Horses to Watch at OBS March Sale

By Michael Compton

With plenty of fast works recorded at the two under-tack previews last week and pedigree power in the catalog, potential buyers are certain to have plenty of promising juveniles to choose from during the Ocala Breeders’ Sales Co.’s March select sale of 2-year-olds in training March 12-13 in Ocala, Fla.

Following are some of the 2-year-olds consignors have high hopes for heading into the two-day auction.

Hip No. 28, a colt by D'wildcat  —Rabiadella, by Dynaformer. Consigned by Eisaman Equine, agent.
“This is a homebred of ours,” said Barry Eisaman of the colt whose half brother El Kingdom sold at OBS March for $450,000 in 2009. He is out of Rabiadella, a daughter of Dynaformer and a superb producer. This colt is the complete package—he’s quick, sound, and a real nice prospect.”

Hip No. 38, a colt by Dixie Union—Renaissance Lady, by A.P. Indy. Consigned by Hartley/De Renzo Thoroughbreds, agent.
“He worked in :10 flat, went a quarter in :20 2/5 and three-eighths in :33 1/5,” said Dean De Renzo of the $100,000 Keeneland September sale graduate. “He’s an amazing colt with a great mind. He is good and gentle to be around but impressive and all business on the track.”

Hip No. 41, a filly by High Cotton  —Revealing Blush, by Diplomatic Jet. Consigned by Crupi’s New Castle Farm, agent.
“This filly is very precocious,” said Jim Crupi of the $40,000 OBS August graduate. “She worked in :10.1. I can see her winning the first baby race at Keeneland and then the first 2-year-old stakes race at Keeneland. She’s that type of filly.”

Hip No. 58, a colt by Henny Hughes—Sea Gift, by A.P. Indy (worked a bullet quarter in :20 3/5 during the preview). Consigned by Southern Chase Farm Inc. (Greg and Karen Dodd), agent.
“He worked lights out at the preview,” said Karen Dodd of the colt Southern Chase Farm bought for $67,000 at Keeneland September. “When I saw him in September I wrote only one thing on his page: “racehorse.”

Hip No 93, a filly by Colonel John  —Storm Key, by Storm Cat (worked a co-bullet :9 4/5 during the preview). Consigned by Day Vista Farms, agent for Fifty Shades of Racing.
“She hasn’t missed a beat,” Tim Mawhinney of Day Vista Farms said of the $75,000 Keeneland September graduate. She’s a very smart, very honest filly. She has the pedigree, conformation, and has a good eye. The best part is her mind. She’s a smart filly. She’s done everything we’ve asked of her.”

Hip No. 133, a colt by Into Mischief  —Value Vetted, by Value Plus. Consigned by Southern Chase Farm (Greg and Karen Dodd), agent.
“He is coming up to the sale beautifully,” said Karen Dodd. “We sold Goldencents at the June sale last year and he is by Into Mischief. We thought so highly of Goldencents that we bought two more Into Mischiefs.”

Hip No. 139, a colt by Kitten's Joy  —Waki Affair, by Miswaki. Consigned by Eisaman Equine, agent.
“He is by the hot sire Kitten’s Joy,” said Eisaman, “and is a rapidly improving colt from a nice family.”

Hip No. 143, a colt by Flatter  —Well, by Well Decorated. Consigned by Niall Brennan Stables, agent.
“This colt is big and powerful,” said Niall Brennan of the half brother to graded stakes winner Well Spelled, by Spellbinder. “For a big colt, he is very light on his feet and is going in the right direction. He has a solid pedigree. I expect this colt will be on our stakes board next year.”

Hip No. 152, a colt by Dixie Union—Yolie’s Choice, by Silver Deputy. Consigned by de Meric Sales, agent.

“This colt is a beautiful individual,” said Nick de Meric of the colt who cost $90,000 at Keeneland September. “He’s by a sire that needs no introduction. He’s a very smooth colt, a good mover,  and he looked tremendous on the gallop out after his breeze last week. He is a ready-made 2-year-old who should handle any type of surface.”

Hip No. 164, a filly by Old Fashioned  —Angel Island, by Forestry   (worked a co-bullet :9 4/5 during the preview). Consigned by Niall Brennan Stables, agent.
“She is a beautiful filly,” said Brennan, “and she breezed really well. She looks like Unbridled's Song (sire of Old Fashioned). “She looks like an athlete. She has great scope and has a lovely, easy way about her. She is elegant.”

Hip No. 171, a filly by Old Fashioned  —Baby Betty, by El Corredor  . Consigned by Eddie Woods, agent.
“She’s very professional,” said Eddie Woods. “She vets well and has a great head on her shoulders. She had a good work in :10 1/5 and she’s from a nice family.”

Hip No. 179, a colt by Tale of the Cat  —Big Bambu, by Salt Lake. Consigned by Scanlon Training Center, agent.
“He’s a beautiful, balanced colt,” said David Scanlon. “The mare, Big Bambu was a graded winner of more than $400,000. He’s a colt with a big walk and he’s done everything good here. He worked in :10 flat and he’s smooth. He’s a good-looking colt. I’m really excited about him.”

Hip No. 215, a colt by Zensational  —Cuyahoga, by Theatrical. Consigned by de Meric Sales, agent.
“This colt is a personal favorite of mine,” said de Meric. “He’s looked the part every day. He’s had an uninterrupted training schedule and he looks the part in every way.”

Hip No. 220, a colt by Cowboy Cal  —Deceptive, by Clever Trick (worked a bullet quarter in :20 4/5). Consigned by Southern Chase Farm (Greg and Karen Dodd), agent.
“He had the pedigree and physically he had all the right angles,” said Karen Dodd of the half brother to Mizdirection they acquired for $75,000 at Keeneland September. “Then we got the big update when Mizdirection won the Breeders’ Cup Turf Sprint (gr. I). This colt has a great mind and is a great mover.”

Hip No. 248, a colt by Discreet Cat  —Fontal, by Southern Halo (worked a co-bullet :9 4/5 during the preview) . Consigned by Eisaman Equine, agent.
“This is an immensely talent Discreet Cat colt,” said Eisaman. “He is a classy acting colt with a great mind.”

Hip No. 255, a filly by Colonel John  —Galadriel, by Ascot Knight. Consigned by de Meric Sales, agent.
“She’s from the first crop of Colonel John who is attracting a lot of attention and rightly so,” said de Meric. “This filly has speed to burn. She worked in :10 1/5. She is a top two-year-old prospect.”

Hip No. 288, a colt by Freud  —I’m a Real Cowgirl, by Western Expression  . Consigned by Crupi’s New Castle Farm, agent.
“This colt will win going long at Saratoga,” said Crupi. “He breezed a quarter in :21 4/5. All of our horses have received a lot of attention. We had 350 cards here on the table when we started showing and we’re down to just a few left.”

Hip No. 302, a colt by Tale of the Cat  —La Danielle, by Danehill. Consigned by Hartley/De Renzo Thoroughbreds, agent.
“This colt is from a European family on the bottom side being out of a Danehill mare,” said De Renzo. “He’s very much like a Danehill. He worked in :10 1/5 and was impressive doing it. He should be great on dirt or synthetic. He is attracting audiences from both the U.S. and Europe.”

Hip No. 318, a filly by Discreet Cat  —Maria’s Pride, by Maria's Mon. Consigned by Eddie Woods, agent.
“She’s uncomplicated,” said Woods of the $90,000 Keeneland September yearling. “She breezed a quarter in :21 at the under tack show. She’s a professional and she has handled everything great.”