New York Going Strong

A registered New York-bred filly (hip 752) by Central Banker posted one of only two :9 4/5 works Friday. Three Diamond Farm's Kirk Wycoff signed the ticket as Bronco Bloodstock when he went to $32,000 to purchase the filly last year at the Fasig-Tipton Saratoga New York-Bred Yearling Sale. It was one of five yearling purchases made by Bronco Bloodstock over the two-day sale. Four of those five yearlings are being resold at OBS April, with two (hip 637 and hip 253) joining hip 752 by working in :9 4/5 earlier in the week. The last of the four (hip 869) is expected to breeze Saturday. All four hips sell with the Wavertree Stables consignment.

“It's two chances for the price of one,” said Ciaran Dunne of Wavertree Stables. “Kirk Wycoff is in a spot where, if something happened and he wasn't able to sell, then he's quite happy to race. That's the main appeal of the New York-breds. He likes to race at Saratoga, so he tried to pick some that he thought fit that bill.”

After several nice days of breeze-friendly weather, including a tail wind down the lane, conditions weren't quite as kind to workers Friday.

“She [hip 752] was fortunate enough that she got out there before the wind got up,” Dunne said. “I think the track was fair. We expected her to work well. I think the main difference today is that we've had the tail wind all week and then it turns around and it's in their face, so that was a double whammy.”

Hip 752 is the second foal out of the unraced Tanmawwy (Candy Ride {Arg}), a daughter of group-placed Wasseema (Danzig) and a half-sister to stakes-placed Ekhtibaar (Bernardini). This is also the family of French group winner Funny Kid (Lemon Drop Kid) and MGSW Candy Man Rocket (Candy Ride {Arg}).

The same line of storms that canceled Thursday's under-tack show dropped north of an inch of rain around the Ocala area, but Dunne was quick to compliment track conditions even after the deluge.

“The track is fine.” he said. “That's the great thing about this surface is that, even after weather like that, it's still usable and it's still safe. The wind was the bigger factor today and she was lucky to get out there early.”

Sellers, Dunne included, continue to look forward to OBS April off of a strong and steady March renewal.

Hip 752 | Judit Seipert

“We're cautiously optimistic,” said Dunne. “March was solid without being outstanding and, I think as April gets stronger, it puts more pressure on March. People know there are 1200 hips more to come, so it's easier to sit back [in March] and say you'll wait a little. But April is obviously the big one now, so we've been optimistic.”

Also working in :9 4/5 Friday was hip 839, a colt by Army Mule out of Waltzing (Candy Ride {Arg}), who is a half-sister to graded winner Dancing Solo (Giant's Causeway) and Grade I-placed Dancing (Bernardini). The dark bay is consigned by Omar Ramirez Bloodstock on behalf of Eric Delvalle, who purchased him for $45,000 at last year's Keeneland September sale. Also on behalf of Delvalle, Ramirez sent out a filly by Omaha Beach (hip 308) to work the furlong in :9 3/5 during Monday's second session of the under-tack show.

A colt from the first crop of McKinzie (hip 862) was responsible for Friday's fastest quarter-mile work, working in :21. Out of a stakes-winning first dam, the juvenile, consigned by Pick View LLC, sold for $110,000 at Keeneland last September to Stock Thoroughbreds.

The under-tack show continues Saturday with hips 864-1035, with an additional day added Sunday for hips 1036-1208 to compensate for Thursday's unexpected cancellation. The OBS Spring sale will be held Tuesday through Friday, with bidding starting each day at 10:30 a.m.

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Saturday, April 13, 2024
1st-FKS, ¥10,480,000 ($68k), Maiden, 3yo, 1150m
ECORO KAISER (c, 3, American Pharoah–High Heeled Girl, by Malibu Moon), a $180,000 purchase at the 2022 Keeneland September Sale, was hammered down to Emmanuel de Seroux's Narvick International for $300,000 after breezing an eighth of a mile in :10 flat ahead of last year's OBS April Sale. The colt's dam, a $75,000 acquisition by Stonehaven Steadings at Keeneland November in 2016, is a daughter of two-time stakes winner and multiple Grade I-placed High Heeled Hope (Salt Lake), also the dam of Grade III winner Lady T N T (Justin Phillip). The mare's current 2-year-old, a filly by Nyquist, made $750,000 at this year's OBS March sale after hammering for $250,000 at KEESEP last fall. B-Stonehaven Steadings (KY)

2nd-NKY, ¥10,480,000 ($68k), Maiden, 3yo, 1800m
TOKUSHI GENERAL (JPN) (c, 3, Omaha Beach–Lucky Number, by Smart Strike), knocked down for $110,000 with this colt in utero at the 2020 Keeneland November Sale, is out of an unraced half-sister to GISW Got Lucky (A.P. Indy), the dam of SW & GSP Slip Mahoney (Arrogate) and GSP Overtook (Curlin). The Grade III-winning third dam, a full-sister to champion Rhythm, produced MGSW/GISP Daydreaming (A.P. Indy), GISW Girolamo (A.P. Indy), MGSW/GISP Acclerator (A.P. Indy) and the dam of GI Kentucky Derby winner Super Saver (Maria's Mon) and GSWs Cyrus Alexander (Medaglia d'Oro) and Brethren (Distorted Humor). B-Yuki Dendo

3rd-HSN, ¥10,480,000 ($68k), Maiden, 3yo, 2000m
XEBEC (JPN) (c, 3, Gun Runner–Stellar Agent, by More Than Ready) is the first foal from his dam, a longshot third in the GI Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies' Turf in 2018 and sold carrying this colt for $400,000 at KEENOV in 2020. A daughter of the stakes-placed Lawn Party (Medaglia d'Oro), Stellar Agent is a half-sister to SW Anaconda (Pioneerof the Nile) and the deeper female family includes champions Flanders (Seeking the Gold) and her daughter Surfside (Seattle Slew). Ryusei Sakai rides for Yahagi. B-Mishima Bokujo

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OCALA, FL – With a $1-million Authentic colt early in the session and a $1.8-million Win Win Win filly late in the day, the Ocala Breeders' Sales Company's March Sale of 2-Year-Olds matched its 2023 number of five seven-figure juveniles and the auction concluded its three-day run Thursday with another strong renewal.

“Overall, it was a terrific sale and we are looking forward to April,” said OBS Director of Sales Tod Wojciechowski.

Through three sessions, 446 horses sold for $66,437,600. The average of $148,963 dipped 5.0% from 2023 and the median of $75,000 was down 6.3%. The buy-back rate was 25.3%. It was 23.2% at the close of bidding last year.

In its ninth renewal as an open sale, the March auction has now produced back-to-back competitive editions and multiple seven-figure offerings for the third straight year.

“I think consignors are probably more comfortable and feel more confident that they can put a horse in either March or April and do well,” Wojciechowski said. “It doesn't have to be either/or. It can be both. And the way we set these sales up, if you have a horse that is ready now, he is March-type of horse and if he needs just a little more time, he is an April horse, and if he needs even more time than that, he is a June horse. I think when we opened this sale up there were probably some reservations and concerns and there was a little bit of a sit-back-and-watch attitude, but I think that comfort level is there now. The consignors who have brought those type of horses the last couple of years have been rewarded and the rest of the consignors have seen that.”

Bloodstock agent Marette Farrell saw the results of that increased confidence in the March market on the OBS sales grounds this week.

“I thought the sale was deep with good horses and there were a lot of very athletic horses to choose from,” Farrell said. “I think the consignors did a good job bringing early, athletic horses here. Horses who were forward, they weren't afraid and didn't feel like they had to wait for the April sale. One consignor said to me, 'If it's a good horse, it will be found.' If it's showing a little more precocity, they are happy to bring it to this sale because they are going to find the real athletes.”

A Florida-bred filly by first-crop sire Win Win Win became the sale's highest-priced offering when selling to Amr Zedan for $1.8 million. The filly was the highest-priced horse ever sold by the O'Farrell family's historic Ocala Stud.

