“All of my economists say 'on the one hand'…, then 'but on the other hand'…,” the plain-talking Missourian from Independence famously quipped.

To put it another way, convictions matter, not the pros and cons. You are either in or you're not. Horse racing, or more specifically preparing for the 150th Kentucky Derby is no different. It's about possessing sterner stuff.

Another Harry Truman, Harry Truman Rosenblum that is, knows this all too well. His father, Dr. Hyman Rosenblum of Little Rock, Arkansas named his son after his close friend 'Give-Em Hell Harry', and the former chief executive served as the boy's godfather.

Harry T. Rosenblum | courtesy of Harry T. Rosenblum

Bitten by the racing bug before he attended Hendrix College, Rosenblum has spent 39 years owning Thoroughbreds. He has dreamed of Derby glory–both the Arkansas and the Kentucky variety–not just for himself, but for what it means for his state.

“I've been in this position before, coming into a big race like the Rebel with a horse and it just conjures so many emotions because of the spirit we have in this state for racing,” he said.

On Saturday, the path to 150 rolls through Oaklawn Park as the Cella's storied track once again will play host to the next leg in their Arkansas series–the GII Rebel S.–a race which offers 50 Derby points to the winner.

A senior investment manager in Little Rock, Rosenblum couldn't be more pleased that his colt Time for Truth (Omaha Beach–Shape Shifter by Lookin At Lucky) has made the Hot Springs starting gate. As a 15-1 morning-line shot, the 3-year-old will face 12 others, including a pair of 'TDN Rising Stars' in Carbone (Mitole) and Timberlake (Into Mischief).

After hearing about the horse's smart :9 4/5 furlong workout during the Under Tack Show at last year's OBS April Sale, Rosenblum purchased the juvenile bred by Dominique Damico as a late April foal through the auction house for $47,000 after the dark bay RNA'd. A minor vet issue didn't deter him, especially when he watched the gallop out from the show.

“I was just very impressed with that performance, the year that Omaha Beach had last year as a first-crop sire contributed of course, and once you see just how intelligent he is, it confirmed early that we had something special going,” Rosenblum said. “So, then it was time to send him to Ron Moquett and his team.”

Naming his new acquisition after a book by American businessman William E. Simon, Rosenblum already knew that the Arkansas-born Moquett, whose stakes victories include a win in the 2020 GI Breeders' Cup Sprint with the irascible, but supremely talented Whitmore (Pleasantly Perfect), was the perfect fit.

Team Moquett saddles Time for Truth with cotton in his ears to keep him calm before his debut | Owney Creative

“Ron and I won the Smarty Jones and [GIII] Southwest together and there is no one in the business who I trust more than him to make sound decisions,” he said. “His staff is just first class and everyone takes such great care of whoever you send to them.”

The pair watched as Far Right (Notional) swept the 2015 Smarty and the Southwest, but running into eventual Triple Crown champ American Pharoah in the GI Arkansas Derby was a tough break. Far Right was 15th in the Kentucky Derby.

Flashing forward to this year, a win by Time for Truth in the Rebel would have several levels of meaning for Moquett. As an Arkansas guy, he's immersed in the history and culture of racing in his state. It's never lost on him about what big races mean.

“The history of the Rebel, who has won it and obviously how it propels a horse's career is why we enter,” the conditioner said. “Nice horses belong in the Kentucky Derby and for us here, there is no greater title than the Arkansas Derby, and that is where we are trying to get with Time for Truth.”

Every owner and their trainer have target races. The way you ready your horse for something like the Rebel is to back into it. In other words, you figure out the best path by working in reverse.

But you can't push a position–as horsemen understand it–because plans go awry.

Like Rosenblum explained, “You have to manage risk constantly in this business, horse racing is no different, and preconceived notions can get you into hot water very quickly.”

Once Time for Truth posted an 89 Beyer when he broke his maiden at first asking by 1 3/4 lengths at Oaklawn Dec. 31, it was time for Rosenblum and Moquett to sit down and have a conversation about the Rebel and the Arkansas Derby.

The meeting between the two was one of those junctures where practiced apathy and risk management mixes with aggressive moves. If you are lucky, then you might be able to employ a touch of strategic planning.

Time for Truth with hotwalker Roxanna Lopez | J.N. Campbell

“I prefer the word nimble,” says assistant trainer Chance Moquett, Ron's son, who spent 15 years in the corporate world before returning to be a part of his father's operation. “We grapple with unpredictability all the time here at Oaklawn because it is what we're used to.”

Unlike other tracks whose surfaces benefit from chemicals which help keep them stable, Oaklawn's is devoid of such agents because of the park's rules designation. Thus, the setup, the training, really every aspect around the dirt oval, is constantly subject to change.

Winters especially can wreak havoc on Derby Trail planning and that is precisely what happened with Time for Truth's preparation during the second half of January with a blast of frigid temperatures that sent the thermometers to the basement.

