Obligatory (USA)

Obligatory ran once as a juvenile, finishing fourth on debut at Belmont Park. She broke her maiden as a three-year-old in a Maiden Special Weight race at Gulfstream Park in February 2021.

She then went on to run fourth in the Gr.2 Fair Grounds Oaks in March. Her next race, the Gr.2 Eight Belles Stakes at Churchill Downs, she left her run until the final turn, where she was second to last, overhauling the field to win by a length, beating the favourite Dayoutoftheoffice (already a Gr.1 winner) in the final strides.

Obligatory then ran to second place, half a length behind the winner Search Results in the Gr.1 Acorn Stakes at Belmont Park on 6th June. She again placed second in the Gr.1 Cotillion Stakes at Parx Racing, two and a half lengths behind Clairiere on 25th September.

20th November saw Obligatory taking on her elders in the Gr.3 Chilukki Stakes at Churchill Downs. She came from off the pace, gaining momentum exiting the far turn, and strode outdown the stretch to win by an emphatic two and a quarter lengths for her second Graded victory.

Obligatory began her 2022 campaign the same way she ended 2021: with a graded win in the Gr.3 Hurricane Bertie Stakes at Gulfstream Park. Coming from behind, she gradually picked off her opposition and ran down front runner Bramble Berry with ease. She produced a similar finish in the Gr.1 Derby City Distaff Stakes at Churchill Downs (May 2022) where from last position at the home turn she ran down the field to win by three quarters of a length.