“They are a legacy consignor here at OBS,” said Wojciechowski. “Their history and reputation within the industry is important to both OBS and to the industry. So to see them do well was very gratifying.”

Ocala Stud's sale-topping Win Win Win filly | Photos by Z

The sale topper provided an exclamation point on a strong showing for the Florida breeding and racing industry, with a pair of seven-figure juveniles set to join the barns of trainers based in the state.

“I think what it shows is that Florida is still loaded with quality horses and quality horsemen,” Wojciechowski said.

It was the second year in a row that Zedan has walked away with the top-priced horse at the March sale. The Saudi businessman purchased subsequent Grade I winner Muth (Good Magic) for $2 million last year.

The end results of the March sale continued to show a polarization in the market.

“This year, we had a lot of horses in that middle market over the first couple of days and it's been a little tough,” admitted consignor David Scanlon. “Overall, the market has been a little bit challenging. When everything lines up, you get rewarded. Really rewarded. But the other ones that you need $100,000 for, it's been a struggle. You have to be realistic and set your reserves right. It keeps you humble.”

Farrell speculated buyers in the middle market may be taking a wait-and-see approach to the juvenile sales season.

“It's becoming increasingly the same,” she said. “The top horses are definitely gathering momentum and there is a little bit of a dearth in the rest of the market. But I think it's also because it is the first sale of the season, so some people are sitting on their hands a little bit for a lower-level horse now. They are saying, 'Well, April is coming up and there are 1,200 horses, maybe we could find the same for less.' But maybe they won't. I think that is the dilemma that everyone is facing.”

De Meric Sales was the leading consignor at the March sale, with 40 sold for $6,595,100, followed by Wavertree Stables with 14 sold for $4,960,000.

Hideyuki Mori was the sale's leading buyer. The Japanese trainer signed for 10 horses for $2,695,000.

Homebred Success for Ocala Stud

“I am absolutely speechless,” Ocala Stud's David O'Farrell said after watching the operation's homebred filly (hip 788) from the first crop of Win Win Win sell for a sale-topping $1.8 million to Amr Zedan Thursday at OBS. “I don't know whether to laugh or cry. It's incredible.”

O'Farrell knew the filly was special even before the striking bay turned in her track-record equaling :20 1/5 work during last week's under-tack preview.

“We weren't totally surprised,” O'Farrell said after watching the filly sell. “She prepped extremely well, all completely on her own. I didn't tell people what the prep time was because I don't think they would believe me. But I was super excited coming into the breeze show because I knew she was special and we were expecting that kind of breeze from her.”

David O'Farrell | Photos by Z

O'Farrell continued, “She is just a special filly. The fastest that we've had and we've been doing these 2-year-old sales a long time. She has just been a spectacular filly. She performed every time that we sent her out to the racetrack and she came back beautifully and the sky is the limit for her.”

Bred and campaigned by Live Oak Plantation, Win Win Win (Hat Trick {Jpn}) won the 2020 GI Forego S. He stands at Ocala Stud for $5,000.

“We are super excited about the stallion,” O'Farrell said. “We love what we are seeing. We have more to come in the later sales and later crops and we think he has a huge future.”

Ocala Stud has grown a reputation as launching pad for stallions to begin their careers in Central Florida before making the trek north to Kentucky. Recent stallions to take that path include Girvin and Kantharos.

“To recruit the stallion [Win Win Win] and bring on great partners in Live Oak, who bred and raced the horse, and also Airdrie Stud is a partner and to support him heavily and to carry him all the way to the 2-year-old sales for our own crop, is super rewarding,” O'Farrell said. “And to get him off to a great start, we couldn't be happier about his prospects.”

Asked what he was seeing in the stallion's first crops, O'Farrell said, “Just a ton of athleticism, super versatile, good-looking horses with big rear ends. Very smart, very quick and very athletic.”

The topping Win Win Win filly | Photos by Z/Joe DiOrio

The $1.8-million juvenile is from the same family that has put her breeder on the GI Kentucky Derby trail this year with GIII Holy Bull S. winner Hades (Awesome Slew). Ocala Stud purchased the filly's second dam, Lady Discreet (Boundary), for $45,000 from the E. P. Robsham dispersal at the 2004 OBS October sale.

Lady Discreet produced The Shady Lady (Quality Road) in 2013 and that unraced mare is the dam of Hades. Two years later, the mare produced Unanimity (Union Rags), the dam of hip 788, who RNA'd for $65,000 at the 2017 OBS March sale and was winless in three starts for the O'Farrells.

Unanimity produced a colt by Gretzky the Great this year. She also has a yearling colt by Win Win Win. @JessMartiniTDN

Wow Wow Wow

Moments before Hip 788 was to stroll into the OBS sales ring, the buzz began to intensify. Ocala Stud's daughter of Win Win Win was certainly no secret following a sparkling quarter-mile display in :20.1 last Saturday. With the bids coming hard and fast from several points in the pavilion, the price quickly surpassed the seven-figure mark and the volleys didn't seem to be slowing down any time soon. When the dust had settled, it was Donato Lanni–bidding on behalf of Amr Zedan–who held the hot draw, securing the filly for $1.8 million.

“Nothing surprises me at these sales anymore,” said Lanni. “Everyone knew she was the best. I'm just happy we got her.”

Donato Lanni | Photos by Z

He continued, “You come to a sale like this every year and you never know what you are going to see. That's what's great about the 2-year-old sales, there are some horses that just do things that are out of the ordinary. Everyone witnessed that she had a breeze that was unbelievable. And she did the same thing the week before.”

According to Lanni, the Florida-bred filly will head west to join Zedan's regular trainer, Bob Baffert.

'She is a cool filly,” Lanni said. “Every time I saw her, she was out of her stall. She just took it all in stride. She was easy to like.”

A member of the first crop of the Ocala Stud-based sire Win Win Win, the Mar. 9 foal is a daughter of the unplaced mare Unanimity (Union Rags), herself out of Lady Discreet (Boundary)–a half-sister to Grade I winners Discreet Cat and Discreetly Mine. The juvenile's 9-year-old dam, who is a half-sister to SW and GSP Courtesan (Street Sense) and SW Chary (Montbrook), RNA'd for $65,000 at this venue in 2017.

“We always come to the sales and look at horses by sires that are a bit obscure or haven't had a runner yet,” explained Lanni. “What's great is that you never know where the good ones will come from.”

With Ocala Stud's influence running through the March sale's topper top and bottom, Lanni was clearly impressed with the operation.

“She comes from a great outfit and they are honest people and I trust them,” he underscored. “And when they breeze one, you never really see one like that. She was special.”

When asked if this was his first Win Win Win purchase, Lanni quipped, “I hope she's a win win win.”  @CBossTDN

Authentic Colt Brings a Cool Million

A colt from the first crop of GI Kentucky Derby winner Authentic (hip 601) provided a jolt to the early stages of Thursday's final session of the OBS March sale when selling for $1 million to an online bid from John Stewart's Resolute Bloodstock. Consigned by Hartley/DeRenzo Thoroughbreds, the chestnut worked a furlong last week in :9 4/5. Randy Hartley and Dean DeRenzo's operation purchased the colt for $260,000 at last year's Keeneland September sale.

“Absolutely stunning physical,” Resolute's Gavin O'Connor said. “His breeze was so fluent and he looked fantastic going a fast time.”

Hip 601 | Photos by Z

The juvenile is out of stakes-placed Ruby Trust (Smart Strike), a daughter of graded winner Queen of the Catsle (Tale of the Cat).

“The cross through Authentic with Into Mischief over Smart Strike and his overall physical would make him a standout in any stallion barn in Kentucky,” O'Connor said.

Resolute Bloodstock purchased five juveniles during the OBS March sale, including a $525,000 daughter of American Pharoah (hip 370) and a $500,000 filly by Munnings (hip 453).

The result was the first million-dollar sale for Authentic, winner of the 2020 Derby and GI Breeders' Cup Classic. The Spendthrift stallion was represented by a $900,000 colt at last year's Keeneland September sale, as well two $875,000 sons at that sale and a third at the Fasig-Tipton Saratoga sale.

