Ocala Breeders' Sales Company | Horse Racing Free Tips

For Just $5,000, Owner May Have Bought His Ticket to Kentucky Derby

The Ocala Breeders’ Sales Company’s 2-year-old sales attract all the heavyweights in the business, people who are ready to spend millions and have proven records of picking out future stars. Then there is Mark Schwartz. Schwartz arrived at this year’s OBS Spring sale with a modest budget and ready to buy a horse at a sale for the first time. A Brooklyn-born retiree living in Florida, he knew the odds were not in his favor.

“I did my research, but this was kind of like playing the lottery,” he said.

And sometimes you buy the winning ticket.

In a story that should give hope to anyone who has ever gone to the sales with big dreams and a small bankroll, Schwartz paid just $5,000 for a horse that is now in the mix for next year’s GI Kentucky Derby. That’s what he paid for Brooklyn Strong (Wicked Strong), the New York-bred gelding who won Saturday’s GII Remsen S. in the slop at Aqueduct. Of the 779 2-year-olds sold at the sale, only one went for less money.

“I was there looking for bargains,” he said. “I’m not one of those guys who can spend $100,000 for a horse. There was no way in my wildest dreams I could have expected this. You hope maybe he could get to the allowance races. Maybe I would have a good claimer. But this proves that with a lot of horses you sometimes can get lucky. Look at what happened with California Chrome.”

According to Equibase, Schwartz was 0 for 24 as an owner before Brooklyn Strong came around, but he says he has owned some winners that were part of partnerships. Part of the problem was obvious: he didn’t have much money to spend. That was still the case entering the Ocala sale when he showed up without his trainer, Danny Velazquez, who stayed behind at Delaware Park because of the coronavirus.

That left Schwartz to go it alone. He did his homework, studying the catalogue and watching the works. He made a list of horses he liked, realizing most would be out of his price range. He hoped to not pay more than $15,000 for a horse. With Brooklyn Strong, Schwartz liked the horse’s work, which went in :10 2/5, and was impressed by the pedigree on the dam’s side. The dam is Riviera Chic, who is by Medaglia d’Oro and had two winners from her first three foals.

Schwartz said the bidding began at $1,000 and stopped with his bid of $5,000. He does not understand why there was not more interest in the horse.

“Maybe there wasn’t much respect for his sire, Wicked Strong,” said Schwartz, who also brought a Will Take Charge filly (hip 474) at the sale for $10,000. “But I don’t really know what turned other people off. It couldn’t have been the workout, it was good. He had a little knot on his knee, but that was nothing serious. I was kind of shocked. I never thought I’d get him for $5,000.”

Brooklyn Strong, who was bred by Cheryl Prudhomme and Dr. Michael Gallivan sold originally as a weanling for $30,000 at the Fasig-Tipton New York Saratoga Fall Mixed sale. He later RNA’d at two yearling sales, one time for $42,000, another for $6,000

After the sale, Schwartz called Velazquez to ask what he thought of the purchase. Velazquez told him he really didn’t have anything to lose.

“He asked me what I thought and I said, ‘He looks good to me. What’s the worst thing that can happen? You only paid $5,000 for him.'” Velazquez said.

Brooklyn Strong made his debut Sept. 12 at Delaware Park, winning a $40,000 maiden claimer. He then ran third in the Bertram Bongard S. and followed that up with a win in the Sleepy Hollow S. Both races are for New York-breds. The gelding had proven he could compete at a high level against state-breds, but the Remsen loomed as a much bigger challenge. The competition included Known Agenda, a homebred by Curlin, Ten for Ten (Frosted), who cost $410,000 at Keeneland September, and GIII Nashua S. winner Pickin’ Time (Stay Thirsty).

“We knew going in that he would have to show his class and that open company is a lot different than New York-breds,” Velazquez said “There were a couple of horses in there that they paid a lot of money for. We knew we were going against the big boys. I knew we were extremely ready. I told Mark that if we lose we lose, but that we were going in there 1000% ready, well trained, well prepared and healthy.”

The Remsen turned into a two-horse race, with Brooklyn Strong prevailing by a neck over Ten for Ten. It was the start of a huge weekend for Velazquez. The Remsen was his first graded stakes win and the next day he won the New York Stallion Series S. with Laobanonaprayer (Laoban).

“Danny is a terrific young trainer,” Schwartz said.

Velazquez has yet to pick out another start for Brooklyn Strong, but said the Feb. 6 GIII Withers S. at Aqueduct is a possibility.

Considering his success on the track and that he is owned by someone of modest means, Brooklyn Strong would seem like the type of horse that someone looking for a Derby contender would swoop in and try to buy. But Schwartz said he hasn’t had any serious offers. For now, that’s fine with him. It lets him focus on trying to make it to the Derby.

“I’m an optimistic person and a dreamer,” he said.

And, maybe, just a little but lucky.

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Danzing Candy Colt on Top at OBS

A colt from the first crop of California-based stallion Danzing Candy topped the open yearling session of the Ocala Breeders’ Sales Company’s October sale on a $115,000 bid from agent Donato Lanni. Overall numbers held up reasonably well compared to last year, especially considering the current economic pressures brought about by COVID-19.

