Mr. Buff Wins the Empire Classic Stakes Again!

Mr. Buff wins the Empire Classic Stakes again for trainer John Kimmel during Empire Showcase day at historic Belmont Park. This magnificent 6 year-old chestnut gelding battled for the lead with the speedy Sea Foam for the early part of the race.

The classy Mr. Buff proved to be much for these talented New York Breds as he enjoyed the class relief from open company races against Tacitus in the Suburban and Improbable in the Whitney.

Owned and bred by Mary and Chester Broman, this 17.1 hands, well composed, striking gelding recorded his 15th overall win and second Empire Classic victory  in back to back years.

Video replay of the Empire Classic from Belmont Park on Empire Showcase day featuring eight thrilling New York Bred stakes races, including two maiden special weight races for future 2 year-old stars.

Mr. Buff by Fleetphoto/Dreamstime

Shop Fleetphoto.net for Holiday Gifts

Oscarette Debuts at Santa Anita

Oscarette makes her long awaited debut at Santa Anita this Monday on Columbus Day, 10-12-20. This bay 2 year-old illy by Firing Line out of the unraced Argentinean mare Ever Nice id a granddaughter of the great “Equalize

Equalize won nearly 1.5 million dollars in his career while capturing nine graded stakes including such notable races as the Canadian Turf International in back to back years, The Red Smith, The Fort Marcy, The United Nations stakes among others.

A direct descendant from all-time champion and maybe the most athletic racehorse that ever looked through a bridle “Dr.Fager” who still holds the world record for the fastest mile ever dirt at 1:32.1

Oscarette :20.3 at OBS Spring 20

Oscarette is a Spring OBS graduate who sold for 210K after clocking a quarter in :20.3, which was the third fastest time trial of the auction in Ocala.

Princess Noor had the fastest time at OBS with a blistering :20.1, sold as the sales topper for a whopping $1.35 million dollars. Both fillies were selected by me as shown my Short List Auction 20 located on my Future Champions tab.

So far, 8 of my top 10 runners have already raced producing two winners, including grade 1 winner Princess Noor, the early Breeder’s Cup juvenile filly, who remains undefeated in 3 career starts.

Gary Stephens, rider of Firing Line, is a part owner of this filly who sold for 210K.

Oscarette is trained by J. Bonde and will be ridden by journeyman rider Aaron Gryder in this 5 1/2 sprint on the turf at Santa Anita. Scheduled for race 4, Oscarette drew a favorable outside post #6 in a full field of nine 2 year-old fillies.

Post time is set for 2:30pm Pacific time.

Oscarette Debuts at Santa Anita

Fleetphoto Logo

Custom Photos by Fleetphoto


Happymac is Runhappy for the 100K Bonus

Happymac is happy to run for the 100k bonus and the 70K purse in the 5th race at Keeneland this Saturday, 10-3-20. Trainer Steve Asmussen has this quick running 2 year-old colt by Runhappy primed and ready for this 6 furlong sprint. Ridden by Steve’s regular jockey Ricardo Santana jr.

Happymac drew the rail in full field of 12 juveniles. This youngster drew attention as he was pinhooked during last year’s Keeneland yearling sale for $360,000 and was RNA’d this year for $800,000 at the OBS June sales.

Making only his second start of his career, Happymac faced a stellar field in his debut at Saratoga when he faced a Chad Brown beast in Founder, while finishing fourth in a race run in 1:10 flat. Happymac earned a Equibase speed figure of 72 as he also faced Highly Motivated and Newbomb in that debut.

Highly Motivated, by Into Mischief and trained by Chad Brown won in his next start at Belmont Park as the odds on favorite with jockey Javier Castellano going 6 1/2 furlongs on the dirt.

Post time for the 5th race is set for 3:13 pm.

Please follow the rest of my Future Champions as I posted all my Short List selections from the OBS and Fasig Tipton sales 2020.

Click here to preview:
Happymac is Runhappy for the 100K Bonus
Happymac is Runhappy for the 100K Bonus

Happymac is Runhappy for the 100K Bonus

Shop for Holiday Gifts at Fleetphoto






Happymac Graduate Hip#1266

Secret Love Opens Up to Win by 5

Secret Love draws away from a field of nine 2 year-old fillies to win her debut by 5 commanding lengths. Ridden confidently by Hall of Fame rider John Velazquez, the All-Time money leader, Secret Love took command of this race midway into the stretch to give her sire “Not This Time” his 11th win to lead all Freshman sires in 2020.

Secret Love, a beautifully built chestnut filly, was purchased from the OBS July 20′ sales in Ocala for 270K after demonstrating her prowess by stopping the clock in :9 4/5 seconds during the under tack showcase.

This speedy daughter of Not This Time out Exotic Design was my second overall selection from the Summer sales in July at OBS, which I previously blogged about and highlighted during my auction recap.

In other racing news, Princess Noor makes her third career start in the $200K Grade 2 Chandelier Stakes at Santa Anita this Saturday, September 26, 2020 in race 3.

Hall of Fame Jockey John Velazquez by George Zilberman