Hartley and DeRenzo, who sold the $1.5-million Not This Time colt during Wednesday's session of the March sale, came back later Thursday to sell a filly by Uncle Mo (hip 681) for $600,000 to Seth Morris, as agent for Hit the Bid Stables. The bay was a $290,000 Fasig-Tipton July purchase last summer.  @JessMartiniTDN

Bernardini Filly to Speedway

A filly by Bernardini (hip 613) will be joining Peter Fluor and K.C. Weiner's Speedway Stables after bloodstock agent Marette Farrell went to $875,000 to acquire the juvenile from the de Meric Sales consignment early in Thursday's final session of the OBS March sale.

Marette Farrell | Photos by Z

“She's a beautiful filly,” Farrell said. “Both Peter Fluor and K.C. Weiner were here themselves and they really liked her. And we love the fact she is by Bernardini. She traces to a really good family.”

The juvenile is out of graded-placed Salamera (Successful Appeal) and from the family of Grade I runners Piedi Bianchi and Outadore. She was bred by the Eisamans' Eico Ventures, which purchased the mare for $300,000 at the 2016 Keeneland November sale.

“She looks super athletic and we think she will come around quickly and they will have a lot of fun with her,” Farrell said of the filly who worked a furlong last week in :10 flat.

During Wednesday's second session of the auction, Farrell purchased a colt by Mitole for $725,000 on behalf of Speedway. Both juveniles will be trained by Bob Baffert. @JessMartiniTDN

Mori Extends to $800k for Son of Constitution

Ever present at North America's major sales in his trademark red jacket, Hideyuki Mori landed a son of Constitution for $800,000 early in Thursday's session at OBS. Consigned by Scanlon Training and Sales, Hip 617 breezed an eighth of a mile in :9.4 last week.

“He liked the build of the horse and of course, the most important factor was his performance on the track,” said Hideyuki Mori through an interpreter. “You get good value for the horses here. They are nice and inexpensive. In Japan, the horses are nice too, but expensive. They are also very nice here, but more affordable. That's why he keeps coming back.”

Hideyuki Mori | Photos by Z

Bred by Don Alberto, the chestnut is out of Argentine multiple group winner Sand Puce (Arg) (Footstepsinthesand).

“The intention is to get these horses to the races as early as possible. His horses usually make their debuts early, which is why they can go on to be successful. They're ready to return at three and then target group company. That's how he likes to train the horses he buys here.”

The Mar. 23 foal RNA'd for $385,000 at the Fasig-Tipton Saratoga Select Sale last summer. A full-brother to the colt, Burden of Proof, sold for $700,000 in Saratoga in 2022.

“He was training really well coming in here,” said David Scanlon. “Constitution has also been doing really well, his horses have been doing well. He has proven to show horses getting ready for Classic races. Based on the pedigree and the strength of his work, he was rewarded.

“He walked well, he breezed well and is out of a hard-knocking mare. There was a lot of interest in him from all the right parties, so everything lined up.”

Also during Thursday's session, Scanlon sold Hip 641, a colt by Liam's Map, for $500,000 to MyRacehorse. @CBossTDN

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TDN: What has the reaction to Improbable's first two-year-olds been like at the sale this week?

DH: People have liked them. We're extremely bullish on this horse because he was such a sound, top racehorse, having won four Grade Is over three years of training. He was also second in the Arkansas Derby and in the Breeders' Cup Classic. So he was a really exceptional athlete. The thing about him was how sound and how good a mover he was on the racetrack. He ran for three years and had 85 works in between all those races, and he never came back to the farm except to be freshened on one occasion. So he was an extremely sound and tough racehorse. He wasn't the biggest horse. But once we got him under tack, his athleticism on the racetrack was incredible. And when you looked at his works, every one was a carbon copies of the previous one. He worked five furlongs in a minute, and was so consistent. So we were waiting to see if he transferred that athleticism to his two-year-olds. And we're very happy to see that out of the ones he had here, there were four or five of them really showed up as very, very athletic horses. So we're really excited about the future with them.

TDN: You bought one yourself.

DH: We gave $400,000 for one (hip 395) and we were underbidder on another one. This horse was a leggy horse with a lot of scope and his breeze was really, really exceptional. His gallop out was spectacular. I was on the backside and he went by me like he could go around again after going in :9 4/5. And that's really what impressed us. I had seen him at Eddie Woods's and I was impressed with how he breezed out there. He had that tremendous bounce off his back end, and he did his breeze with ease. He wasn't under stress to do it. So, what we felt when we saw him was that he was very, very athletic and looked like he'd go two turns.

TDN: What is Improbable like himself, and is he stamping these two-year-olds?

DH: He wasn't the biggest horse himself in being by City Zip. What is very encouraging is that he seems to be throwing progeny with leg and stretch and with his motion and his athleticism. He got a great book of first mares. On the class performance index, his first book of mares was second only to what Authentic got. So these are the two-year-olds we're seeing now. The way the stallion business is right now, people wait and see. So, at $15,000 (from an initial stud fee of $40,000), I think he's great value right now and based on what his two-year-olds are like, we're really excited about what runners he's going to have. Obviously, he's in that third year and people are just waiting to see what happens.

TDN: He won Grade Is at two and four. What does that say to you?

Improbable (#2) rearing up in the gate before the start of the Whitney | Sarah Andrew

DH: He was a very good, undefeated two-year-old, winning the Los Al Futurity, and also the Street Sense at Churchill on the Breeders' Cup undercard, as well as his maiden. And then at three, quite honestly, he lost his way a little bit. He was second in the Arkansas Derby, but he had an incident in the gate in the previous race, the Rebel. That was in the spring of his three-year-old year. He was always an uptight horse, and after that, he was a little bit tentative in the gate and I think it affected his performance. But then he matured and relaxed and really showed just how good a horse he was as a four-year-old. So I think that was kind of how his career developed. It wasn't through any unsoundness or ability. But then we really saw what he was when he overcame all of that as a four-year-old, winning the Hollywood Gold Cup, Whitney, and Awesome Again and running second in the Breeders' Cup Classic to Authentic. Bob Baffert, the incredible horseman that he is, did such a good job getting him back to his best form.

All the trainers were saying these two-year-olds were beautiful movers. But we had to wait and see if they were going to show you that speed and, and he's answered that question with these :9 4/5 breezers. So that's very encouraging.

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OCALA, FL – With a pair of colts topping the seven-figure mark, the tempo picked up during the second session of the Ocala Breeders' Sales Company's March Sale of 2-Year-Olds in Training Wednesday. With 144 horses sold Wednesday for $25,488,000, the session average was $177,000–up 6.2% from last year's corresponding session–and the median of $87,500 declined 2.8% from a year ago. The buy-back rate was 31.8%.

“I thought it was a very good session,” said OBS Director of Sales Tod Wojciechowski. “It felt like there was activity all through the day at all levels. The numbers bear that out. It felt really good today.”

Through the first two days of the three-day auction, 307 horses have grossed $47,164,000. The average of $153,629 is down 2.2% from last year's corresponding figure and the median is down 11.8% to $75,000. The cumulative buy-back at the end of Wednesday's session was 26.7%. It was 27.3% at the close of the second session last year.

Trainer Jose D'Angelo made the highest bid of Wednesday's session when going to $1.5 million to acquire a colt by Not This Time. Earlier in the session, Ramiro Restrepo of Marquee Bloodstock went to $1.3 million to acquire a colt by Flatter. With that colt to be trained by Gustavo Delgado, both million-dollar juveniles will be kept in training with Florida-based trainers.

“It's exciting for the future of Florida racing,” Wojciechowski said.

With one session still to come, this year's OBS March sale has now produced three seven-figure juveniles. The entire 2023 sale had five 2-year-olds reach that threshold.

A total of 23 horses have sold for $500,000 or more through two sessions, compared to 14 to reach that level at the same point last year.

The OBS March sale concludes with a final session Thursday beginning at 11 a.m.

