “We are not sure. I will let the owner decide that.” @JessMartiniTDN

Flanagan Stays Active Day 2 at OBS

Sean Flanagan | Photos by Z

In addition to Tuesday's third highest-priced colt, Sean Flanagan also secured the session's second-leading filly, a daughter of Bernardini out of SW Cartwheelin Lulu (Bustin Stones). Consigned by Gene Recio, Hip 345 brought $600,000. Flanagan also purchased a filly by Midnight Lute (Hip 223) for $370,000 on Day 1.

“Gene had said to me what a nice filly she is,” explained John Kimmel. “And from a physical standpoint, she really looks the part. In this marketplace, even though it's a big price, it's kind of what you need to spend to acquire these kind of horses. I can't say anything other than at least he got himself a horse that's physically beautiful and very appealing and has the ability to be a nice 2-year-old with enough substance that can race on as a 3-year-old.”

Kimmel, acting as an agent for Flanagan at OBS, signed for both the Bernardini filly in addition to a colt by Laoban (Hip 168, $425,000) during Monday's session.

“To me he was a smacking, good-looking colt,” said Kimmel of Monday's purchase. “He looked like a racehorse and he was super clean, passed the vet and looked great on the racetrack. I was done at $300,000 and Sean carried it the rest of the way.”

He added, “He was also the underbidder on the Uncle Mo of Hartley/DeRenzo and he was the underbidder on Jimmy Gladwell's Good Magic colt [Monday]. But he's got a filly who would be a nice horse to add to his collection as a broodmare.” @CBossTDN

Vino Rosso Colt Reels in $550K on Day 2

Hip 544 | ThoroStride

In the waning moments Tuesday, Hip 544, a colt by Champion older horse Vino Rosso, brought $550,000, leading the Spendthrift stallion's offerings through the second day of selling. Purchased by Alex and JoAnn Lieblong, the colt was consigned by Brandon and Ali Rice's RiceHorse Stable.

“He looked like a 3-year-old among 2-year-olds,” said Alex Lieblong. “I really think Vino Rosso has a good shot at being a really good stallion. I liked the pedigree, but to me, the consignors count even more than that.”

When asked who the colt would go to, he said, “I haven't made up my mind yet who he will go to yet. I have two or three trainers, Norm Casse and Riley Mott, a couple of guys starting out, so I have to figure that one out now.”

He added with tongue firmly planted in cheek, “They're both on the plane home so they'll be arguing all the way home!”

The colt is out of the Smoke Glacken mare Hookah Lady, who is already responsible for multiple graded stakes winner Get Smokin (Get Stormy). This is also the family of female grass champion Dayatthespa (City Zip) and GSW Clev Er Tell (Tell).

The sale also represented a coup for Dr. David Suarez Fuentes, who was represented by his first yearling-to-2-year-old in training pinhook.

Explaining how his relationship began with the Rice family and his foray into the pinhooking game, the veterinary surgeon said, “I started pinhooking two years ago with [Dr. William] 'Bo' Rainbow, who introduced me to Brandon. But I have been around horses my whole life. My dream was always to be able to buy and sell horses.”

A $32,000 RNA at Keeneland November, the bay was secured for $35,000 at Keeneland last September by Establo Rafanil, Suarez Fuentes's family operation in Puerto Rico.

“He had some little things, but nothing major,” he said when asked about the bargain yearling price. “But he was beautiful and sound. After I looked at the horse and pedigree myself, and I looked at the scope since I'm my own vet, I made the decision to buy him.”

He continued, “Last year was the first time I was free to [physically] go to the sale to buy horses myself. I had been doing my residency the past few years which was very intensive. We didn't get many breaks. So, I was finally able to go to the sale and buy horses, and I selected this Vino Rosso colt.”

The Mar. 8 foal worked :9.4–the co-second fastest time for an eighth–during last week's breeze session.

“From the beginning, he looked like he would be a star by the way he looked and trained,” he said. “And the Rices have done an amazing job with him.”

Of the colt's sire, he added, “He was an amazing horse. Irad Ortiz, Jr. rode for us in Puerto Rico, so I followed Vino Rosso [ridden by Ortiz] from the beginning. That's why he was always at the front of my mind when I looked at the sale catalogues. I always looked for something by him.” @CBossTDN

Going Rogue

Most of the stallions are already well established as either sires or on the racetrack (or both) by the time they make it onto the OBS catalogue page. Freshman sire Rogueish (Into Mischief), responsible for Hip 320, was clearly not among those. However, after the sole offering by the sire to sell drew a $220,000 final bid from Michael Sucher's Champion Equine LLC Tuesday, that may have all changed.