In situations when the weather intervenes, keeping a horse like Time for Truth on the muscle falls to Moquett's crack team of grooms and exercise riders. Jose Espinoza, who has been with Moquett for a dozen years and served as Whitmore's groom, manages the colt's daily care, while Roxanna Lopez hotwalks him every day. Both did countless circuits with him around Barn Whitmore on the backside, as everyone waited for the sun to come out.

By the time it did, the Moquetts were resolved that they had two choices for Rosenblum, who in the interim had sold a 30% stake in the horse to Cheyenne Stables in what he calls “a business decision to help mitigate risk.” After a couple of four furlong sets Jan. 29 and Feb. 3, there was an allowance race that Time for Truth could make or the other option would be the Feb. 10 running of the newly minted Ozark S. The team opted for the latter and though it was a runner-up ending to Valentine Candy (Justify), objectives were met.

“In lieu of a big breeze, that stakes race took on the part,” Chance Moquett said. “I mean it was a muddy track, facing a much more experienced horse like the winner, our colt went off as the favorite and this is what you do when you are backing into a race like the Rebel.”

Time for Truth breaks his maiden at Oaklawn | Coady Photography

A favorite among anyone who has sat on him, Time for Truth's mild-mannered Clark Kent style has impressed Moquett's staff. Exercise rider Greta Kuntzweiler called his way “incredibly unusual,” which coupled nicely with what veteran jockey Rafael Bejarano said, “when you ask him, he responds.”

Chance Moquett added, “Our plan last Sunday was to go 50 flat and that is exactly what Greta did with him. She's just that exact with everything she does, if you need a lick going :50.13, then that's what you get. Now, we are going to find out if this colt can take us where we want to go.”

Being nimble and looking for key moments of progression leads his connections to enter their 3-year-old in the Rebel.

Time for Truth may have never traveled two turns yet, but his Arkansas-based principal owner and trainer certainly think he has what it takes to get them to the Arkansas Derby and beyond.

For Rosenblum, the Moquetts and their stable, there is no indecision and only one course. President Truman would be pleased. So, now it's just time for truth come Saturday.

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One of three entered for Hall of Famer Bob Baffert, the 6-1 chance had a pair of bullets on the worktab, including a four-furlong move in :47 1/5 (1/16) Oct. 12.

He was hustled away from his inside draw by Kyle Frey and slugged it out from the outside with his rail-drawn stablemate and $1.3-million OBS April graduate Urban Legend (Into Mischief) heading into the far turn. Always traveling the better of the pair, Nysos took over with authority leaving the quarter pole and opened daylight from there to win by 10 1/2 lengths, stopping the timer for six furlongs in a very sharp 1:08.97. Urban Legend, off at odds of 3-1, stayed on for second.

Nysos becomes the first 'Rising Star' for Nyquist. The Nyquist x Bernardini cross is also responsible for GISW Gretzky the Great, already one of four top-level winners for his young sire.

The winner's unraced dam, a $35,000 purchase by Three Times A Charm while in foal to Street Sense at the 2021 KEENOV sale, had a filly by Street Sense in 2022 and a colt by Yaupon this year. She was bred back to Cyberknife.

Nysos's third dam is GI Breeders' Cup Distaff heroine Unbridled Elaine (Unbridled's Song).

9th-Santa Anita, $63,500, Msw, 10-21, 2yo, 6f, 1:08.97, ft, 10 1/2 lengths.
NYSOS, c, 2, by Nyquist
                1st Dam: Zetta Z, by Bernardini
                2nd Dam: Seresa's Spirit, by Rahy
                3rd Dam: Unbridled Elaine, by Unbridled's Song
Sales history: $130,000 Wlg '21 KEENOV; $150,000 Ylg '22 FTKOCT; $550,000 2yo '23 OBSAPR. Lifetime Record: 1-1-0-0, $36,600. Click for the Equibase.com chart or VIDEO, sponsored by FanDuel TV. Click for the free equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree.
O-Baoma Corp; B-Atkins Susie (KY); T-Bob Baffert.

NYSOS ($14.80) dusted them all under @FreytheF in @santaanitapark race 9. This son of @DarleyAmerica's Nyquist was trained by @BobBaffert for owners @BaomaCorp. An impressive win first asking!

Stick around for the Early Pick 4 at @LosAlRacing! Wager on https://t.co/nBYFHiPrdh! pic.twitter.com/OP6RgobeuP

— TVG (@TVG) October 22, 2023

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The Hall of Fame conditioner will also saddle Nysos (Nyquist), who was purchased by Baoma Corp. for $550,000 at OBS April, and British Isles (Justify). Out of GSW Purely Hot (Pure Prize) and a half-brother to GI American Pharoah S. champ Eight Rings (Empire Maker), the latter is owned by Mrs. John Magnier, Derrick Smith and Michael Tabor.

