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Strategic Bird Takes Sandpiper Stakes At Tampa Bay Downs

After Strategic Bird won her career debut on Nov. 13 at Gulfstream Park in Hallandale Beach, Fla., by 12 ¾ lengths, it was fair to ask how she might handle a challenge in today's $100,000-guaranteed Sandpiper Stakes at Tampa Bay Downs in Tampa, Fla.

The Florida-bred juvenile filly answered the question in resounding fashion, turning back Devine Charger by a neck after a stretch-long duel to win the fourth-fastest Sandpiper in its 44 runnings.

“That was something incredible,” said winning jockey Antonio Gallardo after the daughter of Noble Bird-Strategize, by Afleet Alex, held firm to the wire, completing the six-furlong distance in 1:10.05. “At one point I was like, 'Oh, —-.' I was getting a little worried because she felt the pressure from that gray horse, but she's a feisty filly.”

The Sandpiper and the Inaugural were part of the Oldsmar oval's annual Cotillion Festival Day card, consisting entirely of races for 2-year-olds turning 3 on Jan. 1.

Owned by Gary Barber and trained by Hall of Famer Mark Casse, Strategic Bird paid $4.00 to win after many of her backers nearly lost control rooting for her to hang on. “I had a couple of people with me who said 'This race is over,' ” said Casse assistant Jimmy Miranda of Devine Charger's challenge, “but I said 'No, not yet.'

“She laid down some good fractions (:21.93 for the quarter-mile and :44.91 for the half) and won, so we're really happy with the result. When you get one who wins first time out like she did, you just want to see if they'll take the next step, and she handled everything well today. She's a good-minded filly.”

Chasing Happiness finished third in the 10-horse field, seven lengths behind Devine Charger.

Although Strategic Bird broke a step slow from the No. 1 post, Gallardo was unconcerned, and for good reason. She moved quickly to the lead on her own, giving the rider a chance to give her a breather on the far turn, which doubtless contributed to the victory.

“I tried not to rush her too much because I knew she has a lot of natural speed,” Gallardo said. “She broke a little slow and still set those fractions like it was nothing. Having the No. 1 post was perfect, and after I gave her a chance to relax, she dug in and never quit.”

Bred by the John Oxley Living Trust, Strategic Bird collected $30,000 from the total purse since she was not Florida Sire Stakes-eligible, a requirement to compete for the $50,000 winner's-only bonus.

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Girvin Leads 2022 Roster At Ocala Stud

Ocala Stud has set 2022 stud fees for its roster of 12 stallions for the upcoming breeding season, led by Girvin whose fee remains unchanged at $6,000 S&N. Also remaining unchanged from their 2021 fees are Seeking the Soul and Win Win Win who will both stand for $5,000 S&N.

Girvin, a leading 3-year-old of his crop, won the 2017 Haskell Invitational S. (G1) and registered back-to-back Graded stakes wins in annexing the Risen Star S. (G2) and the Louisiana Derby (G2). An earner of $1,624,392 on the racetrack and a winner from six to nine furlongs, Girvin is represented by well-received first yearlings this year, which included a $200,000 colt who was the co-highest-priced yearling for a freshman sire at the Fasig-Tipton July Sale.

Seeking the Soul, a Charles Fipke homebred, had an illustrious racing career, winning the 2017 Clark H. (G1), the 2018 Ack Ack S. (G3), and the 2019 Stephen Foster S. (G2). All told, he won or placed in eight Graded stakes, including runner-up finishes in the $1 million Breeders' Cup Dirt Mile (G1) and the $9 million Pegasus World Cup Invitational S. (G1), earning more than $3.4 million. His first foals arrive in 2022.

Win Win Win captured the Forego S. (G1) at Saratoga in 2020, defeating four Grade 1 winners. He set a new track record at three, winning the seven-furlong Pasco S. at Tampa Bay Downs in an eye-catching 1:20.89, running a 2 on the Ragozin Sheets. He hails from a deep Live Oak family and is a descendant of the influential Halo sire line. Standing as a partnership between Live Oak Stud, Airdrie Stud, and Ocala Stud, Win Win Win will see his first foals arrive in 2022.

Stud fees for Adios Charlie, Awesome Slew, Jess's Dream, Noble Bird, and The Big Beast remain unchanged at $4,000 S&N for 2022. Greenpointcrusader will stand for $3,500 S&N once again; Ami's Flatter and Dak Attack will both stand for $2,500 S&N; and Battalion Runner rounds out the roster, standing for $1,500 S&N. For more information, contact David or Joe O'Farrell at (352) 237-2171 or visit OcalaStud.com.

Ocala Stud's 2022 roster and fees are as follows:

Stallion	Stands and nurses fee
Adios Charlie	$4,000
Ami's Flatter	$2,500
Awesome Slew	$4,000
Battalion Runner	$1,500
Dak Attack	$2,500
Girvin	$6,000
Greenpointcrusader	$3,500
Jess's Dream	$4,000
Noble Bird	$4,000
Seeking the Soul	$5,000
The Big Beast	$4,000
Win Win Win	$5,000

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Noble Bird Off The Mark at Gulfstream

Ocala Stud's first-year sire Noble Bird (Birdstone) was represented by his initial winner when Noble Dreamer validated 4-5 favoritism in Friday's third race at Gulfstream Park.

