Southern Sis, Lookin to Strike Give Casse an OBS Sweep

Trainer Mark Casse completed a sweep of the two OBS Championship Day of Racing stakes Nov. 20 at the Ocala Training Center with Southern Sis, who earned her first stakes score, and Lookin to Strike, who rallied late to secure his third straight win.

After finishing second in her two previous stakes tries, Bill and Vicki Poston Racing's Southern Sis was not be denied Nov. 20.

Starting in the $125,000 OBS Filly and Mare Sprint Stakes for females who went through an Ocala Breeders' Sales Co. ring, Southern Sis raced third or fourth early in the six-furlong test, started her rally in the far turn while saving ground under Tyler Gaffalione, then, after initially not finding room inside in early stretch, was swung off the rail where she responded with an impressive rally.

Southern Sis surged past R Happy Ending and Casse stablemate Sierra Aleone then skiped away from those two to win by a widening two lengths, completing six furlongs in 1:09 2/5 on the all-weather track. R Happy Ending edged Sierra Aleone by a nose for second in the field of eight fillies and mares.

The effort marked the first try on a synthetic surface for Southern Sis, who entered off a runner-up finish in the Millions Filly and Mare Turf Preview Stakes Nov. 10 at Gulfstream Park West. The previous stakes try for the 4-year-old daughter of Kantharos  also came on the Gulfstream Park West turf, a runner-up finish in the Juvenile Filly Turf Stakes in November 2016.

Tuesday's OBS Championship Day of Racing also included the $125,000 OBS Sprint Stakes for 3-year-olds and upward who had passed through an OBS ring, where Gary Barber's Lookin to Strike rallied late to edge Star Juancho by a nose.

After rating early under Declan Carroll, Lookin to Strike cut between rivals in the stretch, passing five others on his way to the narrow victory in the field of 13. He completed the race in 1:09. 

The late run to the win marked a change in approach for the 3-year-old Lookin At Lucky  colt, who raced on or near the lead to win an allowance-optional claiming race Sept. 9 on the synthetic surface at Woodbine before earning his first stakes win in the Ontario Derby (G3) Oct. 13.

In his stakes debut, Grupo 7C Racing Stable's Star Juancho held second after opening a clear lead in the stretch and digging in late. Yummy Bear was another 1 1/2 lengths back in third.