A $1,500 OBS Winter yearling purchase, the Apr. 3 foal returned to the ring to bring $50,000 from South Florida-based trainer Saffie Joseph, Jr. at OBS later in October. According to Joseph, he subsequently sold the son of Born to Jazz (Student Council) to a few of his partners, and they decided to run him through the sale to see if they could get a fair price. And if not, they were happy to keep him and put him in training.

Consigned under the Golden Rock Thoroughbreds banner, the Florida-bred worked an eighth in :10 flat during last week's breeze show.

“He's a big colt but he's also very forward,” said Joseph. “He's a big, good-looking horse. You would never think he should be doing what he's doing.”

The 2-year-old's sire, Rogueish, was trained by Steve Asmussen and campaigned by Ed and Krista Seltzer and Beverly Anderson. The son of GSW Verdana (Rahy), he sparkled in what would be his sole career start, a 6 3/4-length victory going six furlongs at Fair Grounds in the fall of 2018.

Retired after that due to injury, the Kentucky-bred took up stud duties at the owner's Solera Farm in Williston, Florida. The 7-year-old stands the current season for $2,500.

“I was introduced to him by Ed Seltzer, who I train for. When I saw the stallion at the farm, I looked at his record and saw that he had been trained by Steve Asmussen and he won his first start impressively. He was also by into Mischief, so I was very impressed by him,” said Joseph of the juvenile. “So when I went to the sale, I thought I could buy value by the stallion. He was obviously talented and had his career cut short by injury. I was intrigued by the horse.”

With 32 foals to his credit and 14 of racing age, the stallion was represented by six yearlings to sell in 2022 at an average of $18,783, while a total of eight weanlings averaged $22,437. Hip 320 was the stallion's highest priced sale last season. @CBossTDN

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The post Pope Strikes Again for Wicked Whisper appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions.

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“Wicked Whisper has every ingredient to be a foundation mare for somebody,” said Conrad Bandoroff, whose Denali Stud will consign the 5-year-old. “There are no limits to what her offspring could achieve. She has so many traits that we feel not only American buyers, but also an international audience, will appreciate.”

A $500,000 yearling purchase for Alex and JoAnn Lieblong, Wicked Whisper was the priciest yearling to sell from the first crop of Liam's Map. Bandoroff said her physical is just as stunning today.

“Wicked Whisper is drop dead gorgeous,” he said. “She's big, she's pretty and she has an unbelievable shoulder and a great hind leg. Alex buys tremendous physicals and this has been a special filly for them.”

The Steve Asmussen trainee followed her Rising Star-worthy debut with a win in the GI Frizette S., where she established control early and made easy work of the one-mile contest to win by almost three lengths over future MGSW Frank's Rockette (Into Mischief).

“It was a commanding performance,” Bandoroff said. “I think that 2-year-old form and that level of precocity is rare and it's a great quality when you're looking at a broodmare prospect. So many good mares showed ability and precocity at two. She looked like a winner throughout that race and she carried that confidence into a lot of her races.”

Wicked Whisper continued to excel at three, taking the GIII Miss Preakness S. and running second in the GIII Charles Town Oaks.

Meanwhile her half-sister Point of Honor (Curlin) was building up her own resume, winning the 2019 GII Black-Eyed Susan S. at three and placing in a trio of Grade I starts in 2020.

Their dam Zayanna, a daughter of successful broodmare sire Bernardini, is a half-sister to three graded stakes winners. Zayanna has produced four stakes performers in total including Velvet Mood (Lonhro {Aus}), who was a stakes winner at two, sold for $1 million in 2020 and now has two foals on her own produce record.

Fasig-Tipton's Boyd Browning said he believes that Wicked Whisper's young family has all the potential to become even more active.

“The depth of her pedigree is sensational,” Browning said. “She has some high-quality sisters that are producing and will be producing for many, many years. So you have this pedigree that is really strong and really deep, but it has the opportunity to explode and expand exponentially over the next decade as well.”