Also set for his unveiling is Tracker (Curlin), who is out of GI Darley Alcibiades S. heroine Gomo (Uncle Mo). The $250,000 Keeneland September yearling turned $900,000 OBS March graduate is campaigned by Talla Racing, West Point Thoroughbreds, Woodford Racing and Robert and DeLynn Abernathy. TJCIS PPS

5th-KEE, $100K, Msw, 2yo, f, 6 1/2f, 3:08 p.m. ET.
Tommy Town Thoroughbreds and trainer Jeff Engler send out Bedazzle 'Em (American Pharoah) for her first start. The $750,000 Keeneland September graduate counts GIII Schuylerville S. winner Just Cindy (Justify) as a half sister.

She'll face Red White and Blue Racing's Denim and Pearls (Into Mischief), who sold for $500,000 at the Fasig-Tipton Saratoga Yearling Sale. The Brad Cox trainee is a full-sister to GIII Robert B. Lewis S. hero Newgate.

Whitham Thoroughbreds homebred Aunt Fannie (Uncle Mo), trained by Ian Wilkes, is a half-sister to GII Kentucky Jockey Club S. victor McCraken (Ghostzapper) and GIII Dogwood S. winner Four Graces (Majesticperfection). TJCIS PPS

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Also entered is the well-bred Tapitoro (Tapit), who was purchased by De Meric Sales for $170,000 at the Keeneland September Sale and was pinhooked for $300,000 during OBS April Sale. Trained by Brian Lynch and ridden by James Graham, the gray colt is a half-sibling to Canadian champion turf male and GI Ricoh Woodbine Mile winner El Tormenta (Stormy Atlantic), GIII Las Cienegas S. victor Zero Tolerance (Mizzen Mast) and Strut the Ring (Strut the Stage).

Out of an extended female family which includes Canadian Horse of the Year Dance Smartly (Danzig), multiple leading sire Smart Strike (Mr. Prospector) and champion 2-year-old colt trio Sky Classic (Nijinsky II), Regal Classic (Vice Regent) and Grey Classic (Grey Dawn II), Tapitoro's dam Torreadora (El Prado {Ire}) is a half-sister to MGSW His Race To Win (Stormy Atlantic) and the dam of MSW Galilean (Uncle Mo). TJCIS PPS

2nd-SAR, $136K, Msw, 2yo, f, 1m, 1:44 p.m.
Up at Saratoga, first timer Paradise Lane (Quality Road) will debut for Hall fo Fame trainer Bill Mott with regular rider Junior Alvarado up. Bred and part-owned by Pam and Martin Wygod, the bay filly is the first offspring out of GI Santa Anita Oaks and GI Zenyatta S. heroine and 'TDN Rising Star' Paradise Woods (Union Rags). Second dam Wild Forest (Forest Wildcat) is a half-sister to GSW and English GSW Tajaaweed (Dynaformer) and digging a little deeper under the fourth dam we find MGSW and GISP Mr. Greeley (Gone West) and GISW Mona de Momma (Speightstown). TJCIS PPS

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After pairing up matching 100 Beyer Speed Figures for trainer Tim Yakteen while capturing the GII San Felipe S. and GI Runhappy Santa Anita Derby, Practical Move (Practical Joke) has firmly established himself as the best of the west heading into the Kentucky Derby.

Last term's GII Los Alamitos Futurity winner brought $230,000 from owners Leslie and Pierre Amestoy and Roger Beasley out of the Eisaman Equine consignment (:10 1/5 breezer) as an OBS April 2-year-old.

“We first met him not long after the Keeneland yearling sale and he came to us to break for his breeders with the intent of selling him at the OBS sales,” Dr. Barry Eisaman said.

“He was a different type of horse than many Practical Jokes that we've had. He was bigger than most and had a really laid-back personality. He had a two-turn physique look to him. He learned all his early lessons very well and was an ideal pupil. When we started doing any little bit of speed work, he would have plenty of speed and displayed it effortlessly. Whenever a little speed drill for the day would be over, he would just drop his head and head back to the barn oozing class and intelligence. He displayed a lot of speed and had an exceptionally good gallop out at the sale.”

Bred in Kentucky by four-time Eclipse Award winning-trainer Chad Brown and Sol Kumin's Head of Plains Partners, Practical Move previously RNA'd for $90,000 as a KEESEP yearling. He is one of 15 graded winners for young sire Practical Joke and is out of the grassy, multiple stakes-placed Afleet Alex mare Ack Naughty. She brought $500,000 from Chester and Mary Broman in foal to Upstart earlier this year at Keeneland January.

“He's out of an Afleet Alex mare,” Eisaman said. “I'm thinking that part of his gene pool could favor him giving him the ability to get Classic distances, hopefully. Tim's done a fantastic job with him. The horse really seems to have winning on his mind. He's been pretty courageous.”

