Obliteration lives up to his name in the Sanford (Susie Raisher)
Christian Abdo/NYRA Press Office
SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. – Leland Ackerley Racing’s Obliteration was ultra-impressive when improving to 2-for-2 in Saturday’s Grade 3, $175,000 Sanford, a six-furlong sprint for juveniles, during the July 4th Racing Festival at Saratoga Race Course.
Trained by Hall of Famer Steve Asmussen, the Violence bay graduated by a widening 7 1/2 lengths sprinting 5 1/2 furlongs on June 12 at Churchill Downs, and he upped that margin to 10 1/2 lengths at the Spa in a final time of 1:10.65.
“He’s just a very special horse,” said Scott Blasi, assistant to the first time Sanford-winning Asmussen. “He has a ton of class for a 2-year-old, very laid back and really good turn-of-foot. I definitely think he improved from his first race to this race.”
Obliteration broke very sharply from post 2 under Flavien Prat and showed the way through an opening quarter-mile in 22.74 seconds, while tracked by local Listed Tremont runner-up Blinging It Back, with a gap developing to Imagine John and Strategic Risk.
The Jose Ortiz-piloted Blinging It Back stuck outside Obliteration’s hip in the turn as the pair increasingly separated themselves from the rest of the field. Through the half-mile in 45.56, it was still just a half-length between the top two betting choices, but Obliteration was preparing to live up to his name once straightened for home.
“He was very efficient out of the gate and after that, felt very in control,” said Prat. “Around the turn, he waited a bit on horses, but as soon as I squeezed him and he went back to his right lead, he went on.”
Obliteration surged in the stretch en route to his eye-catching victory over Blinging It Back. Imagine John finished another 3 1/4 lengths back in third and Strategic Risk completed the superfecta. Fistfulofmoney and first time starter Honey Dutch completed the order of finish.
“As soon as he swapped leads and went to his right lead, it felt like he extended himself well and made a good run,” said Prat, aboard for the first time in the afternoon, taking over for Erik Asmussen, the reigning Eclipse Award Outstanding Apprentice and Steve’s son.
Local graded options for juveniles include the 6 1/2-furlong Grade 2, $200,000 Saratoga Special on August 2, as well as the seven-furlong Grade 1, $300,000 Spendthrift Farm Hopeful on September 1.
Ortiz said the Hall of Famer Mark Casse-trained Blinging It Back got a good trip, but was just second best. Casse also sent out Strategic Risk for fourth.
“It was very nice. The two [Obliteration] broke good and I felt like it was a two-horse race, so I went after him,” said Ortiz. “I felt like I did what I had to do. He was better than me and I was second best. I had a good trip, and he ran good.”
Bred in Kentucky by Ocala Stud, Obliteration, a $200,000 purchase at the 2025 OBS March Sale of Two-Year-Olds in Training out of the stakes-placed Master Command mare I’mclassyandsassy, is a half-brother to stakes-winners Sassy Beast and Pure Class, Grade 3-placed Big and Classy and stakes-placed Family Biz.
Obliteration banked $96,250 in victory while returning $3.80 for a $2 win bet as the post-time favorite.
Live racing resumes Sunday for Closing Day of Saratoga’s July 4th Racing Festival with a 10-race card. First post is 1:10 p.m. Eastern.
Statistics for the 37-day Belmont at the Big A spring/summer meet will include the July 4th Racing Festival at Saratoga Race Course.