D'Angelo Looking for More Time

Jose D'Angelo, who has a colt on the GI Kentucky Derby trail with Morplay Racing's No More Time (Not This Time), was already looking ahead to next year's Triple Crown chase when he purchased another colt by Not This time for $1.5 million in Ocala Wednesday. D'Angelo said he purchased the colt for a partnership of owners, which includes Morplay's Rich Mendez. Mendez had partnered with Randy Hartley and Dean DeRenzo to purchase the colt for $900,000 at last year's Fasig-Tipton Saratoga sale.

Jose D'Angelo | Photos by Z

“I train No More Time, so we were looking at another son of Not This Time,” D'Angelo said after signing the ticket on hip 533 in the name of Pro Racing Stable. “He had an amazing work with a nice gallop out. And he looked mentally very focused. We are on the way to the Derby with No More Time. And I spoke with all of the owners and I told them this was a good opportunity to get a good horse for racing next year. Rich Mendez owns No More Time and I train horses for him. So hopefully we can replay this story next year with another son of Not This Time.”

Consigned by Hartley/DeRenzo Thoroughbreds, the colt is out of Pammy Whammy (War Front) and is a half-brother to stakes-placed Pammy's Ready (More Than Ready). He worked a furlong last week in :9 4/5.

Mendez was standing next to Randy Hartley and Dean DeRenzo when the pinhookers acquired the colt at last year's Saratoga sale.

“We paid a lot of money for him at the yearling sale,” Hartley said. “We thought he was a beautiful horse at Saratoga. We took a shot and brought him here and he worked beautiful. It is bittersweet because we loved the colt so much. We wanted to hang on, but we're here to sell horses.”

Of the colt's final price, Hartley said, “The sale has been all or nothing, so we figured it was going to be really big or nothing. Jose got the colt and we are so proud of him because he also trains some for us, too. He has our horse [No More Time] that we're headed to the Derby with, too. There are a bunch of his people that just love Not This Time, so they made a deal together. We hope they can be successful.”

A native of Venezuela, D'Angelo has been training in the U.S. for five years now. He works alongside his father, who was a champion trainer in their native country.

“I arrived in the U.S. in 2019 and in 2020, I got Jesus' Dream, who brought me to the Breeders' Cup and the Preakness S. and Dubai World Cup and Pegasus World Cup. He put me on the map.”

D'Angelo hopes No More Time will help continue his career's upward trajectory. The sophomore won the GIII Sam F. Davis S. in February and was second last week in the GIII Lambholm South Tampa Bay Derby.

“This is the first year with my babies,” he said. “I am very happy and I feel blessed. Probably next year we will have better babies.”

Hip 533 | Photos by Z/Joe DiOrio

As for plans for his newest Not This Time colt, D'Angelo said, “We will let him decompress for 15 days on the farm and later we will send him to Palm Meadows where I am getting all my babies. We will prep him for Keeneland or Saratoga. We don't know how early he can go, we are just going to do whatever is best for him and see what happens.” @JessMartiniTDN

Flatter Colt Lights Up OBS

A colt by Flatter (hip 494) became the second seven-figure juvenile of the March sale when bringing a final bid of $1.3 million from bloodstock agent Ramiro Restrepo. Restrepo, who signed for the colt in the name of his Marquee Bloodstock, said he had purchased the colt on behalf of a group of international partners, including Gustavo Delgado, who will train the youngster. Delgado has already had success with offspring of Flatter. The stallion is the sire of Paola Queen, who won the 2016 GI Test S. for the trainer.

Hip 494 | ThoroStride

The dark bay colt, who worked a furlong in :9 4/5 during last week's under-tack show, is out of Napier (Midnight Lute), a half-sister to Grade I winner Obligatory (Curlin). He was consigned by Sequel Bloodstock on behalf of his breeder, Gentry Stable.

“The family, with the dam being a half-sister to Obligatory, it's four generations of Juddmonte,” Restrepo said. “You have to respect that type of breeding program. So this is a horse that, if he goes on to do what you buy these kind of horses to do, eventually he will be a sire. He has that kind of female family supporting him.”

Delgado and his son and assistant Gustavo, Jr., as well as Restrepo hit the big stage with a partnership which tasted victory with Mage in last year's GI Kentucky Derby.

The younger Delgado has plenty of optimism for this newest acquisition.

“Gustavo Delgado, Jr. was with me at the sale and he loved the horse so much and was crucial in getting this done,” Restrepo said.

Of the partnership, Restrepo added, “The group is going to be comprised of several partners, both domestic and international. I was just in the Middle East for the G1 Saudi Cup and Super Saturday [at Meydan] and met with some interesting clients over there. So this will be another interesting hodge-podge mix of characters into this gumbo and we are always open to bringing other partners into this group. It's never one locked-up team. With are using a the-more-the-merrier approach. We will race together and hopefully celebrate together.” @JessMartiniTDN

Chasanoff's Audible Pays Off

Robert Chasanoff of Gentry Stable typically sells his foals as yearlings, but the breeder decided to hold back a Flatter colt last year and the decision paid dividends Wednesday in Ocala when the juvenile, consigned by Becky Thomas's Sequel Bloodstock, sold for $1.3 million to Ramiro Restrepo's Marquee Bloodstock.

Robert Chasanoff with daughter, Carlos Manresa, Becky Thomas, Ramiro Restrepo, and Tom Bozarth | Photos by Z

“Becky has been raving about the horse in her own low key way,” Chasanoff said after watching the colt go through the ring. “Obviously, the horse has done really well. He worked so well and we had just positive feedback. I thought he would sell well, but he exceeded my expectations. But he has exceeded my expectations every step of the way since he's been a foal.”

The colt is out of Napier (Midnight Lute), a half-sister to Grade I winner Obligatory (Curlin). The mare was purchased by Chasanoff's bloodstock advisor Tom Bozarth for $130,000 at the 2018 Keeneland November sale.

“I only have three broodmares and I typically sell my yearlings,” Chasanoff said. “We liked this horse enough to keep him back. He was a little immature and I didn't think we would get full value. I thought, well I haven't trained one in a while, maybe I will send him to Becky and we will train him or race him. The next thing I knew, he was in the sale.”

Chasanoff looked at Thomas and said with a laugh, “She thought he was too good for me.”

Chasanoff gave credit for Wednesday's success to the entire team surrounding the colt.

“Tom Bozarth is responsible for all my matings and he has been for 25 years,” he said. “All of my success is thanks to Tom. The colt was raised by Mike Owens at Cobra Farm, and of course Becky. Becky took him from being just a nice horse to that. It was all Carlos [Manresa] and Becky and the team at Sequel. I couldn't say enough about them.”

Napier, who RNA'd for $285,000 at the 2022 Keeneland November sale, has a yearling colt by Maxfield and was bred back Wednesday as her 2-year-old prepared to go through the sales ring in Ocala.

“She is being bred today to Elite Power,” Chasanoff said.

Of the sale result, he added, “I am gratified beyond all reasonable expectation. When you do business with Tom Bozarth or Becky and Carlos, good things will happen. That will be the best comment I could make.”  @JessMartiniTDN

Nyquist Filly to Casse, Eventually

A filly by Nyquist (hip 304) jumped to the lead early in the second session of the OBS March sale Wednesday when selling to bloodstock agent Justin Casse, bidding on behalf of an undisclosed client, for $750,000. Consigned by Wavertree Stables, the juvenile is out of High Heeled Girl (Malibu Moon), a daughter of Grade I placed High Heeled Hope (Salt Lake) and a half-sister to graded winners Lady T N T (Justin Phillip) and Sweet Hope (Lemon Drop Kid).

Hip 304 | Photos by Z

“I love the sire,” Casse said of the filly's appeal. “And I think she was a beautiful physical. She'd catch your eye just walking by. She was just that type. And then what she did on the track was very special as well. She put in a very good time and she's an excellent mover and she did it right.”

The filly worked a furlong in :9 4/5 at last week's under-tack preview.

“I don't know which trainer she is going to,” Casse said. “She doesn't seem like the type that needs any time. She could probably go right on. She looks like a promising 2-year-old type. But as of this moment, there are no plans.”