Champion I'll Have Another (Flower Alley), the 2012 GI Kentucky Derby and GI Preakness S. winner, was also a product of the Eisamans. He brought $35,000 from agent Dennis O'Neill on behalf of Reddam Racing out of the Eisaman Equine consignment at the OBS April 2-year-old sale.

Runaway GIII Gotham S. winner Raise Cain (Violence) will give the Eisamans two chances at a second Kentucky Derby win. The Andrew and Rania Warren colorbearer was broken by the Eisamans and RNA'd for $65,000 from their consignment at last year's OBS June 2-year-old sale. Bred in Kentucky by Rock Ridge Thoroughbreds, he was produced by a Lemon Drop Kid half-sister to GI Breeders' Cup Ladies' Classic heroine Unrivaled Belle (Unbridled's Song). Raise Cain was previously a $180,000 KEESEP yearling.

“We'll have two chances,” Eisaman said. “It's a lot of fun. We decided years ago not to have a racing stable. We're service providers to some of the largest racing outfits in the country. When we have horses that we sell, we want them all to do wonderful things for the people that buy them. It's really rewarding and fun and we couldn't be happier for all these connections.”

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1st-GP, $84K, Msw, 3yof, 1mT, 11:30 p.m.
Gulfstream Park's packed Florida Derby Day card includes a pair of turf events for 3-year-old runners that are worth a look.

Hinkle Farms homebred OGEMA BAY (Medaglia d'Oro) debuts for Shug McGaughey with Luca Panici in the irons. Her dam Madame Du Lac (Lemon Drop Kid) produced two-time GI Woodford Reserve Turf Classic victor Divisidero (Kitten's Joy). Also prepped for a rookie start is GLORIA'S PRINCESS (Cairo Prince) from the stable of Brendan Walsh. Ridden by Luis Saez, the Harvey Clarke-owned filly is a half-sister to GISW Harvey's Lil Goil (American Pharoah).

First-timer and Godolphin homebred MAY FANE (Uncle Mo), who hails from a family that includes MGSW Frosted (Tapit), draws to the outside for Bill Mott with Irad Ortiz aboard. TJCIS PPS

6th-GP, $84K, Msw, 3yof, 1mT, 1:56 p.m.
THE ARCHANGEL (Medaglia d'Oro), a half-sister to Derby hero I'll Have Another (Flower Alley) and MGSW Golden Award (Medaglia d'Oro), is out of mare Arch's Girl Edith (Arch) who also produced Gloria S (Tapit), the dam of Race 1's Gloria's Princess. The first-time starter for trainer Roger Attfield will break from post nine with Shaun Bridgmohan in the irons. TJCIS PPS

4th-SA, $67K, Msw, 3-5yo, 1m, 5:31 p.m.
ULTIMATE GAMBLE (Medaglia d'Oro) flashed speed on debut as a juvenile at Del Mar Aug. 13, but ended up seventh in a vain attempt to catch MGISW Cave Rock (Arrogate) and MGSW Practical Move (Practical Joke) who will be seen next week in the GI Santa Anita Derby. Out of Eltimaas (Ghostzapper), the $1.75million '22 OBSAPR purchase by Red Baron's Barn or Rancho Temescal LLC. was back in-training after a break for Mark Glatt in the new year. This time around he will get the services of Frankie Dettori. The dark bay colt who initially went for $325,000 Ylg KEESEP to De Meric Sales has a yearling half-sister by Curlin that fetched $525,000 KEESEP last fall. TJCIS PPS

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OCALA, FL – The Ocala Breeders' Sales Company's Spring Sale of 2-Year-Olds, which had already surpassed its record gross during Thursday's penultimate session, powered straight through to the finish Friday, concluding with new highwater marks for average and median, as well as gross. At the end of four days of selling, 707 head had grossed $91,984,000. The previous record gross, set just last year, was $73,907,900. The average of $130,105 and median of $65,000 were well ahead of previous marks of $108,903 and $60,000, both set in 2019.

During the 2021 Spring sale, 724 juveniles grossed $73,874,900 for an average of $102,037 and a median of $50,000.

“It was a heck of a horse sale,” OBS Director of Sales Tod Wojciechowski said at the close of business Friday. “There were gains and records on all fronts. And, I believe, it's the first time we've ever sold at least one million-dollar horse on every day. You can't say enough about the quality of horses that the consignors brought and the buying bench that showed up, across the board–internationally and domestically. There was great participation on all fronts.”

Friday's final session of the Spring sale was topped by a filly by Munnings who became the auction's fifth seven-figure juvenile when selling for $1.6 million to Larry Best's OXO Equine. The sale's overall top price came during Tuesday's first session when a colt by Uncle Mo sold to Amr Zedan for $2.3 million. It was the first time the Spring sale had produced a sale over $2 million since 2017.

