BY BROCK SHERIDAN
Pleasant Acres Stallions’ first crop sire Leinster was represented by his first winner Sunday at Keeneland when Amy E. Dunne’s Lennilu won a $72,826 maiden special weight, the first juvenile race in the North America this year.
Breaking from post five in the field of 12 2-year-old fillies, Lennilu started well under jockey Luis Saez as Kadabra sprinted to the front. Lennilu settled into fourth early, about three lengths behind before beginning to advance with an inside trip around the turn.
Saez tipped Lennilu to the outside at the top of the stretch to catch Kadabra and they were even until the final sixteenth when Lennilu pulled away to win by a length in :52.32.
Trained by Patrick Biancone, Lennilu paid $7.50 to win and earned $34,115.
Kadabra was second with Chambourcin third.
Lennilu was purchased by Glencrest Farm out of the Abbie Road consignment for $23,000 at the 2024 Ocala Breeders’ Sales Winter Mixed Sale.
(Lennilu’s OBS Sale Page)
Bred in Florida by Helen and Joseph Barbazon, Lennilu is out of winning Pomeroy mare Lulu’s Pom Pom. She is the second winner in two starters for Lulu’s Pom Pom, who was bred to Magic On Tap in 2024. She is fully registered for the rich FTBOA Florida Sire Stakes.
Leinster is off to a fast start with his initial crop. He was represented by the top selling Florida-bred filly at the OBS March Sale, a daughter of Sea Smoke, by Tribal Rule that sold to Three Amigos for $400,000.
(Under Tack Video / Walking Video)
Bred in Florida by Tom McCrocklin and Frank Mermenstein, she is likely headed to Southern California and barn of Hall of Fame trainer Bob Baffert.
Monday, a Florida-bred colt by Leinster was among eight 2-year-olds to work an eighth mile in :9.80 at the second day under tack shows previewing next week’s OBS Spring Sale. Cataloged has Hip 332, the colt is consigned by David McKathan’s Grassroots Training and Sales.
(Under Tack Video / Walking Video)
The colt is out of Renovation, by Alternation, a half-sister to Grade 3-winner Hierro; Grade 3-placed, stakes-winner Cherokee Triangle, stakes-placed Sam’s Bliss; and True Bliss, the dam of Grade 3-winning Florida-bred R Harper Rose. The colt was bred in Florida by Charles Weston and Robert Vickers.
Return to the April 8 issue of Wire to Wire