The chestnut filly was originally led out of the ring at $850,000, but after some confusion and much discussion, she was ultimately sold for $750,000.

“I am not entirely sure what happened,” Casse said. “It looked like basically a bid might have been taken that was supposed to be lower than what they were put in at–it looked like somebody was put in at $800,000 and they were trying to be $775,000. I think there was a bit of that. That was my take, from what I could tell. We are very happy to have the horse at the end of the day at that number after the dust had settled.”

Also unsure how the kerfuffle had occurred, Wavertree's Ciaran Dunne said, “I haven't had time to go and talk to OBS and see what actually did happen. Unfortunately, you have to make game time decisions and we couldn't sit around, we had to make a decision and we made the decision to go ahead and sell her. We probably would have been very happy without the shenanigans and when the check arrives, we will probably forget about the shenanigans and be happy again.”

The filly was purchased by the Red Wings pinhooking partnership of Paul Reddam, who campaigned her GI Kentucky Derby-winning sire, and Dunne for $250,000 at last year's Keeneland September sale.

“She's by a stallion, for us, that is probably one of the top stallions in the country,” Dunne said. “I think he's an amazing stallion–dirt, long, short, it doesn't matter. They are horses that are great to train. We have been fortunate to be around enough of them because to our connection with Mr. Reddam. So he's always a stallion who is high on the radar for us. Physically, I thought she was as good a filly as you're going to get. Great shape, great hind end on her, moved good, and she did everything we wanted her to do on the racetrack.”

Later in the session, Wavertree sold a colt from the first crop of graded stakes winner Shancelot (hip 421) for $650,000 to Bill Childs. The juvenile, who worked a furlong last week in :9 4/5, was purchased by Dunne's Waves Bloodstock partnership for $130,000 at Keeneland last September.

Hip 421 | Photos by Z

“He brought all a Shancelot was ever going to bring,” Dunne said. “He was a beautiful colt when we bought him, so it wasn't rocket science. He matured just as you would want him to and he performed on the racetrack. I think he brought as much as a first-season stallion people probably forgotten was at stud could bring.”

The speedy Shancelot won the 2019 GII Amsterdam S. and was second in that year's GI Breeders' Cup Sprint, but questions surrounded him as he began his stud career when his trainer Jorge Navarro was sentenced to five years in prison for employing performance-enhancing drugs.

Asked if there were any concerns about buying a six-figure yearling by the stallion last fall, Dunne said, “Maybe I am naive, but we've been doing this a long time and I'm not sure that anybody has ever come up with anything that can make one go faster than it is. I remember seeing that horse win at Saratoga and I was blown away.” @JessMartiniTDN

One and Done for Speedway

Peter and Ann Fluor and Kane Weiner's Speedway Stables don't depend on numbers when attending the season's biggest sales. But what they lack in quantity they more than make up for in quality, and employed that formula again Wednesday when landing Hip 445, a colt by Mitole, for $725,000. Peter Fluor handled the bidding duties for the dark bay, who was the sole purchase for the team through the first two days of the sale.

Hip 445 | Photos by Z

“It was a little beyond where we had hoped he'd be. We are aware of the fact it is usually all or nothing,” admitted agent Marette Farrell. “We didn't want to pay any more, but we are happy to get the horses. We had to stretch a little bit, but we were at the tipping point.”

Consigned by Eddie Woods, the son of Midnight Magic (Midnight Lute) breezed :9.4 during Friday's breeze session. The Florida-bred colt is a half-brother to GIII Delaware Oaks winner Midnight Stroll (Not This Time) and stakes-placed Atthecrossroads (Practical Joke). Midnight Magic is a half-sister to Grade III winner Coalport (Kitten's Joy), in addition to French listed winner Jolly Good Kitten (Kitten's Joy).

“He had a flawless breeze and we just loved his gallop out,” recalled Farrell. “An obvious selling point was that he was by Mitole, who was the champion first-season sire last year. However, what we really liked about this particular colt was the way he was built. He had more Midnight Lute in him, more stretch and more length. [Trainer] John and Tonya Terranova train [GSW Midnight Stroll], so we were aware of that.”

According to Farrell, the $250,000 OBS October purchase will ultimately head to Bob Baffert.

“We hope he will be a Del Mar horse,” she said.

In addition to the obvious talent witnessed on the track last week, Farrell also pointed to some of the more intangible factors that went into pursuing the colt.

“It was the class of the horse. We went back after we bought him and there he was, head out of the stall eating hay and very calm. I love that too,” explained Farrell. “Angela [Woods] told us he's a highly intelligent horse and every day when they clean his stall, he's back on the clean part of the shavings laying down. To me, growing up in Ireland, that was something that was really important. The really good horses really take care of themselves and are easy on themselves mentally.”

She continued, “When they go to the next level, it's stress 24/7. They go into a tense environment every morning. So if they can zone out and chill, I think they are easy on themselves mentally and physically as a result.”

From limited 2-year-old purchases over the past few years, Speedway has unearthed a handful of gold nuggets at OBS, most notably GI Pacific Classic scorer Collected (City Zip), a $170,000 OBS March buy in 2015, and juvenile champion Corniche (Quality Road), secured for $1.5 million at the OBS Spring sale in 2021. Both colts were trained by Baffert for the majority of their careers.

“I feel really comfortable at the 2-year-old sales,” she said. “We have a great team here. At the yearling sales, sometimes it feels like 'pin the tail on the donkey'. You just don't have as much information to go by. But at the juvenile sales, there are a lot more factors to consider. And I really find that fun.”–@CBossTDN

Strong Showing for Woods at OBS

Eddie Woods usually can be counted on to come well armed to the OBS sales and this season was no different. Highlighting his consignment on the second day of the sale, the Woods team was headed by Hip 445, a colt by Mitole who realized a $725,000 final bid from Speedway Stables. Woods purchased the colt for a sale topping $250,000 at OBS last October. Also during Day 2 of the sale, Woods sold Hip 499, a filly by Twirling Candy, for $600,000 and Hip 348, a Florida-bred colt by the Lane's End sire for $550,000. Rounding out his top sales of the session was Hip 395, a $400,000 colt by freshman sire Improbable.

From 10 horses offered Wednesday, Woods got nine of the sold, with eight realizing over $200,000.

Eddie Woods | Photos by Z

“I thought he'd sell really well, but I didn't really think he'd bring over $700,000,” admitted Woods on the sale of his session topper. “We paid well for him in the beginning because he was a really good-looking yearling. He just kept getting better all winter. He stayed together and vetted well. He worked fantastic even though he worked on his wrong lead, which was a surprise because he's never put a foot wrong. But that's the way it goes. He's magnificent looking and I think he has a chance to be a really top-end horse.”

Weighing in the colt's dam, Midnight Magic (Midnight Lute), Woods added, “He's out of a good mare. I tried to buy the sister [GSW Midnight Stroll] a couple of years ago, but Tonya Terranova outbid me for her and she went on to become a graded stakes horse for them. And these horses were similar. The Midnight Lute is a big influence on that whole family.”

At this venue last year, the Woods consignment was headed by the Twirling Candy colt Top Conor, who brought $1-million from Sean Flanagan. The colt, who was the co-fourth highest priced at this venue last season, broke his maiden for Chad Brown at Gulfstream Park Feb. 17 and is targeting the GII Wood Memorial at Aqueduct Apr. 6.

Asked about his apparent affinity with the sire, Woods explained, “I've been lucky with Twirling Candy. We also had a beautiful-looking horse sell here for $550,000 here today. I actually thought he would bring a little bit more because Twirling Candy is a bit more accomplished [than Mitole] at this point. We also had a filly bring $600,000 and she was just an athlete. She was an oil painting. She did just everything right.”

However, even with the stars aligning and all the pieces falling exactly into place, Woods was quick to point out the common theme in the juvenile sales market.

“If they are good they'll give you all you need from them, but if they're not, you'll be holding on to your hat.” —@CBossTDN

The post $1.5-Million Not This Time Colt on Top as Action Ticks up at OBS March appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions.