“April has become the go-to 2-year-old sale,” Wojciechowski said. “It's proven itself over and over again. Horses go win all over the world, over all different surfaces, and there is quite an array of different levels for them to shop.”

De Meric sales was the leading consignor at the Spring sale, selling 35 juveniles for $9,308,000, followed by Eddie Woods, who sold 28 head for $8,444,000, including Friday's session topper.

“I thought at the March sale, I had never sold in a market like it before,” Woods said. “Ten years ago, if you told someone there would be half a dozen seven-figure horses in the April sale, they'd lock you up. It used to be just a sale, but it's grown and grown and grown. It's the [Keeneland] September [Yearling] Sale of 2-year-old sales. It's fabulous.”

Chad Schumer was the Spring sale's leading buyer, purchasing 15 head for $3,030,000. The success of the April sale reflects a worldwide demand for horses, according to Schumer.

“I do some pinhooking in Europe at the breeze-up sales and we sold in Dubai, I think the same thing is true everywhere. People want horses,” Schumer said. “We are out of COVID now, people want to get back to life and enjoy themselves. They want to spend money. And in the U.S., the prices are justified by the purses. There are $100,000 maidens at Keeneland, Churchill and New York. California is not far behind and I understand Louisiana is going to jump up. And Kentucky Downs is $130,000. You buy a horse here for $250,000 and you win two races and you're out. It's never been like that before. So people really have a chance.”

Schumer continued, “I also think–with all due respect to some of the big buyers of the past–they are not buying as much as in the past and I think a lot of people, especially in America, feel like they have a real chance to buy what they want. If you look at the results sheets, there is a deep bench of buyers. It's not one person or one country, it's a very diverse buying bench. And they've done a wonderful job putting this catalogue together. There is something here for everyone.”

Woods and Munnings, a Winning Combination

Eddie Woods was quite successful with Munnings fillies last year. He sold now-Grade I winner Eda for $550,000 at the OBS March Sale and sold undefeated G3 UAE Oaks victress Shahama for $425,000 at last term's April sale. The horseman hit another homerun courtesy of a Munnings filly Friday when Hip 1174, a $250,000 KEESEP buy, summoned a whopping $1.6-million from OXO Equine's Larry Best. Bloodstock agent Christina Jelm acted on behalf of Best, who was not in attendance.

“Munnings has obviously been very good to me over the years,” said Woods. “He is a great stallion and has been appreciated in recent years. That filly was amazing. I was shocked at what she brought to be quite honest. I thought she'd get to $1 million, but here comes Larry Best, and when he wants one, he wants one. She is the only 2-year-old he bought this year and I hope she turns out for him. He's a great client of mine anyway. He kind of snuck in under the radar. I didn't see him coming.”

Jelm preferred to remain out of the spotlight, deferring comments on the filly to Best, but did say, “She's tall, elegant, fast and eye-catching. Larry wanted her, and I was just helping him out.”

Bred by the Cantrell Family Partnership, Hip 1174 is out of hard-knocking, six-time Louisiana stakes winner Tensas Harbor (Private Vow). The flashy chestnut breezed in a swift :9 4/5 for Woods during the under-tack show.

“She's a wonderful filly,” Woods said. “She's been a class act from day one, from the first time I looked at her in Lexington at Woodford. I've been lucky buying off Woodford, too. It's been a pretty good journey.”

Hip 1174 was the second seven-figure seller for Woods this week, following Thursday's $1.7-million Tapit colt (Hip 885). —@CDeBernardisTDN

Filly Justifies Buy-Back

A filly by Justify (hip 1139), who was bought back by breeder Diamond Creek Farm for $325,000 at last year's Fasig-Tipton October sale, sold for $800,000 when returned to the ring at OBS Friday. Bloodstock agent Chad Schumer, acting on behalf of an undisclosed client, made the winning bid on the juvenile.

“Obviously, it's the first crop of a Triple Crown winner,” Schumer said. “Of course they are going to be in demand. He is the son of a sire of sires, unbeaten, there is so much excitement about his first crop. The filly was absolutely lovely. She had a great breeze (:21 1/5), a great physical, and she vetted well.”

The gray filly is out of Susie's Baby (Giant's Causeway) and her 5-year-old half-sister Family Way (Uncle Mo) recently won the GIII Orchid S. at Gulfstream Park.

Hip 1139 was consigned by Wavertree Stables on behalf of Adam Bowden's Diamond Creek Farm.

“Mike Akers bought her back for Diamond Creek Farm,” Wavertree's Ciaran Dunne explained of the yearling result. “They thought she would be a better 2-year-old than she was a yearling. Obviously they were right.”

Susie's Baby, in foal to Constitution, sold for $600,000 at this year's Keeneland January sale.

