Weeks 47-48 on the calendar provided plenty of fodder for discussion at Otsego Farms.
First, a landmark deal has been reached with Australian stable Glenmore Park. Owner Bruce MacGillivray has agreed to sell his star 2yo filly Xtra Gold to Otsego Farms for a cool $4,000,000. With her win this weekend, Xtra Gold has a record of 8-5-3-0 with earnings of $866,750.
"We needed to spend some cash. This grand opportunity came up. We're extremely happy with the acquisition", Otsego owner Jim Webber responded in a brief statement from Inglewood, California, after watching Xtra Gold win the Hollywood Preview Stakes.
Second, even though 3yo filly You Know My Name and 2yo colt Samurai Jack produced lackluster results this weekend, there was plenty of good racing news to go around.
Newcomer Phelan Ready went off at 20-1, but still managed a 4th in the GR3 Winter Stakes. It was a solid performance for the 3yo filly, but in the end she may succumb to the numbers game. "With the acquisition of Xtra Gold, we may not have a spot for Phelan Ready", Webber commented via Twitter during his flight back to Michigan. This provoked countless responses from his 2.7 million worldwide followers who had not yet heard this news.
Another new racer, 3yo colt Fossett who was acquired from Bally Doyle, made his sprinting debut and triumphed at the 6F Thanksgiving Handicap. Webber explained, "I thought he might have the makings of a sprinter, so we were determined to try him at 6F-7F. This win proves we are on the right track".
Stable stars Methy Bus and Refractor also picked up wins. The win by Refractor in the Brisbane Cup was especially gratifying because it evened the score to some small degree with the 3yo stayer Alphabet, who upset Refractor in the Breeders Cup Endurance a month ago.
"What can I say about these horses? They are two of the best, most consistent racers in the world at the moment and I am very fortunate to own them", Webber concluded.
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