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The post Not This Time Colt Brings $1.5M at OBS March appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions.

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The Ocala Breeders' Sales Company's March 2-Year-Olds in Training Sale opened Tuesday with a solid session, and while the 2-year-old sales are usually all about speed, the day was topped by a colt by Tapit who galloped during last week's under-tack show. From the Lothenbach dispersal, the youngster sold for $1.2 million to the partnership of West Point Thoroughbreds and D. J. Stables. He was consigned by Tom McCrocklin.

“I think it points to the fact that the under-tack show is one metric,” said OBS Director of Sales Tod Wojciechowski. “There are a lot of different metrics that people use to buy horses. The under-tack shows get talked about a lot, but it's not the only thing. There were obviously people here who felt like they could get a good read on the horse and liked what they saw at the barn and what they saw on the racetrack in the way he moved. Everybody focuses on the time because it's an easy touch point, but there are a lot of other variables and intangibles that go into that decision-making process.”

During the session, 152 horses sold for $20,844,000 for an average of $137,132 and a median of $73,500. The average was down 11% from a year ago and the median dipped 18.3%. The buy-back rate for Tuesday's session was 26.9%. It was 32.1% a year ago.

“It's hard to compare day to days after the first day, but I thought it was pretty on line with last year overall,” Wojciechowski said.

Showing the breadth of the buying bench, the top 10-priced lots were purchased by 10 different buyers.

“The buying bench was pretty varied,” Wojciechowski said. “There were a lot of different people buying horses. I felt like we have good horses spread out through the entire catalogue. We obviously had some highlights today and I think we will continue to have highlights over the next two days.”

Of the top 10 sellers Tuesday, two were from the first crop of Gainesway stallion McKinzie, with Bill Childs going to $750,000 for a colt from the Wavertree Stables consignment and Belmar Racing, R.A. Hill and Gargan going to $450,000 for a colt from the King's Equine consignment. Both colts shared bullet furlong work times of :9 4/5.

The OBS March sale continues through Thursday with sessions beginning daily at 11 a.m.

West Point, DJ Stable Unite for Tapit Colt

Proving that value rarely goes unnoticed among the savvy juvenile market buyers, Hip 173, a colt by leading sire Tapit, realized $1.2 million on the OBS March Sale's opening day. With the tempo picking up noticeably as the session progressed, West Point Thoroughbreds and D J Stable teamed up to land the opening session's sole seven-figure offering. Consigned by Tom McCrocklin, the Feb. 27 foal was a member of the Lothenbach Stables Dispersal.

Jonathan Green & Terry Finley | Photos by Z

“He's the kind that we look for. We figured he'd bring a lot of money, but I think he's got plenty of upside,” said West Point's Terry Finley. “The Tapits can be across the board in terms of their mental disposition, but he has a very cool mind and acted the right way. With these expensive horses, we tend to say the same things and just keep our fingers crossed. You just hope they live up to that expectation.”

Out of Distorted Music, herself a $190,000 Keeneland September purchase in 2011, the gray is a half-brother to Grade III winner She Can't Sing (Bernardini). The colt represents the family of GI CCA Oaks heroine Music Note, dam of G1 Dubai World Cup winner Mystic Guide, in addition to French Classic scorer Musical Chimes.

“Obviously, we have a soft spot for Tapit,” explained Finley. “We love the fact that this [colt] is big and raw.”

The dispersal came up after Bob Lothenbach died suddenly at the age of 64 last fall. All of the Lothenbach horses galloped during last week's breeze sessions.

“I didn't know [Lothenbach] but I know he had a beautiful breeding program and ran a great operation,” said Finley. “We knew we were buying something from a very effective program.”

D J Stable's Jon Green was equally enthused with Tuesday's purchase.

“You look at these dispersals, and it seems like every year one jumps out of that program. We hope it works out that way. But we really thought he was the best of that group. The fact that he was galloping and not breezing, for a big horse like that, it only added to his appeal because we felt it would be more beneficial to his development. The world is his oyster.”

Partnering on a handful of horses in the past, including Grade III winner Turned Aside (American Pharoah), longtime friends Len and Jon Green and Finley thought it seemed like the right time to take the relationship to the next level.

“We have had a couple of horses with the Greens in the past, but this is by far the best we've ever got our hands on together, so we're excited to go forward,” said Finley.

Green echoed the sentiment.

“The important thing about this horse are the people behind it. Terry and I have been talking and we were just waiting for the right horse and we felt this was absolutely the right athlete to go after. He looks like he has two-turn ability and we're going to take our time with him. This was just the right opportunity.” —@CBossTDN

Not This Time Colt Heads to Japan

A colt by Not This Time (hip 183) will be heading to Japan after selling for $850,000 to the bid of bloodstock agent Shingo Hashimoto, acting on behalf of Katsumi Yoshida. The dark bay colt was consigned by Hartley/DeRenzo Thoroughbreds on behalf of trainer Tom Durant. He worked a furlong last week in :10 flat.

“His workout was really good and his appearance was really nice,” Hashimoto said. “We really liked the colt and we are very excited about him. We will bring him back to Japan and see how he goes.”

The colt is out of Dos Vinos (Twirling Candy), a half-sister to stakes winner China Grove (City Zip) purchased by Durant for $230,000 at the 2017 Keeneland September sale.

Hashimoto, who purchased a $1.05-million son of Arrogate on behalf of Yoshida at last year's March sale, was making his second purchase of the 2024 auction with hip 183. He went to $310,000 for a filly by Take Charge Indy (hip 110) earlier in the session.

Of the March sale's appeal, Hashimoto said, “It's good to know how the horses change from what we saw at the yearling sale and how they train. I think the level of training that they do in the U.S. is very high.” @JessMartiniTDN

Colts Group Adds an Uncle Mo Juvenile

The BSW/Crow Colts Group and Spendthrift Farm partnership, which has been active at the yearling sales the last few years, supplemented its 2024 roster heading to the barn of trainer Brad Cox with the purchase of an Uncle Mo colt (hip 106) for $750,000 during Tuesday's first session of the OBS March sale. The bay colt, consigned by Pick View, is out of Canteen (Candy Ride {Arg}).

Hip 106 | Photos by Z

“Everybody on the team liked him,” Liz Crow said after signing the ticket on the juvenile. “Katelyn Jackson, Ned Toffey and his son Daniel and Seth [Semkin] and then Brad Cox, everybody on the whole team felt like he fit what we were looking for.”

The partners had success buying at OBS last year, purchasing Jimmy Winkfield S. winner Bergen (Liam's Map) for $375,000 at the OBS April sale.

“It was hard to buy yearlings last year,” Crow said. “We have a small number, we only have 10, and so this will be our 11th horse for the group.”

Stock Thoroughbreds purchased the colt for $270,000 at last year's Fasig-Tipton Saratoga sale. He worked a furlong during last week's under-tack show in :10 2/5. @JessMartiniTDN

Childs Jumps into the Fray Early at OBS

Bill Childs sat chilly until the closing moments of last year's OBS March Sale to land a Justify colt for $700,000. This year, the Texas businessman reversed course and extended to $750,000 for Hip 89, a son of freshman sire McKinzie, early in the sale.

The bay recorded a :9.4 move for Wavertree Stables during last Wednesday's breeze session.

“I really liked everything about him,” said Childs. “I liked the way he worked–that was an obvious reason. But I also liked him because I thought he'd want to go two turns.”

Bill Childs | Photos by Z

Out of Breech Inlet (Holy Bull), the Ontario-bred is a half-brother to Canadian multiple stakes winner and graded placed Merveilleux (Paynter). The colt's 14-year-old dam, a granddaughter of GISW By Land By Sea, is a half-sister to GSW Bauble Queen (Arch). In foal to Olympiad, she brought $50,000 at Keeneland November last season.

“He doesn't look like a horse that should work that fast going that short,” added Childs. “But when they do, they'll often turn out to be good.”

According to Ciaran Dunne, the colt has flourished since his arrival in September.