Hip 1139 is another in a line of juvenile sales success stories who had originally been targeted at the yearling sales.

“I think that breeders are getting smarter about the type of horse that they retain,” Dunne said. “For the longest time, they had the preconceived notion that small, quick horses would be perfect for the 2-year-old sales. And I think some of them have now realized that we need two-turn type horses. I think they are being more selective about what they send and I think that's why you are seeing the better results.”

Schumer, bidding on behalf of the same client, purchased a colt by Goldencents (hip 546) for $535,000 during the second session of the Spring sale. After that Wednesday purchase, Schumer said he hoped the competitive market he was buying into continued Thursday when he would be selling.

Asked Friday how the change of hats went, Schumer said, “I sold really well. I was a little shocked by how well we sold. We had a Malibu Moon (hip 924) we bought for $30,000 as a yearling [at Keeneland September] and we knew he would sell well. He was a lovely colt and a great mover and he was well-prepared by the consignor. But [the $330,000 sale] was literally about double what I expected.” @JessMartiniTDN

Desormeaux & Gase Stay Busy in Ocala

After his first racehorse Call Me Midnight (Midnight Lute) (an $80,000 OBSMAR buy) put him on the GI Kentucky Derby trail with a win in the GIII Lecomte S. earlier this year, new owner Ben Gase was eager to tackle this year's juvenile sales. His trainer Keith Desormeaux represented him in Ocala this week, securing three horses, topped by a $650,000 daughter of Bolt d'Oro (Hip 1017).

“I'm usually the guy buying the ones under the radar,” said Desormeaux. “Ben Gase is a new, very excited owner. He bought his first horse last year at the March Sale, a horse called Call Me Midnight, who was on the Derby trail. He really got excited about it, enthusiastic, and decided to open up his checkbook.”

Desormeaux is typically seen shopping more of the bargain buys. His other purchases for Gase this week were a $90,000 Cairo Prince colt (Hip 252) and a $400,000 Twirling Candy filly (Hip 641).

When asked if he had expected to spend this much on Hip 1017, Desormeaux said, “Hell no! I thought she'd bring $200,000 or $300,000. To double that, is a stretch, but Ben told me, 'Don't come home without her.' I'm usually very conservative, but she was so nice, I had to stretch for her.”

Bred by Spendthrift Farm, Hip 1017 is out of Australian MSW & MGSP Scorpio Queen (Aus) (Choisir) and hails from the family of Aussie G1SW Toledo. The bay breezed in :9 4/5 for the de Merics.

“That's the easiest buy I've ever made,” Desormeaux said. “She was awesome. I don't have one complaint about her. We come to the 2-year-old-in-training sales because we can see them at work. We can see how they handle it mentally and physically. She just passed all the grades. She blew my socks off.”

Eaton's Reiley McDonald purchased the filly for just $35,000 under the name of his farm Athens Woods at Keeneland September. —@CDeBernardisTDN

Moore Restocks at OBS

Hootie Moore had upwards of 30 horses in training a few years ago, but with the pandemic he cut his numbers back dramatically. The Arkansas-based owner was restocking this week at OBS where he purchased a filly by Connect (hip 1091) for $550,000 from the consignment of Eddie Woods Friday.

“We liked everything about her,” Moore said of the juvenile. “She's the one we've been waiting on the whole sale. Everything is costing a lot more than it should, but we went ahead and we'll see.”

The filly, who worked a furlong last week in :10 flat, is out of stakes winner Special Dream (Officer) and is a half-sister to stakes placed Momameamaria (Quality Road).

Moore also purchased a colt by Runhappy (hip 427) for $160,000. Both juveniles will be trained by John Ortiz.

“I have had up to 35 horses, but during COVID, I like to go on the backside, so I went down to almost nothing,” Moore said.

Moore did his bidding while sporting a cap promoting Barber Road (Race Day) and he owns horses in partnership with that GI Kentucky Derby contender's owners Bill and Tammy Simon's WSS Racing. The Simons and Moore campaigned 2019 GIII Winning Colors S. winner Honey Bunny (Tapizar).

Bill Harrigan's Miacomet Farm purchased the filly for $80,000 at last year's Keeneland September sale.

Later in Friday's session, Moore added a colt by Oscar Performance (hip 1210) for $120,000. @JessMartiniTDN

Grassroots Powers Through at OBS

David McKathan and Jody Mihalic's Grassroots Training and Sales served notice it was in line for a strong Spring sale with a series of bullet workers during the under-tack preview and the operation duly delivered in the sales ring this week, ultimately selling all 40 juveniles it sent through the ring.

“For us, people know that we sell our horses,” Mihalic said. “We deal in volume and we sell them and we love when people do well with the horses they buy from us. We work really hard to buy them right and they work really hard and buy them right.”

