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Thoughts from Ocala: Stars in the Making

As the OBS March 2-Year-Old in Training Sale's breeze show concludes on Sunday and with just a few weeks until the Fasig-Tipton Gulfstream Sale, we looked at a few promising 2-year-olds that were given high praise from their consignors and have high-class pedigrees. Could these youngsters be future stars in the making?

EDDIE WOODS

2020 c. Gun Runner – Sacre Coeur, by Saint Ballado. Hip 93 at OBS March. Watch :21 3/5 work here.

This colt is a half-brother to MGISW Lady Eli (Divine Park) with a fabulous pedigree. He's a really nice horse and is a beautiful mover. He's not raging fast, but he's incredibly stylish and he keeps growing, which is a good thing. He's all quality. He's different [in his training in comparison to Lady Eli.] He's all Gun Runner. He's laid-back, he'd eat you out of house and home, and he's just a cool horse.

JIMBO GLADWELL

2020 f. American Pharoah – Just Parker, by Forest Camp. Hip 532 at OBS March.

We've got an American Pharoah filly at OBS March that could be any kind of filly. She's done everything we have asked at what looks like half speed. She's doing the same thing the other horses are doing, but it looks like she's in a high gallop. She has a big way of going, she's very smart, and is a big, robust filly. She doesn't look like she needs the grass. It looks like she's going to have a very fast turn of foot. We're super excited about her. American Pharoah is red hot right now and she could be our big horse at OBS.

NICK DE MERIC

2020 f. Nyquist – Financial Recovery, by Street Cry (Ire). Hip 425 at OBS March.

She's a big, husky, stout filly in the Uncle Mo and Nyquist mold. She's steadily gotten better and better in everything we've done with her. We've had a few Nyquists and he's a sire that really impresses me. I love the way they're built. They're big, strong horses with a lot of bone and substance but also, with the ones we've had anyway, they've been really good to work with. They handle the pressure well, they eat, they stay sound. The other thing I like about this filly is that she's really got a natural turn of foot. There was no genius training to make that happen. It's just very natural for her.

2020 f. Into Mischief – Ervsayslethergo, by Hold Me Back. Hip 412 at OBS March. Watch :10 1/5 work here.

I have several Into Mischiefs, including the filly out of Ervsayslethergo, and you've got to love those. Into Mischief is just a remarkable stallion, as obviously the whole world knows by now. They all seem to thrive on the training, they handle it so well mentally, and it just seems like they've almost been here before. It's like you don't have to teach them, they just already know it.

SUSAN MONTANYE

2020 c. Malibu Moon – My Sugar Bear, by Giant's Causeway. Hip 30 at Fasig-Tipton Gulfstream.

This colt came out of the Saratoga Fasig-Tipton Sale. He is a big, strong, strapping colt. He is the half-brother to Friar's Road (Quality Road), who won the GII San Marcos S. for Mike McCarthy at Santa Anita. He is probably 16'1 and a 10 mover, so he should be pretty exciting down there at the Miami Sale.

CIARAN DUNNE

2020 c. Into Mischief – La Verdad, by Yes It's True. Hip 23 at Fasig-Tipton Gulfstream.

2020 f. Into Mischief – Vaudevillian, by Distorted Humor. Hip 74 at Fasig-Tipton Gulfstream.

Obviously for Fasig-Tipton Gulfstream, it's a sale we've always targeted with what we perceive to be our two-turn dirt horses. They're easily the best of the best from what we see early on. This year we are taking two Into Mischiefs down there. They're two very different horses. The filly is very forward and early, whereas the colt is a late foal, but he does everything right. Just as long as he keeps moving forward, we'll go there with him and I think when he shows up, he'll make a lot of noise.

2020 c. Medaglia d'Oro – Mahasen, by Tapit. Hip 28 at Fasig-Tipton Gulfstream.

Another colt we're very high on for Fasig-Tipton is the Medaglia d'Oro colt out of Mahasen. He's a big, strong, two-turn horse out of a Tapit mare. He looks like exactly what you want in a two-turn dirt horse and everything he's done to this point has given us that indication.