A beaten chalk when runner-up facing open company on career debut May 28, the bay was dropping into Florida-bred competition Friday and was sent straight into the lead by Edgard Zayas. Galloping along easily as they neared the stretch, Noble Dreamer was shaken up leaving the three-sixteenths and was kept busy late, graduating by 7 1/4 lengths.

Noble Bird carried the colors of John Oxley to seven victories and earnings of better than $1.3 million, highlighted by a win in the GI Stephen Foster H. at Churchill Downs.

3rd-Gulfstream, $60,000, (S), Msw, 6-18, 2yo, f, 5f, :58.98, ft, 7 1/4 lengths.
NOBLE DREAMER (f, 2, Noble Bird–Dreaminofauntdiane, by Bluegrass Cat) Sales history: $30,000 Ylg '20 OBSWIN; $8,500 Ylg '20 OBSOCT. Lifetime Record: 2-1-1-0, $52,900. Click for the Equibase.com chart or VIDEO, sponsored by TVG.
O-Shooting Star Thoroughbreds LLC; B-Jesus Rodriguez (FL); T-Saffie A Joseph Jr.

The post Noble Bird Off The Mark at Gulfstream appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions.

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Gun Runner Colt Tops OBS Spring Sale’s Opening Session

Hip No. 118, a son of Gun Runner consigned by Eisaman Equine, Agent, went to Donato Lanni, Agent for Michael Lund Petersen, for $850,000 to top the first session of the Ocala Breeders' Sales Company's 2021 Spring Sale of 2-Year-Olds in Training.

The gray or roan colt, whose eighth in :10 flat was co-fastest at the distance at Monday's under tack session, is out of graded stakes placed stakes winner Salamera, by Successful Appeal, a half sister to champion Vivaldi Girl.

Hip No. 185, a son of Distorted Humor who breezed an eighth in :10 1/5 on Monday, was sold to Spendthrift Farm LLC / Myracehorse.com for $550,000. The bay colt, consigned by Mayberry Farm, Agent, is out of grade one stakes placed Silverpocketsfull, by Indian Charlie, a daughter of graded stakes placed stakes winner Unforgotten.

Maverick Racing / CMNWLTH paid $550,000 for Hip No. 297, a son of Midnight Storm consigned by Woodford Thoroughbreds, Agent. The dark bay or brown colt, who breezed a quarter on Tuesday in :20 4/5, is out of Tasunke, by Indian Charlie, from the family of Grade 1 winner Tap to Music.

Hip No. 44, a daughter of Munnings consigned by Eddie Woods, Agent, was sold to Fawzi Nass for $425,000. The bay filly, who turned in an under tack quarter in :21 flat on Monday, is a half sister to twice-champion and Preakness Stakes winner Lookin At Lucky out of Private Feeling, by Belong to Me.

Hip No. 104, a son of Noble Bird consigned by Ocala Stud, Agent, was sold for $400,000 to West Bloodstock, Agent for Robert E. and Lawana Low. The chestnut colt, who breezed a quarter on Monday in :20 4/5, is out of stakes winner Rosebud's Ridge, by Tiger Ridge, a half sister to the dam of graded stakes winning millionaire OBS graduate C Z's Rocket, winner of the recent Grade 3 Count Fleet Sprint Handicap at Oaklawn Park.

Hip No. 262, a son of Twirling Candy consigned by Grassroots Training & Sales LLC, was sold to Nicoma Bloodstock / Ben Gowans, Agent for $375,000. The dark bay or brown colt, whose eighth in :9 4/5 was co-fastest at the distance on Tuesday, is out of Sumlin, by Eskendereya, a daughter of graded stakes placed Visavis.

Solis / Litt went to $360,000 for Hip No. 132, a daughter of Valiant Minister consigned by Coastal Equine LLC (Jesse Hoppel), Agent. The dark bay or brown filly, who worked a quarter in :20 4/5 at Monday's Under Tack session, is out of stakes winner Savingtime, by Kantharos, from the family of champion Blushing Katy,

Hip No. 202, a son of Cairo Prince consigned by Randy Miles, Agent, was purchased by John Ballantyne / N B S Stable for $335,000. The gray or roan colt, who breezed an eighth in :10 1/5, is out of Smart 'n Special, by Smart Strike, a full sister to Grade 1 winner Shadow Cast.

For the day, 181 horses brought a total of $17,829,500 compared with 154 selling for a total of $13,209,500 at last year's opening session. The average price was $98,506, up 14.9 percent compared to $85,776 in 2020 while the median price was $50,000, compared with $46,000 a year ago. The buyback percentage was 19.5 percent; it was 19.8 percent last year.

The Spring Sale continues Wednesday at 10:30 a.m. Hip No.'s 305 – 608 will be offered for sale.

To view Tuesday's full results, click here.

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