“He's a beautiful horse and worked really well,” he said. “He is one of those rare things, he was well sold and well bought. I think it hurt him a little bit being so early in the sale. People might have been expecting him to bring a little bit more or they weren't quite ready. But I think it was a fair price for him.”

According to Childs, the colt will go to trainer Bob Baffert, who also trained the youngster's sire, McKinzie.

“It's his first crop, so we don't know how that'll go,” he added. “But based on the way they worked here, it looks like they will be good.”

Offered at last year's Keeneland September sale, the Feb. 26 foal was secured by Ron Fein's Superfine Farm for $205,000.

Asked about the feel of the market halfway through Tuesday's session, Childs said, “It was actually a little softer than I thought. I saw a few that I thought would have brought a little more money. However, I do think it will probably get stronger as the sale goes along.”–@CBossTDN

Mischief Returns to OBS

Rarely absent from the leaderboard at any sale in the country, Into Mischief was represented by Hip 202, a colt that realized a $700,000 final bid from Muir Hut Stables. Out of GSW Electric Forest (Curlin), the bay colt is a grandson of MGSW and MGISP Forest Music (Unbridled's Song), herself responsible for graded winner Uncle chuck (Uncle Mo). Spendthrift Farm was among the underbidders on the colt.

“Muir Hut Stables has put a lot into the game,” said Southern California-based trainer Mark Glatt, stationed alongside the Muir Hutt team during the bidding. “I have been trying to get them to buy an Into Mischief for some time now. We were able to get this one, so we're excited.”

The Mar. 19 foal breezed an eighth in :10.1 during the initial breeze session last week.

“We are high on the sire, of course, but also on [broodmare sire] Curlin. This colt is a very athletic horse and seems to have talent. We hope he stays sound so we can get him to the races.”

Bred by Stonestreet Thoroughbred Holdings, the bay was consigned by Old South Farm on behalf of Bow River Ranch.

“I bought him for a new group of guys. That's their first pinhooking venture,” confirmed consignor Hoby Kight, who signed for the colt after the Oregon-based group paid $250,000 at last September's Keeneland sale.

When asked what drew him to the colt, Kight explained, “Everyone knows what I like–I like a horse with angles. I like a stretchy, big and fast horse with just enough pedigree. That's what it takes. If they can run, you're good. That's what I like to buy and this colt fit the bill.”

According to Kight, the fledgling partnership also sold Hip 19, a colt by Munnings, for $250,000, in addition to a Gun Runner colt (Hip 155) for $100,000.

“For me, the sale has been very fair so far,” Kight added. “The Munnings could have been anywhere from $250,000 to $400,000, depending on the breeze. He worked with a headwind [10.1], so that might have affected things a bit, but I thought it was fair overall.”–@CBossTDN

Munnings Filly Jump Starts March Sale

With the March sale less than half-an-hour old, a filly by Munnings (hip 26) kick started the action in Ocala Tuesday when selling for $700,000 to the bid of trainer Will Walden, acting on behalf of John Sykes's Woodford Thoroughbreds. The bay filly, consigned by Niall Brennan Stables, shared the :9 4/5 bullet on the first day of last week's under-tack show.

“I thought she had all of the parts,” Walden said. “She is a little bit on the smaller side, but with plenty of muscle. She had a great walk and temperament at the barn. I thought the breeze was outstanding. It was the best gallop out of the day and it was on the toughest day. She did it into a 10 mph headwind.”

Will Walden & Niall Brennan | Photos by Z

The filly is the first foal out of the unraced Ansaam (Bernardini), a half-sister to Grade I winner Denman's Call (Northern Afleet) and from the family of multiple Grade I winner Evening Jewel. She was a $95,000 Keeneland September purchase by Ryston Stables.

“She's probably a filly who is going to be early,” Walden said. “We will get her back to Turfway and then Keeneland and start looking for starts around Churchill. We are really excited to have her.”

Walden has been buying horses for Sykes across the globe over the last several months.

“He has been a great supporter of ours,” Walden said of Sykes. “He supported us when we went overseas when we bought some out of Tattersalls. We are just trying to buy runners and get in the winner's circle. He has a breeding operation, so with this filly's pedigree and hopefully with what she does on the track, she will hold some residual value as a broodmare.”

Walden agreed, with the juvenile sales season just minutes old, it could be difficult to anticipate prices.

“I had her between $600,000 and $800,000,” he said. “I would have liked to pay six instead of seven, but she is a quality filly and we are happy we got her. But you have to trust your gut. If you like the horse, the horse speaks to you and, on numbers and on paper it works out, you have to take a swing.”  @JessMartiniTDN

All Dreams Equine Absent from OBS

Juan Centeno's All Dreams Equine consignment, which was pulled into controversy when a filly it sold at last year's OBS June sale broke down at Finger Lakes in November and subsequently tested positive for Clenbuterol, had six horses catalogued to the OBS March sale, but the entire group was scratched from the auction.

“There was some publicity about me and my consignment and I just felt like it wasn't going to be a fair judgement on the horses,” Centeno said of the decision to withdraw his horses from the auction. “I could feel the energy wasn't all there. So the best thing for the horses and for everybody else was to scratch them for now.”

Two of the horses from Centeno's March consignment were involved in incidents during last week's under-tack show, with a filly collapsing on the track following her breeze and a colt getting loose before breezing and galloping around the infield.

OBS sales officials confirmed that Centeno had voluntarily scratched his horses from that sale and that the All Dreams horses were all tested before the under-tack show, but that results of those tests were not yet available.

“Yes and he welcomed it,” OBS President Tom Ventura said when asked about testing the horses in the consignment. “We did hair samples and additional blood samples. We don't have the results to share back at this point, but whatever he had here, he welcomed any additional scrutiny that might show that they had nothing in their systems.”

Of the additional testing, Centeno said, “All of my horses were tested, I don't know the results because they have them. But I have nothing to hide. I have always been honest and I have a good record. My tests have always been clean. And anybody who has questions or wants to test the horses, they are available to be tested or inspected. Not a problem.”

He continued, “I was happy to be tested. I have nothing to hide. I treat my horses with the highest standards. I am very dedicated to my horses. I am attached to my horses. And I am very proud of what we do together.”

Trainer Jeffrey Englehart was facing a two-year suspension after the Classic Empire colt he purchased from the All Dreams consignment last summer tested positive for Clenbuterol after breaking down in November. The case against him was dropped when segmented test of the colt's hair sample revealed that the drug had been administered before Englehart had become the horse's trainer.

“I was surprised when I was accused about that,” Centeno said of speculation that he had given the colt the drug. “I never gave anything to my horses. I wanted to prove that. And for that reason, the horses are available to be tested, to show the buyers I am honest and I play by the rules.”

Of the filly that collapsed after breezing during last week's under-tack show, “The horse was fine and we asked him to keep it here so that everybody, including us, could go and inspect the horse,” Ventura said. “And we talked to the vet and we aren't sure exactly what caused it, but she came out of it fine.”

The horse that got loose on the track was also uninjured in the mishap.

“If he had gotten loose on Wednesday, he would have had the opportunity to come back and breeze on Saturday, but given that he got loose on the last day at the under-tack show, there was no opportunity for him to come back,” said OBS Director of Sales Tod Wojciechowski. @JessMartiniTDN

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“It wasn't a real surprise,” said Ocala Stud's David O'Farrell. “She prepped very well last week, did it very easily and she's just a really, really good filly. She's got 'it'–she's got that 'it' factor. You really don't know exactly what you have until the final prep.

“She's powerful, very classy and very good-minded,” he continued. “She came back to the barn after her breeze and just cooled out beautifully. She never turned a hair, she's very quiet and just great to be around. Every time you ask her for work, she lays it down for you. We were high on her at the farm, but when we got over here it completely translated. She's the real deal, she's fast.”

Hip 788 is the latest foal out of their homebred Unanimity (Union Rags), whose own dam Lady Discreet (Boundary) was acquired by Ocala Stud for $45,000 in foal to Phone Trick at the 2004 OBS Fall Mixed Sale.