See our full 'Thoughts from Ocala' series here.

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Thoughts from Ocala Part 1: Freshman Sires

With the start of the 2-year-old in training sales just around the corner, a visit to Ocala proved to be informative as we checked in with consignors who are starting the fine-tuning process with their sales horses. In the weeks leading up to the OBS March Sale, which starts March 15, we will release a series of video features covering the topics everyone is talking about as the sales season approaches: Who might be this year's top freshman sire? Which freshman sires could be flying under the radar? What horses are these consignors most looking forward to presenting to the market? And speaking of the market, what are consignors' thoughts on the overall health of the 2-year-old market in 2022?

In this first episode, we spoke with Eddie Woods, Nick de Meric and Susan Montanye about the freshman sires whose 2-year-olds have impressed them most throughout the breaking and training process, and we asked them to show us a few of those sires' most promising progeny that we will see at the sales in the coming weeks.

EDDIE WOODS

This year's freshman sires are a good group overall, probably better than average.

The Justifys are way more precocious than I thought they would be. We have a Justify colt out of Runway Doll (Majestic Warrior) who is a lovely colt going to OBS March [Hip 89]. He's all quality and is built like a tank

The Good Magics are very nice horses. They're laid-back, kind of Curlin-y type horses. We have a Good Magic colt out of Jane Says (Tale of Ekati) going to OBS March [Hip 520]. He's a beautiful-looking horse and we're really happy with him. We have several other Good Magic 2-year-olds who are going to the races that are quite nice.

The City of Lights are beautiful, big, strong, strapping horses. We have a City of Light colt out of Forest Gamble (Forest Wildcat) that is going to OBS March [Hip 439] and is a magnificent-looking horse, so we are looking forward to offering him.

The Mendelssohns also have a lot of quality. They look like they might just take a little bit of time. The Accelerates are looking good as well.

NICK DE MERIC

We have a reasonable cross-section of first-year sires this year. I'd say the ones that have impressed me at this point in the game would include Good Magic, for sure, Bolt d'Oro and West Coast. We have a couple of really nice West Coasts. Mendelssohn is another that has really got my attention. I only have one Justify, but she's a lovely filly and I'm hearing good things from other people about the Justifys, so he would definitely be on the list as well. Some of the horses we have by these first-year sires are going to sales and some of them are going straight to the races.

I have two Good Magic colts and they're kind of different types physically. One is a big, husky individual and the other is a little on the smaller, more nimble side, but they're both taking a little bit of added pressure really well. They're eating the bottom out of their feed tubs, they're light on their feet and everything that we've done with them they've done well within themselves with plenty in reserve. We haven't really squeezed on them yet, but we're just getting to a point where we're asking a little bit more from them and they seem to be handling everything so easily.

I've got a Bolt d'Oro filly out of Scorpio Queen (Aus) (Choisir {Aus}) who has been breezing really well. She's another one that is doing, if anything, a little more than she's being asked for. She's going to OBS April. She's a big, rugged filly. She seemed to be all head and no body when she first arrived here, but as she's grown and filled out and her musculature has improved, she's starting to look really balanced and I really like the way she's been breezing. She's looking like she could be a good one. We've had several others Bolt d'Oros as yearlings and we've been noting at the sales that he's consistently getting good individuals, so that's also a good indicator.

Susan Montanye and her OBS March-bound Bolt d'Oro colt out of Queen of May | Katie Petrunyak

SUSAN MONTANYE: SBM Training and Sales

I've been really impressed so far with the Bolt d'Oros. I actually have several of them, one going to the OBS March Sale, one going to the Miami sale, one possibly going to the OBS April Sale and a couple that are going to the races. They've all been light on their feet, very precocious and they love to train. I think it's going to be a big year for Bolt.

My Bolt d'Oro colt going to the OBS March Sale is out of Queen of May (Bernardini) [Hip 51]. If I were rich, he wouldn't be for sale. I just absolutely love him. He is all business. He looks like he'll be fast and want to stretch. There really isn't anything to knock on him. I can't wait to see who ends up getting him and then root him on in his career because I think he's going to be special.