Grassroots biggest sale of the week was a $275,000 daughter of Street Boss (hip 346) who worked a furlong last week in a bullet :9 3/5. The filly had been purchased for $22,000 at last year's Keeneland September sale.

Other pinhooking scores included a colt by Freud–a $50,000 Fasig-Tipton New York-bred sale acquisition–who sold for $215,000 and a filly by Good Samaritan–purchased for $55,000 at last year's Fasig-Tipton October sale–who sold for $210,000.

During Friday's session of the four-day auction, Grassroots sold a filly by Jimmy Creed, who worked in :9 4/5 last week, for $185,000. She had been a $38,000 purchase at last year's Fasig-Tipton October sale.

Grassroots horses found plenty of buyers in the middle market in Ocala.

“I think everybody is getting shuffled up as the economy goes and the overall dollar value has marked everything up so much,” Mihalic said. “So everyone has had to step up a little bit into that middle market.”

Of the operation's perfect strike rate, Mihalic said, “It's fantastic. And now I have 40 more heading to Maryland.” @JessMartiniTDN

Into Mischief Filly Returns to Her Breeder

Breeder Robert S. Evans sold his Into Mischief filly out of Squeeze (Lemon Drop Kid) to the Recio's Lynwood Stable for $150,000 at Keeneland September. But, when she returned to the auction ring at OBS Friday, he decided he had to have her back, going to $525,000 to secure Hip 1097. Trainer Kent Sweezey bid on his owner's behalf.

“She worked really well [:9 4/5],” Sweezey said. “She's gorgeous. He loves the family and the way she moved. Gene Recio gave us the thumbs up. She's a queen, so we will see how she runs. She will probably come with me to Palm Meadows or Monmouth with a goal of running at Saratoga.”

Evans bought Squeeze for $350,000 at Keeneland September and this filly is her second foal. Squeeze is a half-sister to GSW Ocho Ocho Ocho (Street Sense) and GSP Private Ensign (A.P. Indy).

The Recios had another pinhooking score just a few hips earlier when a Java's War colt (Hip 1092) they purchased for $72,000 at the Fasig-Tipton October Sale brought $175,000 from Joseph Graffeo.

“She was just a really good individual,” Recio said. “She didn't turn a hair wrong the whole time we had her. She was as straight-forward of a 2-year-old sales horse as I've ever had. Whenever you meet the magic :9 4/5-:10 flat number for a filly with that kind of quality pedigree, you hope for a price like that, but you never expect it. We are very thankful.” —@CDeBernardisTDN

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Hips 1-176 will breeze Sunday; followed by Hips 177-352 Monday; Hips 353-528 Tuesday; Hips 529-704 Wednesday; Hips 705-880 Thursday; Hips 881-1056 Friday; and Hips 1057-1231 Saturday.

The Spring Sale runs Tuesday, Apr. 19 through Friday, Apr. 22 with each session beginning at 10 a.m. Hips 1-308 go on the block Tuesday; followed by Hips 309-616; Wednesday, Hips 617-924 Thursday; and Hips. 925-1231 Friday.

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Drawn widest of all in post 11, the $1.5-million OBS April topper shot out to the front beneath “Big Money” Mike Smith and cleared the field heading into the first turn. The Speedway Stables colorbearer sped through fractions of :23.03 and :46.15, kicked for home as the one to catch and kept finding down the lane to account for longshot Pappacap (Gun Runner) by 1 3/4 lengths. It was another 1 1/2 lengths back to Giant Game (Giant's Causeway) in third.

Corniche and Pappacap were also one-two across the line in Santa Anita's GI American Pharoah S. Oct. 1, the former's first try around two turns. Corniche previously rolled to a 'Rising Star' performance sprinting 5 1/2 furlongs on debut at Del Mar Sept. 4.

This is the fifth Breeders' Cup Juvenile victory for Baffert and 18th Breeders' Cup win overall.

“I knew from the [11]-hole that he was going to have to use him harder than he'd like to,” Baffert said. “Mike [Smith] is a great rider. I love him on a horse like that. You never know how good they are until you put them in a situation like that. He just kicked back in and held those horses off. It's so hard to win these races, especially when you have a favorite and you win. It's exciting. These young horses are what our whole program is about. It's a great win for the owners. I have tremendous clients.”

Baffert added, “Turning for home, this horse has a beautiful way of [going], he just, his movement, he just jumps a long ways. His mechanics, he almost has mechanics like American Pharoah. He's just got that long, loping stride. He covers a lot of ground.”

Baffert continued, “I felt bad for Chad Brown [trainer of Jack Christopher] when I heard that because I have been in those positions and you don't want to see that. You see horses scratching and it takes away from the Breeders' Cup–these races are really hard to win. You have to be lucky. You have to have a good horse. There's not a lot of margin for error.”

Smith, the all-time winningest rider in World Championships history, piloted his 27th Breeders' Cup winner aboard Corniche and third overall in the Juvenile.