After 2-year-olds, horses of racing age and selected yearlings sold Tuesday, Wednesday’s open session saw 256 yearlings bring a combined $2,859,400 at an average of $11,170 (down 11.1% year over year) and median of $8,000 (unchanged). The RNA rate was 21.5% compared to 24.6% 12 months ago.

Bred in Kentucky by Dan and Valencia Leach and consigned by Lisa McGreevy’s Abbie Road Farm, Agent II, session-topping hip 632 is out of the winning mare Bosserette (Street Boss), who was herself a $155,000 OBSAPR grad in 2013. Bosserette is half to SW Meditations (Out of Place) and a full to MSP Butch Walker and from the family of graded winners Lindon Lime and Regal Thunder.

Danzing Candy was trained to 2017 wins in the GIII Lone Star Park H. and GII San Carlos S. by close Lanni associate Bob Baffert. The Rancho San Miguel resident’s previous priciest yearling was $42,000 (a half-brother to Swiss Skydiver {Daredevil} RNA’d for $145,000 at the Fasig-Tipton Selected Yearlings Showcase).

Besecker Goes Back to the Well…
While Pennsylvania-based owner Joseph Besecker had dispersed much of his stock last year, he has remained involved in the sport on a smaller scale, and went to $62,000 Wednesday to reacquire an Exaggerator filly (hip 615) who he had co-bred and sold as a weanling. The dark bay was purchased by consignor Sandi Dorr’s Sennebec South Farm for $37,000 the 2019 Keeneland November sale.

Hip 615 is the second foal out of stakes-placed Bazinga B (Lion Hearted), who Besecker claimed for $13,000 in 2016.

“She was part of my dispersal,” Besecker confirmed of the Pennsylvania-bred, who was a foal share with the Exaggerator Syndicate. “[Dorr] did a phenomenal job with the horse. We have the Uncle Lino [2-year-old half-sister named Bazinga Babe] ready to race, who we’re very high on; and we have the Hoppertunity [foal colt] who looks like one of the nicest-looking babies I’ve seen in a long time… There were five live people on this horse–I didn’t bid until late. She went for more than I would have thought, but knowing what we know [I thought she was worth it].”

Besecker said Bazinga Babe is in training with Tim Kreiser at Penn National, and noted that he and Kreiser won with a firster on Wednesday at Parx who has been less impressive in the mornings than hip 615’s half-sister. An Exaggerator filly herself, Expurgated–a $40,000 OBSAPR acquisition–aired by 8 1/4 lengths in a $25,000 maiden claimer.

“I was at many, many, many more horses [before the dispersal],” Besecker said when asked of his decision to continue owning horses after seeming like he was getting out of the business. “All the reasons I said I got out were the reasons I got out, and I’m still frustrated with some things–especially during COVID. But, now, I’m applying a new business concept.”

Besecker noted that of the six 2-year-old in training purchases he made this spring, three have won, two have finished second and one has finished third.

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Not This Time Filly Tops OBS Opener

The Ocala Breeders’ Sales Company’s October Sale opened its two-day run Tuesday with an offering of 2-year-olds and selected yearlings and the polarized demand that has come to define the market in recent years accentuated by all the uncertainties of the global pandemic. A filly by Not This Time brought the session’s highest price when selling for $225,000 to Tonja Terranova from the consignment of Lisa McGreevy’s Abbie Road Farm. The yearling was one of two to sell for $200,000 or over. Eight yearlings sold for six figures during the session.

In all, 80 of 170 catalogued yearlings sold Tuesday for a gross of $3,338,000. The average was $41,725 and the median was $29,000.

Last year’s selected yearlings portion of the October sale, which featured a catalogue of 225 head, saw 130 yearlings sell for $5,689,200. The average was $43,763 and the median was $30,000.

“It was about on par where it has been all year,” Stuart Morris, the session’s leading consignor, said of the market. “I’ve been at every venue so far east of the Mississippi River and it’s been consistent. The ones that vet and make the cut, you get paid very well for. The ones that are nice, get sold fair. But if there is anything on the vetting at all, they seem to just walk away from them. Which is what happens in a year like we’re in right now. It’s a buyer’s market. Everyone is on their heels, so they tighten up on the vetting and things of that nature.”

From the 170 catalogued yearlings, 135 went through the sales ring and, following the close of business, 55 were reported not sold for a buy-back rate of 40.7%. But trade continued for several yearlings post-sale Tuesday.

“I’ve already got three of my RNAs sold,” Morris said. “I think there are going to be a lot of RNAs sold tomorrow. I’m hoping.”

Asked if sellers were adjusting their expectations, Morris said, “They are all adjusting their expectations, but at the same time, I’m not sure how much it is a desired or wanted adjustment of expectations.”

Of the yearlings not getting sold, Morris said his clients are considering options.

“It’s a mix,” he said. “We will make plans from here to go on to the 2-year-old sales or go on to the racetrack or wherever we are headed.”