The other colt out of Platinum Song (My Golden Song) is actually a May foal, but he's a big boy. We are taking him down to the Miami sale [Hip 44]. He's a little bit different that the Queen of May colt. I think he's going to be maybe just a tad bit of a later bloomer than Queen of May, but he's going to be a phenomenal individual on the racetrack.

I also have a couple City of Lights. I have a filly out of Edith Court (Pomeroy) going to the OBS March Sale [Hip 405]. She's super fun and classy. I think she's going to be really fast early, more of a sprinter type.

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Second Chances: Quality Road Midlantic Topper ‘Could Be Real Deal’

In this continuing series, TDN's Senior Editor Steve Sherack catches up with the connections of promising maidens to keep on your radar.

After getting checked sharply in the early stages of his belated unveiling at Fair Grounds last weekend, $1.5-million Fasig-Tipton Midlantic topper Vinco (c, 3, Quality Road–Stormy Welcome, by Storm Cat) produced a serious rally from last to finish a strong second Jan. 22 (video).

Off at a well-supported 7-2 sporting a 13-strong worktab for the patient Dallas Stewart barn dating back to late October, the West Point Thoroughbreds and Gervais Racing, LLC colorbearer was away in good order from his rail draw, but after taking a bump from a rival approaching the five-eighths marker and subsequently steadying beneath Brian Hernandez, Jr., dropped back abruptly to caboose the field of nine through an opening quarter in :22.15.

Finally re-emerging in the picture while still trailing by plenty as they straightened, Vinco began to roll in the stretch, impressively threading his way through the pack to come home in a field-best :12.65 and finish 2 3/4 lengths adrift fellow firster Ferociously (Violence). Vinco earned a 59 Beyer Speed Figure in the six-furlong affair.

“It was a situation where I'm glad he didn't get hurt,” Stewart said. “One horse hit another horse and that horse hit us, and knocked us up against the rail and we had to check out of there. It's just one of them things, but he came back running. He ran a big race just like we thought he would. I think he would've won easy if it didn't happen, but that's neither here nor there.

Looking ahead, Stewart added, “We're gonna stretch out probably for his next start. If you watch the replay, he galloped out with the winner. We'll see how he trains first and see how it goes. If everything goes good, we'll come back on [GII] Risen Star day [Feb. 19]. If he needs more time, I'll give him more time. We took a lot of time with him coming out of the sale. We think he's a really nice horse. Like I was telling [West Point's] Terry Finley, let's make a career of it. He could be the real deal.”

Vinco topped last year's Fasig-Tipton Midlantic sale after breezing an eighth in a powerful :10 from the Eddie Woods consignment on behalf of breeder Jon Clay's Alpha Delta. His third dam is bluehen mare Weekend Surprise (Secretariat), who, of course, produced the breed-shaping sire and Horse of the Year A.P. Indy.

Alpha Delta purchased Vinco's dam Stormy Welcome (Storm Cat) for $600,000 at the 2015 KEENOV sale. The unraced daughter of Welcome Surprise (Seeking the Gold) was previously a $1.6 million KEESEP yearling.

The Quality Road over Storm Cat cross is also responsible for three-time graded winner and young sire Blofeld. Vinco is bred similarly to Quality Road's GI Breeders' Cup Juvenile Turf winner Hootenanny; MGSW & MGISP Dr Post; and GSW & GISP Great Stuff, who were all produced by daughters of Storm Cat's Hennessy.

Previous standouts featured in 'Second Chances' include: two-time Breeders' Cup winner Golden Pal (Uncle Mo), GI Runhappy Santa Anita Derby winner and Lane's End stallion Honor A. P. (Honor Code), MGISW and 'TDN Rising Star' Paradise Woods (Union Rags), GIII Las Virgenes S. heroine Moonlight d'Oro (Medaglia d'Oro), GII Los Alamitos Futurity winner and MGISP Spielberg (Union Rags), GSW Backyard Heaven (Tizway), MSW and 'TDN Rising Star' Gidu (Ire) (Frankel {GB}), GI Frizette S. third-place finisher A Mo Reay (Uncle Mo) and Discovery S. runner-up Speaker's Corner (Street Sense).