Bandoroff explained that after Wicked Whisper retired from racing last year, the Denali team put their heads together with the Lieblongs to decide on her first mating. It was an easy consensuses when they landed on Curlin.  The mating replicates the cross that produced Wicked Whisper's Curlin sister Point of Honor.

“We thought it was a perfect mating to get a Grade I-winning mare like Wicked Whisper started,” he said. “Curlin is having arguably his best year ever with the likes of Clairiere, Nest and Malathaat. The cross that we've replicated with Wicked Whisper and Curlin is a similar cross to GISW Clairiere (Curlin), who is out of the Bernardini mare Cavorting. Not only has this cross worked directly in the family with Point of Honor, but it's a cross that has proven to be gold time and time again.”

Wicked Whisper will sells as Hip 253 at the Fasig-Tipton Night of the Stars Sale. Bandoroff said he expects the young mare to be popular as buyers are scouting out broodmare prospects.

“I think Wicked Whisper has a very wide and varying appeal,” he noted. “If you're shopping for top-quality, high-end mares, she has to be on your list.”

“To me it's the complete package,” added Browning. “She's a young, Grade I winner in foal to the leading sire of Grade I stakes winners this year in Curlin, plus she's a beautiful physical and has an unbelievable pedigree. I think she gives you the opportunity, based on her 2-year-old ability, to dream early. But also based on her pedigree and the way she is bred, she gives you the opportunity to dream big in terms of being able to compete successfully at Classic-type distances. She has all the attributes to be a game changer from a broodmare perspective.”

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Alex Lieblong said the filly, based in Kentucky with Hall of Fame trainer Steve Asmussen, is being pointed to the 1 1/8-mile Black-Eyed Susan for sophomore fillies that headlines a program of six stakes, four graded, worth $1 million in purses on the eve of the 146^th Preakness Stakes (G1).

“[Asmussen] says all systems go on her,” Lieblong said. “I usually get a vibe from him one way or the other and I think he's felt real good how she's trained. She worked the other morning and had a nice work. It was unlike an Asmussen work, although there were only 17 or 18 horses that worked, but she had a nice work there. So, knock on wood, it looks like she's headed that way.”

Willful Woman breezed five furlongs in 59.80 seconds May 2 at Churchill Downs, fastest of 17 horses. It was her first timed work since rebounding from running last of seven in the March 6 Honeybee (G3) by winning an optional claiming allowance April 9, both going 1 1/16 miles at Oaklawn Park.

Purchased for $400,000 as a yearling in August 2019 at Saratoga, Willful Woman's sire was the champion male at 2 and won the 2016 Florida Derby (G1) and Kentucky Derby (G1) and was third in the Preakness at 3. Ever So Clever, also out of the Grade 3-placed mare Foxy Danseur, won the 2017 Fantasy (G3) for Asmussen.

“We think she's a really nice filly. She's just kind of kept growing into herself,” Lieblong said. “She was kind of a big, tall, scopey thing, so to speak, but now she's filling that scope out some so we're tickled pink with the way she's doing.”

Previously in the Black-Eyed Susan, the Lieblongs owned Marathon Lady, a 12-1 long shot who came up a neck short of Bob Baffert-trained winner Fiftyshadesofhay in 2013. They won the 2020 Miss Preakness (G3) with Wicked Whisper. Asmussen in seeking his first Black-Eyed Susan win.

The Lieblongs will be back to defend their title in the $150,000 Miss Preakness for 3-year-old fillies sprinting six furlongs with the Asmussen-trained Abrogate, most recently fifth in the seven-furlong Eight Belles (G2) April 30 on the Kentucky Oaks (G1) undercard. The 3-year-old Outwork filly has won three of five career starts including the six-furlong Purple Martin Stakes April 3 at Oaklawn.

“If the horse whisperer, Asmussen, says she's ready, then we'll give her a shot,” Lieblong said. “She was right there with the leaders last time, and they went quick. She might be just a six-furlong horse.”

Though Lieblong said they will likely miss Preakness weekend to attend the high school graduation of their granddaughter, they have enjoyed great hospitality in previous trips to Pimlico and always look forward to the racing.

“We always enjoy coming up there if we can, if we've got something that looks like it might fit. Everybody's so friendly up there,” Lieblong, an Arkansas native, resident and businessman who also serves as chairman of the Arkansas Racing Commission, said. “I'm looking forward to a year, like everybody is, without all the added drama and hard times.”

