Violence Colt Obliteration Runs To His Name in 'Rising Star'-Worthy Bow

Obliteration (c, 2, Violence–I'mclassyandsassy, by Master Command), one of a debuting pair available at double digits for the reliable Steve Asmussen stable, ran away from a very promising group of 2-year-old males to become the afternoon's second 'TDN Rising Star', this one at Churchill Downs.

A $200,000 purchase at this year's OBS March Sale–one of four horses bought out of the auction by the re-engaging Leland Ackerley–the bay colt was in front not long after the start and led for just short of a furlong before being displaced on the business end by She's On A Roll (Charlatan), the 8-5 post-time favorite.

Deftly eased back by Erik Asmussen to chase from second into the turn, Obliteration was after the front-runner in earnest and collared his rival with just less than a quarter-mile to travel. Quickly putting pay to that one, Obliteration opened up a sizeable advantage entering the final furlong and went on to take it by 7 1/2 powerful lengths at odds of 10-1 in the slick time of 1:03.32 for the 5 1/2 furlongs.

I'mclassyandsassy, stakes-placed as a juvenile, has now bred eight winners from nine to the races, including Pure Class (The Big Beast), SW, $265,313; Big and Classy (The Big Beast), GSP, $356,490; Sassy Beast (The Big Beast), SW, $297,110; and Family Biz (Fed Biz), SP, $452,878. The O'Farrell Family's Ocala Stud parted with $85,000 for the mare carrying the colt that would become Obliteration at the 2022 Keeneland November Sale and they were straight into the black after the colt went through the ring in Central Florida in early March.

A half-sister to SW Fairway Road (Cuvee)–herself the dam of Grade III winner Just Grazed Me (Grazen)–I'mclassyandsassy is responsible for a yearling filly by the former Ocala Stud resident Girvin and a colt by Elite Power that was produced Apr. 23. Asmussen also trained Violence's Grade I-winning son Volatile.

2nd-Churchill Downs, $108,136, Msw, 6-12, 2yo, 5 1/2f, 1:03.32, ft, 7 1/2 lengths.
OBLITERATION, c, 2, by Violence
1st Dam: I'mclassyandsassy (SP), by Master Command
2nd Dam: Launch Site, by Relaunch
3rd Dam: Insight to Cope, by Copelan
Sales history: $200,000 2yo '25 OBSMAR. Lifetime Record: 1-1-0-0, $69,300. Click for the Equibase.com chart or VIDEO, sponsored by FanDuel TV. Click for the free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree.
O-Leland Ackerley Racing LLC; B-Ocala Stud (KY); T-Steven M Asmussen.

Obliteration romps on debut in R2 at @churchilldowns for trainer Steve Asmussen with Erik Asmussen aboard! 💪

🎥 TwinSpiresReplay pic.twitter.com/kfgfpFcdEY

— TwinSpires Racing 🏇 (@TwinSpires) June 12, 2025