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Nyquist Filly Tops OBS June Sale’s Second Session

Hip No. 543, a daughter of Nyquist consigned by Eddie Woods, Agent, went to Sweetwater Trading Co., Agent for Rockingham Ranch, for $420,000 to top the second session of the Ocala Breeders' Sales Company's 2021 June Sale of 2-Year-Olds and Horses of Racing Age.

The chestnut filly, who breezed an eighth in :10 1/5 at Friday's Under Tack session, is out of stakes winner Midnight Ballet, by Midnight Lute, a half sister to champion Jala Jala (MEX).

Hip No. 418, a daughter of Dialed In consigned by Wavertree Stables, Inc, (Ciaran Dunne), Agent, was sold to Alistair Roden Bloodstock for $350,000. The dark bay or brown filly, who breezed an Under Tack quarter in :21 1/5 on Friday, is a half sister to graded stakes winning OBS graduate Anothertwistafate out of Imprecation, by First Defense.

Karl and Cathi Glassman went to $335,000 for Hip No. 506, a son of Hard Spun who worked an eighth in :10 3/5 at Friday's Under Tack Session. Consigned by Eisaman Equine, Agent, the bay colt is out of Lovisa, by Speightstown, a half sister to graded stakes placed stakes winner Poupee Flash.

Hip No. 319, a son of Quality Road consigned by de Meric Sales, Agent, was sold to Steven W. Young, Agent, for $280,000. The bay colt, who breezed an eighth in :10 flat on Thursday, is a half brother to stakes placed Burger and Fries (FR) out of Figarie, by Bernardini, a daughter of champion Flanders.

Hip No. 447, a daughter of Frosted consigned by Top Line Sales LLC, Agent, who turned in the Friday Under Tack session's fastest eighth in :9 4/5, was sold to John Ballantyne / N B S Stable for $250,000. The gray or roan filly is out of graded stakes winner Jody Slew, a half sister to stakes winner Cape of Bradford.

Larry Zap, Agent for Mike Mellen, went to $240,000 for Hip No. 623, a son of Ghostzapper consigned by Coastal Equine LLC (Jesse Hoppel), Agent, who turned in an Under Tack quarter on Saturday in :21 1/5. The bay colt is out of stakes winner Pacific Heat, by Unusual Heat, a half sister to graded stakes placed stakes winner Long Hot Summer.

Hip No. 487, a daughter of Liam's Map consigned by Coastal Equine LLC (Jesse Hoppel), Agent, was purchased for $230,000 by Mitch Weaver. The gray or roan filly, who turned in an Under Tack quarter in :21 2/5 on Friday, is out of Let It Snow, by Tapit, a half sister to stakes winner Eagle Orb.

Hip No. 596, a son of Klimt consigned by Scanlon Training & Sales, Agent, was sold to James Divito, Agent, for $225,000. The bay colt, who worked an eighth in :10 1/5 at Saturday's Under Tack session, is a half brother to graded stakes placed stakes winning OBS graduate Mo d'Amour out of Neverthesame, by Scat Daddy.

Oracle Bloodstock, Agent went to $220,000 for Hip No. 413, a daughter of Practical Joke consigned by de Meric Sales, Agent. The chestnut filly, a half sister to graded stakes placed stakes winner American Sugar out of I Love America, by Quiet American, breezed an eighth in :10 1/5 at Friday's Under Tack session.

For the session, 191 horses grossed $8,149,600, compared with 173 selling for a total of $4,357,800 at last year's second session. The average was $42,668 up 69.4 percent compared with $25,190 a year ago, while the median price was $17,000, up 38.5 percent compared to $13,000 in 2021. The buyback percentage was 22 percent; it was 18.8 percent last year.

The June Sale concludes Friday, beginning at 10:30 a.m. Hip No.'s 633 – 927 will be offered.

To view the session's full results, click here.

The post Nyquist Filly Tops OBS June Sale’s Second Session appeared first on Horse Racing News | Paulick Report.

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