G2 Winner Fearless Bound for Pimlico Special (G3) After Saturday Work
WinStar Farm and CHC Inc.'s Grade 2 winner Fearless is headed to the historic $250,000 Pimlico Special (G3) on Friday following his half-mile breeze Saturday in New York.

In company with the 146^th Preakness Stakes (G1) contender Unbridled Honor for Hall of Fame-elect trainer Todd Pletcher, Fearless worked four furlongs over a Belmont Park training track rated fast. Both horses were timed in 49.75 seconds.

Pletcher, still seeking his first career Preakness triumph, won the Pimlico Special in back-to-back years with Revolutionary in 2014 and Commissioner in 2015.

“I thought he worked very well this morning,” Pletcher said, “so he is on target for the Pimlico Special.”

Fearless returned from eight months between races to capture the Gulfstream Park Mile (G2) Feb. 27 in his 5-year-old debut. The gelded son of Hall of Famer Ghostzapper closed to be second, beaten a half-length, in the 1 1/8-mile Oaklawn Handicap (G2) April 17 at Oaklawn Park.

Irad Ortiz Jr., the three-time defending Eclipse Award winner, was aboard for both starts and retains the mount in the Pimlico Special.

Other horses pointing to the Pimlico Special for 3-year-olds and up, contested at the Preakness distance of 1 3/16 miles, include defending champion Harpers First Ride; Cordmaker, third each of the past two years; Alwaysmining, Last Judgment, Max Player, Modernist, Prioritize and Treasure Trove.

Proxy Breezes Saturday at Fair Hill, $100,000 Sir Barton Remains in Play
Godolphin homebred Proxy, most recently fourth in the Lexington (G3) April 10 at Keeneland, breezed Saturday at the Fair Hill Training Center in Elkton, Md. for his next start, which could come next weekend at Pimlico Race Course.

Proxy worked four furlongs in 49.20 seconds over the main dirt course at Fair Hill, third-fastest of 24 horses. The bay son of Tapit out of the Include mare Panty Raid – all Grade 1 winners – is nominated to the $100,000 Sir Barton for 3-year-olds going 1 1/16 miles on the undercard of the 146^th Preakness Stakes (G1) May 15.

In his most recent race, Proxy ran fourth in the Lexington (G3) April 10 at Keeneland, his fourth race this year. Proxy made his first three starts at Fair Grounds, finishing second in the LeComte (G3) and Risen Star (G2) before a fourth-place finish behind Hot Rod Charlie in the Louisiana Derby (G2).

Proxy won back-to-back starts at Fair Grounds in November and December after being beaten a neck on debut last October in an off-the-turf maiden event at Monmouth Park.

“He came out of the Lexington in great shape. He ran hard all winter. He ran five times down at the Fair Grounds and then we ran him right back kind of close in the Lexington. We're just giving him a little chance to catch up with himself and freshen him just slightly and look for a summer program for him,” trainer Michael Stidham said.

“We've got him nominated to multiple spots and we haven't really decided on which one,” he added. “Iowa Derby, Ohio Derby, all those different races, and we're not sure which one we're going to go for.”

The fastest half-mile breeze Saturday at Fair Hill was turned in by Proxy's stablemate Micheline, who completed the distance in 48.40 seconds. Godolphin's 4-year-old daughter of champion Bernardini win the 1 1/8-mile Hillsborough (G2) March 6 at Tampa Bay Downs and exits a sixth in the 1 1/16-mile Jenny Wiley (G1) April 10 at Keeneland.

Micheline is nominated to the $150,000 Gallorette (G3) for fillies and mares 3 and up at 1 1/16 miles on turf, also part of the Preakness undercard.

“Both horses worked very well at Fair Hill. They're training well and doing well,” Stidham said. “We're looking at some different spots with them but nothing is set in stone yet.”

Stidham said Godolphin's Pixelate, caught in deep stretch and beaten a nose by Corelli in the 1 1/16-mile Henry S. Clark April 24 at Pimlico, was unlikely to come back in the $250,000 Dinner Party (G2) May 15.

“We're nominated to the Dinner Party but we're most likely not going to run just because it's a little close back,” he said.

Entries for the May 14 Black-Eyed Susan Day program will be taken Sunday, while entries for the May 15 Preakness Day program are due Monday.

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Understandable.

Lieblong, among other things in 2020, broke his foot, contracted coronavirus and as chairman of the Arkansas Racing Commission was in the middle of a bitter legal fight to award a casino permit in Pope County.

