Grade 3 Test Has Several Ocala Connections

BY BROCK SHERIDAN

John C. Oxley’s Strategic Risk, an eight-and-quarter-length winner of his only race, will look to substantiate that impressive debut Saturday at Saratoga Race Course in the $175,000 Sanford (Grade 3) for a half-dozen 2-year-olds going six furlongs. The Mark Casse-trained son of Noble Bird is the third choice on the morning line at 9-2 with stablemate Blinging It Back the program favorite with 6-5 odds.

Ridden by Edgard Zayas in his first race against Florida-bred special weight maidens at Gulfstream Park on June 7, Strategic Risk quickly established a two-length advantage from the start and was never seriously challenged. He drew off in the stretch to win in convincingly in :58.29 for the five furlongs.

 

Strategic Risk is out of Strategize, by Afleet Alex and is a full brother to 2021 Sandpiper Stakes-winner Strategic Bird. Bred in Florida by John Oxley Living Trust, Strategic Risk earned $35,800 in his lone start.

Casse, a lifelong Ocala, Fla., resident where he has his Casse Training Center, has given the riding assignment to Irad Ortiz Jr. and they will break from post five.

Strategic Risk will try to match fellow Florida-bred Mythical, who defeated runner-up Blinging It Back in the $145,000 Tremont at Saratoga on June 5.

Owned by Gary Barber and Peter Deutsch, Blinging It Back was third in one other start, a maiden special weight won by Mercilesanihilator at Churchill Downs on May 1.

Blinging It Back is by Volatile, by Ima Three Blinger, by Too Much Bling and has earned $42,000 in his two starts.

Jose Ortiz was aboard for both of his previous races and gets the return mount Saturday. They will depart from post four.

Steve Asmussen trains 7-5 morning line second choice Obliteration for Leland Ackerley Racing. A $200,000 purchase by Ackerley out of the Ocala Breeders’ Sales March Sale where he was consigned by Ocala Stud, Obliteration broke his maiden by seven-and-a-half lengths in his first race on June 12 at Churchill Downs.
(Obliteration’s Under Tack Video)

He is by Violence out of the stakes-placed mare I’mclassyandsassy, by Master Command and was bred in Kentucky by Ocala Stud. The bay colt enters with $69,300 in earnings.

Flavien Prat will ride Obliteration from post two.

Others set for the Sanford are Imagine John with Javier Castellano named to ride, Honey Dutch and jockey Manny Franco and Dylan Davis has the call on Fistfulofmoney.

Florida-breds have won the Sanford 11 times with Firenze Fire the most recent in 2017. Others include Uncle Vinny (2015), Backtalk (2009), Alfeet Alex (2004), Chapel Royal (2003), Kelly Kip (1996), Sovereign Don (1985), Big Wait (1983), Copelan (1982), Affirmed (1977) and Flame Tree (1965).

Return to the July 3 issue of Wire to Wire