A filly by freshman sire Not This Time attracted the day’s highest bid of $225,000 when Tonja Terranova, acting on behalf of an undisclosed client, signed the ticket on hip 149.

“She is a big, beautiful filly,” Terranova said of the yearling. “She had a great walk on her, very smooth. Every time we saw her, she just looked the part.”

The dark bay filly is out of the unraced Midnight Magic (Midnight Lute), a half-sister to graded winner Coalport (Kitten’s Joy). The yearling was consigned to Tuesday’s sale by Lisa McGreevy’s Abbie Road Farm.

“We’re delighted with the way she sold and even more delighted that Tonja Terranova bought her and they’re going to the races with her,” McGreevy said.

The yearling RNA’d for $14,000 at the OBS Winter Mixed Sale earlier this year and breeder Carolin Von Rosenberg reported she had sold the filly privately over the summer.

McGreevy consigned the youngster on behalf of an undisclosed client.

“The stallion has done so well since [the Winter sale],” McGreevy said. “It’s enormous the way the Not This Time foals are running. He’s on top of his game. I think the timing was perfect. The man who owns her is delighted and is excited he gets to buy some more horses.”

Not This Time’s early exploits at stud include the Bob Baffert-trained GI Del Mar Debutante and GII Chandelier S. winner Princess Noor, who topped the OBS Spring Sale when selling for $1.35 million.

Asked if she was surprised by the yearling’s sale-topping price, Terranova said, “Not with Bob having that filly who is so magnificent. Not This Time has had a great year in his first year. And I thought this filly was the complete standout of the sale. So we knew we were going to have to pay for her. I think OBS put out a really nice catalogue of horses and there are some really nice individuals here. We really fell in love with her and we were lucky we were able to get her.”

Terranova purchased a colt by Quality Road for $425,000 at the OBS June Sale. Racing in Eric Fein’s colors and trained by John Terranova, the juvenile made his debut at Belmont Park Sunday.

Colt Pike made the day’s second-highest bid, going to $200,000 to acquire a filly by Into Mischief (hip 248). Consigned by Morris on behalf of her breeder Pine Ridge Stables, the yearling is out of stakes-placed Indian Rush (Indian Charlie) and is a half-sister to stakes winners March X Press (Shanghai Bobby) and Harlan’s Honor (Harlan’s Holiday). The filly RNA’d for $140,000 at last month’s Keeneland September Yearling Sale.

“It’s kind of what I expected for where we are,” Morris said of the result. “She’s a nice filly. She is a touch immature, but she has a big future. She is from a quality family where fillies have run well and won early at two. I was hoping for a little more, of course, but it’s a weird year. We are just trying to get things done and I’m very happy she’s going to a great home with the Pike Racing outfit, Al and Salley and Colt do a really great job. We are very happy for the breeder.”

The October sale opened with an offering of 2-year-olds with a colt by the late Empire Maker (hip 39) bringing the section’s top price of $155,000 when selling to Zedan Racing Stables. The juvenile, who worked a co-fastest quarter-mile in :21 1/5 during Sunday’s under-tack show, is out of multiple stakes winner and graded placed Tempus Fugit (Alphabet Soup). He is a half-brother to graded winner Majestic River (A.P. Indy).

Of the 59 catalogued 2-year-olds, 29 sold for $816,500. The average was $28,155 and the median was $16,000. Eight juveniles were reported not sold.

The OBS October sale continues Wednesday with an open session of yearlings. Bidding commences at 10:30 a.m.

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Speightster Filly Fastest at OBS Under-Tack Show

A filly by Speightster turned in the fastest furlong work of Sunday’s under-tack show ahead of the Ocala Breeders’ Sales Company’s October Sale. The juvenile (hip 50), consigned by Julie Davies, covered the distance in :10 1/5. She is out of Bern Legacy (Bernstein), a half-sister to graded placed Centrique (Malibu Moon). A $55,000 Keeneland November purchase, the bay filly RNA’d for $70,000 at last year’s Fasig-Tipton October sale.

Three 2-year-olds shared the day’s fastest quarter-mile work: a filly by Candy Ride (Arg) (hip 2, :21 1/5) consigned by Top Line Sales; a gelding by Uncaptured (hip 35, :21 1/5) consigned by Ocala Stud; and a colt by Empire Maker (hip 39, :21 1/5) also consigned by Top Line Sales.

The 4-year-old filly, Annette’s Humor (Shackleford) (hip 56), turned in the day’s fastest three furlongs, covering the distance in :33 1/5. A colt by Anchor Down (hip 44) had the fastest three-furlong work (:33 2/5) by a 2-year-old.

Bradley Thoroughbreds’ Slashing (Nyquist) enters the October sale off a 5 1/4-length maiden score at Gulfstream Park West Oct. 7. The 2-year-old colt is consigned as hip 58 with de Meric Sales.

The October sale begins Tuesday at noon with an offering of 59 2-year-olds and horses of racing age followed by an offering of selected yearlings. The auction continues Wednesday with a session of open yearlings which begins at 10:30 a.m.

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