“I just said, 'I'm going to hide down there,' ” Lieblong said.

Lieblong is back and so are the horses he and wife JoAnn own and now campaign at their home track, Oaklawn, with Hall of Fame trainer Steve Asmussen.

The Lieblongs recorded their first career Oaklawn triple Jan. 24, when Asmussen saddled favorites Earner ($3.80), Willful Woman ($4.20) and unbeaten Abrogate ($3.60) to win races 2, 3 and 8, respectively.

“I felt good and they were training well,” said Alex Lieblong, 70, who watched the races from home. “It was a good day to do it.”

The Lieblongs were Oaklawn's third-leading owners last year with 11 victories and the triple pushed their career total in Hot Springs to 117. They entered the game in the early 1990s and won their first race at Oaklawn in 1999, although JoAnn Lieblong, in partnership, recorded several victories earlier in the decade with noted Little Rock, Ark., owner Patricia Blass.

Now established owners and breeders, the Lieblongs normally keep roughly 20 horses in training – the bulk are now at Oaklawn with Asmussen – and have approximately 14 broodmares at Ocala Stud in Florida, where they stand their Grade 1 winner, The Big Beast.

The trio of Jan. 24 winners were all purchased at auction – Earner for $425,000 at the 2018 Keeneland September Yearling Sale, Willful Woman for $400,000 at the 2019 Fasig-Tipton New York Saratoga Select Yearling Sale and Abrogate for $270,000 at the 2019 Keeneland September Yearling Sale.

Abrogate, who cleared her first allowance condition in the sprint for 3-year-old fillies, is from the first crop of Grade 1 winner Outwork. She is 2 for 2 in her career (both sprints).

“I watched the gallop-out two or three times and it didn't seem like she was just collapsing after the line, I'll put it that way,” Lieblong said, referring to a potential future route attempt. “She's got a good mind and she's not a run off. She was so gorgeous at the sale. To pay that for an Outwork – that was at the outer limits for an Outwork filly, although I think Outwork is going to prove himself to be a pretty nice sire.”

Willful Woman, another 3-year-old filly, is from the first crop of champion Nyquist. She is a half-sister to the Asmussen-trained Ever So Clever, winner of the $400,000 Fantasy Stakes (G3) for 3-year-old fillies in 2017 at Oaklawn.

Willful Woman was making her third career start after running third twice last fall in Kentucky. She broke her maiden at a mile.

“We knew (Abrogate) was a good filly,” Lieblong said. “The other one needed to show a little something and she did. She's had a growth spurt. I can tell that. She's gotten big, that Willful Woman. I was worried that the mile might be a tick too short for her, but she looked pretty impressive herself.”

The Lieblongs have two other horses at Oaklawn with trainer Steve Hobby of Hot Springs and another with trainer Ron Moquett of Hot Springs. The Lieblongs also have had a long business relationship with trainer David Fawkes, who is based in south Florida. Skip Intro, a 3-year-old half-brother to 2020 male sprint champion Whitmore, is with Moquett. The trainer also conditions Whitmore, a seven-time Oaklawn stakes winner.

The Jan. 24 triple vaulted the Lieblongs into the top spot in the Oaklawn owner's standings after the first three days of the scheduled 57-day meeting. They have at least one victory at every Oaklawn meet since 2001, including a career-best 12 in 2019. The Lieblongs were Oaklawn's third-leading owners in 2019.

“I always remember David Fawkes telling me one time that everything can be going so good and then all of sudden somebody just kind of rolls a hand grenade down the center of your barn,” Lieblong said on the eve of 2021 Oaklawn meeting. “I thought, 'That's about like it is.' About the time you think you have things lined up, here comes the hand grenade. We're just tickled to be able to race. You've got to hand it to Oaklawn to get it done. They've jumped through a lot of hoops to get it done.”

Oaklawn raced, uninterrupted, through the COVID-19 crisis last year, though without spectators for the final 29 dates of the 57-day meeting. Oaklawn's 2021 meeting began Jan. 22 with limited spectators, owing to Arkansas Department of Health guidelines.