“The only thing I was worried about was that he got hotter [before the race] than he ever had,” Smith said. “It just made me get calmer. I don't think I have ever been so calm in a big race. I just sat really still, he caught a flyer leaving the gate and just left him alone.”

As Medina Spirit's GI Kentucky Derby win remains in the balance due to a well-documented betamethasone positive, horses trained by Baffert were subject to enhanced scrutiny for this weekend's Championships. Furthermore, with Baffert banned from Churchill Downs Inc. racetracks for three years, Corniche didn't earn any points on the Road to the Kentucky Derby in Friday's Juvenile, which offered 20-8-4-2 points.

“Well the Derby is a long ways off, so right now my focus was just getting here and we'll see how it plays out,” Baffert said. “And there's still a lot of things going on and so… and, really, there's not much to talk about that right now, just, like I said, the main thing is to keep him healthy, that's number one, we have a really good horse, and we have to keep him healthy and the Derby, that's a long ways off still, so a lot can happen between now and then and we'll see how it–we got to see how it plays out.”

Peter Fluor and K.C. Weiner's Speedway Stables have also campaigned the Baffert-trained GISW Collected, runner-up to Gun Runner in the 2017 GI Breeders' Cup Classic at this venue. The duo continued to show their support for Baffert in the post-race press conference.

“Actually, K.C. and I never thought about moving the horse to a different trainer,” Fluor said. “We talked to Bob right after we bought the horse, he liked the horse, and so the horse was always coming to Bob. And three races and kind of look how he's done, so, with a great deal of thanks to Bob, and that's where we are.”

Fluor added, “This race was such a big race for Corniche and what it means to him and his 2-year old standing. And we have said–and Bob's doing a great job and we have a better chance of winning this race with our friend Bob Baffert and that's what happened. So we're kind of enjoying moment and down the road we'll focus on that later on, but thank you.”

Pedigree Notes:

Corniche–the $1.5-million OBS April topper selected by Speedway advisor Marette Farrell–is one of 51 stakes winners/28 graded stakes winners/12 Grade I winners for Quality Road. Quality Road is also the sire of fellow Breeders' Cup winners: Caledonia Road, City of Light and Hootenanny. Corniche, a son of six-time GSW and GI Matriarch S. runner-up Wasted Tears (Najran), was led out unsold on a bid of $385,000 at KEESEP last year, but turned in a smooth sales breeze in :10 flat to become one of two horses to eclipse the seven-figure barrier in Ocala. Wasted Tears, also responsible for the late stakes-placed Coffee Crush (Medaglia d'Oro), had a filly by Mendelssohn in 2020. She brought $750,000 from B.B.E. at this year's Keeneland September sale. Speedway Stables and Baffert also teamed up for a win with Quality Road's 'Rising Star' Roadster in the 2019 GI Santa Anita Derby and a runner-up finish in the GI Malibu S.

Friday, Del Mar
TVG BREEDERS' CUP JUVENILE PRESENTED BY THOROUGHBRED AFTERCARE ALLIANCE-GI, $1,840,000, Del Mar, 11-5, 2yo, c/g, 1 1/16m, 1:42.50, ft.
1–CORNICHE, 122, c, 2, by Quality Road
                1st Dam: Wasted Tears (MGSW & GISP, $941,463),
                                by Najran
                2nd Dam: Wishes and Roses, by Greinton (GB)
                3rd Dam: Anniversary Wish, by Beau's Eagle
'TDN Rising Star'. ($385,000 RNA Ylg '20 KEESEP; $1,500,000
2yo '21 OBSAPR). O-Speedway Stables LLC; B-Bart Evans &
Stonehaven Steadings (KY); T-Bob Baffert; J-Mike E. Smith.
$1,040,000. Lifetime Record: 3-3-0-0, $1,262,000. Werk Nick
Rating: A. Click for the eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree.
2–Pappacap, 122, c, 2, Gun Runner–Pappascat, by Scat Daddy.
O/B-Rustlewood Farm Inc (FL); T-Mark Casse. $340,000.
3–Giant Game, 122, c, 2, Giant's Causeway–Game for More, by
More Than Ready. ($500,000 Ylg '20 FTKSEL). O-West Point
Thoroughbreds and Albaugh Family Stables LLC; B-H. Allen
Poindexter (KY); T-Dale L. Romans. $180,000.
Margins: 1 3/4, 1HF, 2HF. Odds: 1.40, 15.10, 21.90.
Also Ran: Commandperformance, Oviatt Class-(DH), Pinehurst-(DH), American Sanctuary, Double Thunder, Barossa, Jasper Great, Tough to Tame. Scratched: Jack Christopher.
Click for the Equibase.com chart, the TJCIS.com PPs or the free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree. VIDEO, sponsored by TVG.

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