A daughter of 1995 GI Alabama S. heroine Pretty Discreet (Private Account), Lady Discreet is a half-sister to Grade I-winning sire Discreet Cat (Forestry), GISW Discreetly Mine (Mineshaft) and SW/MGISP Pretty Wild (Wild Again). For Ocala Stud, Lady Discreet produced MSW & MGSP Courtesan (Street Sense), the stakes-winning and stakes-producing Chary (Montbrook) and The Shady Lady (Quality Road), the unraced dam of undefeated GIII Holy Bull S. winner Hades (Awesome Slew) and SW Devious Dame (Girvin).

The second-fastest quarter-mile move Saturday was turned in by the Pick View LLC-consigned hip 686, a first-crop son of Game Winner (Candy Ride {Arg}) out of the Irish stakes-placed So Stylish (Johannesburg), who stopped the clock in :20 2/5. Bred by Mt. Brilliant Farm & Ranch, hip 686 was purchased by Pick View for $40,000 at Keeneland September last fall.

A day after a pair of horses shared the :9 3/5 bullet for one-eighth mile breezes, no fewer than seven juveniles shared top honors when working in :9 4/5 Saturday. They include:

• Hip 670, a Catalina Cruiser half-brother to SP Motown Mischief (Malibu Moon) from Coastal Equine LLC (Jesse Hoppel);

• Hip 745, a filly by Uncle Mo out of 2018 GIII Forward Gal S. winner Take Charge Paula (Take Charge Indy) consigned by Top Line Sales LLC;

• Hip 780, a Bolt d'Oro filly whose dam Troublesome (Into Mischief) produced MSW Amidst Waves (Midshipman) from the draft of Wavertree Sales Inc (Ciaran Dunne);

• Hip 824, a colt by Mitole–Warrior's Way (Quality Road) from L. G., Agent;

• Hip 825, a New York-bred, May-foaled colt by Goldencents and a half-brother to SW Treasure King (Treasure Beach {GB}) from the consignment of Cesar Loya Training & Sales;

• Hip 840, a Top Line-consigned daughter of Liam's Map from the family of Grade I winners Harmony Lodge (Hennessy) and Pinehurst (Twirling Candy) and;

• Hip 844, a filly from the first crop by Instagrand (Into Mischief) out of a half-sister to Grade I-winning juvenile Noble's Promise (Cuvee) and from the family of GISW Saudi Crown (Always Dreaming) from the Eddie Woods draft.

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Wednesday's opening breeze-ups were topped by a trio of horses that stopped clock in :9 4/5 for an eighth of a mile, a time that was matched by no fewer than 15 juveniles on Thursday. Those numbers were lowered Friday by a pair of horses, a Wavertree Stables Inc.-consigned filly (hip 448) from the first crop of Vekoma (Candy Ride {Arg}) and a colt (hip 529) by fellow freshman sire Tiz the Law (Constitution) consigned by Hartley/DeRenzo Thoroughbreds. Each covered an eighth of a mile in :9 3/5.

Laying Down the 'Law'

Randy Hartley went to $375,000 for the Tiz the Law colt from the Woods Edge Farm draft at Keeneland September, but only after a not-so-subtle push from his client Rich Mendez.

“At $350,000, honestly, I was done, but Rich goes, 'one more time,' because Tiz the Law was like his favorite horse,” Hartley explained. “So I did and we got him. $350,000 was kind of our number, but we loved him so much we stretched a little more because we were trying to find the best one there.”

The approach to the September sale was fairly straight-forward.

“We went to that sale to try to find the best Tiz the Law at the sale and we found him in Book 1,” Hartley said. “Peter O'Callaghan had him and he might have had other horses sell for more in Book 1, but I thought this colt was the best physical he had in that book. We stretched on him because we thought that Tiz the Law was such a great racehorse, we love Constitution too, but they're harder to buy. But we felt like we if had one of the best Tiz the Laws in  the 2-year-old market that the people that respected Tiz the Law would be trying to buy something that they like.”

Just a May 9 foal, the colt is a son of the Grade III-placed Our Majesty (Majesticpefection), herself a half-sister to a pair of black-type winners. Sun Bloodstock purchased Our Majesty for $375,000 in foal to Tapit at Keeneland November in 2019 and sold the Tiz the Law colt to Vanny Investments for $140,000 at Keeneland January in 2023.

Hartley was duly please with what he saw on the track Friday.

“He's quick and he kept going, some people had him in :19 and change galloping out,” he said. “He's a May baby. I don't push mine hard, he's even still a little chunky. I try to get my horses here sound and I feel like if I train them good, they'll give me everything they've got. Once they show me that they can take off and go, from there it's about fitness. We're super proud of him. He's only 22 months old, but he looks like a 3-year-old.”

The noted reseller believes there is a good buzz about the first crop of the 2020 GI Belmont S. hero.

“We only had this one and he's been our man the whole time. I would definitely buy some more,” he said. “When I see Tiz the Laws bringing $200,000 in January, that tells me that people are liking the way they're training. People are not going to buy them if they're not hearing that buzz. We thought a lot of this colt all season.”

Kight High On Justify Colt

If the Tiz the Law colt didn't exactly represent a 'bargain' price, Hoby Kight felt like the $100,000 that he gave at Keeneland September for a Justify colt from the consignment of Joe Pickerell's Pick View LLC certainly was. The Jan. 23 foal (hip 539) was bred in New York by Chester and Mary Broman.

“He was big and beautiful and he's got some pedigree,” Kight explained. “And Dr. Broman raises a really good horse, [Sequel Bloodstock's] Becky [Thomas] does a phenomenal job. He had a cut on his back leg on his pastern and his leg was still swollen from the cut. A lot of short-listers, they cut that horse and never get to see him and that's the sort of stuff I prey on. It's stuff that won't bother them and gets better, it was an old scar and was still kind of fresh. But everything else was there–beautiful horse, all the right angles. And Justify really heated up too, so everything went my way.”

Bred in New York by Chester and Mary Broman, the bay is a son of two-time stakes winner and Grade III-placed Pauseforthecause (Giant's Causeway)

Hip 539 was one of two to breeze a quarter in :20.2 Friday.

“I thought he worked lights out,” Kight said of the colt, who already stands 16.2 in his estimation. “Joe has done a remarkable job with him. Joe thought he was going to be sub-:21 the way he'd been training, so he was pretty optimistic.”

Hip 539 | Photos By Z

McCrocklin At Both Ends of the Speed Spectrum

Tom McCrocklin consigns the afternoon's other :20.2 breezer, a filly by Munnings–Miss Majestic (Majestic Warrior) (hip 453), which he is offering on behalf of Florida breeder Peter Mirabelli.

“She's a beautiful filly, a great mover and she just does everything so smoothly,” he said. “I generally work my horses a quarter-mile just because I think makes for a more composed breed. I am not trying to disparage anyone else, but I find sometimes that the furlong breezes can end up being pretty frenetic. When people see me breeze one that isn't a quarter mile, they tend to raise an eyebrow.”

McCrocklin is also consigning a handful of the 40 2-year-olds in training that are being sold as part of the dispersal from the late Bob Lothenbach, who are just galloping through the stretch.

“I don't think it will be looked upon with skepticism or negatively,” McCrocklin said of the strategy to not ask the horses for any serious effort. “Mr, Lothenbach built and ran a high-class stable. The estate requested that none of the horses breeze, so we are just honoring their wishes, but I don't think it will negatively impact the horses or the way they sell.”

The final under-tack preview is set for Saturday morning beginning at 8 a.m. The March Sale begins Tuesday, Mar. 12 and runs for three days, with bidding beginning each day at 11 a.m. ET. For more, visit www.obssales.com.

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“Top Conor is the top one indeed!”

#1 TOP CONOR ($7.60) breaks his maiden in R8 at @GulfstreamPark. The three-year-old Twirling Candy (@LanesEndFarms) colt wins for trainer Chad Brown with @jose93_ortiz in the irons. pic.twitter.com/pf8oc2pWJg

— TVG (@TVG) February 17, 2024

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