In addition to The Big Beast, the Lieblongs have campaigned Grade 1 winners Wicked Whisper, Embellish the Lace and Telling, Grade 2 winners I Spent It and High Dollar Woman and multiple Oaklawn stakes winner Spring Included. They still race Bye Bye J, another multiple local stakes winner who is scheduled to make her 2021 debut Feb. 4 at Oaklawn. Bye Bye J is among the top Arkansas-bred female money winners in history. The Lieblongs also raced millionaire Duke of Mischief, winner of the $500,000 Oaklawn Handicap (G2) in 2010, in partnership with Fawkes and the horse's breeder, Marilyn McMaster.

Alex Lieblong heads Lieblong & Associates, Inc., a financial advisory firm in Little Rock, Ark.

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The 4-year-old daughter of Liam's Map finished her career with three wins in eight career starts for earnings of $471,550. After winning on debut at Saratoga as a 2-year-old, she took the Grade 1 Frizette Stakes, then finished fifth in the 2019 Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies at Santa Anita Park.

In 2020, Wicked Whisper won the G3 Miss Preakness Stakes, and she finished second in the G3 Charles Town Oaks.

Wicked Whisper was trained by Steve Asmussen for owners Alex and JoAnn Lieblong. She was bred in Kentucky by Siena Farms.

Uncle Mo, a 13-year-old son of Indian Charlie, stands at Ashford Stud in Versailles, Ky., for an advertised fee of $175,000.

His first crop of runners set the all-time earnings record for a freshman sire, and his runners are led by champion and Kentucky Derby winner Nyquist, and Grade 1 winners including Bast, Outwork, Dream Tree, Mo Town, and Gomo.

Read more at BloodHorse.

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The post Outwork Filly Stays Unbeaten at Oaklawn appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions.

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The post Outwork Filly Runs to the Money in Sharp Debut Score at Churchill appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions.

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Ain't No Elmers finished second, beaten one length after setting all the fractions, with Sound Machine third, another three-quarters of a length back, and 1-2 favorite Mundaye Call fourth in the field of seven 3-year-old fillies.

Wicked Whisper ran the six furlongs on a fast track in 1:10.36 and paid $12.60 for the win, her third in six career starts.

Trained by Steve Asmussen, Wicked Whisper is from the first crop by Liam's Map out of the Bernardini mare Zayanna. She was bred in Kentucky by Siena Farms and sold for $500,000 at the Keeneland September Yearling Sale.

Fly On Angel and Angel Cruz broke on top, but Gabriel Saez sent Ain't No Elmers through on the inside to take command in the run down the backstretch, the opening quarter mile in :23.08. Wicked Whisper sat just behind the top pair on the inside after a half mile in :45.78, awaiting racing room as the field turned into the stretch.

A patient Bravo swung Wicked Whisper off the rail when seeing an opening after five furlongs in :57.97, and the Liam's Map filly took command from Ain't No Elmers in the final sixteenth of a mile to win going away.

“You just can't draw them up to be any better than that,” said Bravo. “She broke good. The only thing I was really told was 'make sure you pay attention to her leaving the gate. She's been having trouble getting away from there.' When she broke so cleanly it was like the pressure got off me. She was able to breathe around the turn. I know the '5' horse (Mundaye Call) is a very good filly, but all horses relaxed and it just gave me all the confidence.”

Mundaye Call raced in the clear to the outside of Wicked Whisper for the opening three furlongs, made a three-wide bid on the turn and lacked any stretch punch.

Wicked Whisper captured the 2019 Frizette  after a stylish debut at Saratoga, winning a maiden special weight race by 6 1/4 lengths. She ran fifth at 7-2 in the G1 Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies to wrap up her 2019 campaign, then finished a well-beaten fourth going seven furlongs in the G3 Beaumont Stakes on July 10 in her 2020 debut at Keeneland. Wicked Whisper ran a good second to Fly On Angel in most recent start, the G3 Charles Town Oaks on Aug. 28, then returned to the Asmussen stable in Saratoga Springs, N.Y., to train up to the Miss Preakness.

“She's been definitely interrupted by this year's racing calendar,” said Asmussen. “She was getting ready late for things and then with the cancellations, we got off track. It's beautiful to see her show the quality that she's always had. Joe gave her a great trip today. There are big things in her future.”

Trainer Bret Calhoun said the inside post position did not work in Ain't No Elmers' favor.

“It probably wasn't the best post to have, but she ran great and did everything to win,” Calhoun said. “She got pressed the whole way and that's the difference between an inside and outside post and being a presser instead of a pressee.”

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