With the under-tack preview, the audition portion of this year's Fasig-Tipton Florida sale of select 2-year-olds in training sale, in the books, prospective buyers stepped out in the South Florida sunshine on the eve of the sale March 3, scouring the sales barns on the grounds of Gulfstream Park in search of racing's next headline maker.
Following are some of the 2-year-olds that consignors are high on heading into the sale, which will get under way at 4 p.m. ET March 4 in the walking ring at Gulfstream Park.
Hip No. 16, a colt by Uncle Mo —Gentle Words, by Bertrando. Consigned by Secure Investments. "He is a very independent colt," said Tami Bobo of the bay colt who drilled an eighth of a mile in :10 2/5 at the under-tack preview. "He acts more like a 4-year-old than a 2-year-old. He's a neat horse to be around."
Hip No. 17, colt by Awesome Again—Ginger Brew, by Milwaukee Brew. Consigned by Adena Springs. "This one is no secret," said Jack Brothers of the colt who is out of a Canadian champion. "He has been very popular at the barn. All the right people have pulled him out."
Hip No. 19, a colt by Galileo—Glass Slipper, by Danehill. Consigned by De Meric Sales, agent. "I have high hopes for him," said Nick de Meric of the Irish-bred colt who breezed in :10 2/5. "He's a big, loose-walking horse in the manner of Galileo. While his future most likely lies on the turf, someone could have a lot of fun with this colt."
Hip No. 29, a colt by Eskendereya—Im a Dixie Girl, by Dixie Union. Consigned by Wavertree Stables (Ciaran Dunne), agent. "He's a fabulous horse," said Dunne of the colt who breezed an eighth in a lively :10 1/5. "He's one that we've been excited about all winter. It's a joy watching him train. He showed up at the under-tack show like we thought he would. He backs everything up at the end of a shank. He'll be a fun horse to sell."
Hip No. 34, a colt by Pioneerof the Nile—Lady Bonita, by Smart Strike. Consigned by McKathan Bros., agent.
"He went in :10 2/5 and galloped out as good as anything. He's a big, two-turn, Derby-looking horse," J.B. McKathan. "We trained Pioneerof the Nile, so I have been around a few of them. He's a super nice colt. He is a spitting image of his sire. They look exactly the same."
Hip No. 39, colt by Ghostzapper —Light Green, by Pleasantly Perfect. Consigned by Adena Springs. "This one shows great," said Adena Springs' Jack Brothers. "He's been popular with buyers."
Hip No. 40, a filly by Tapit —Livin Lovin, by Birdstone. Consigned by Hartley/De Renzo Thoroughbreds, agent. "She's by a great stallion. She's a May foal, so we really haven't pressed her," said Randy Hartley of the bay filly who worked an eighth in :10 2/5 and did it in hand. "We wanted her to come into it good and come out of it good. She breezed real nice. We told the rider to sit quiet on her. She had a brilliant gallop out. She wasn't tired coming to me on the gallop out; she was still going strong. She's done everything I've asked her to do."
Hip No. 53, a colt by Kitten's Joy —Mother Russia, by Mayakovsky. Consigned by Kings Equine, agent.
"Everyone is talking about this one," Kings Equine's Raul Reyes said of the colt who breezed a co-bullet eighth of a mile (over the turf) in :10 at the under-tack show. "There's not much more to add to what everyone is saying about this guy. He's a top colt."
Hip No. 58, a colt by Uncle Mo—Naughty Mambo, by Kingmambo. Consigned by McKathan Bros., agent.
"He's been an absolute no-nonsense horse from the very beginning," said J.B. McKathan of the colt who breezed a co-bullet eighth of a mile (on dirt) in :10 at the under-tack preview. "We weren't surprised at all that he went that fast. We let him go up at the farm before we brought him down here and he just flew."
Hip No. 64, a colt by Harlan's Holiday—Pension, by Seeking the Gold. Consigned by Eddie Woods, agent.
"He is a big, beautiful, elegant horse," said Woods of the colt who breezed an eighth in :10 2/5. "He's a good-moving horse. He could be any kind."
Hip No. 65, a colt by Giant's Causeway—Possibly a Ten, by Seeking the Gold. Consigned by Stephens Thoroughbreds, agent. "He's a big, gorgeous colt," said John Stephens of the dark bay or brown colt who worked an eighth of a mile in :10 3/5 at the under-tack preview. "He is a wonderful mover on the racetrack. He trained here for two weeks and has just been phenomenal. He's getting better every day."
Hip No. 69, a colt by Cowboy Cal—Refugee, by Unaccounted For. Consigned by Northwest Stud.
"I think he is going to be a great colt," said Northwest Stud's Alfredo Lichoa of the $550,000 yearling acquisition who breezed the lone quarter mile of the preview in :22 and is a half brother to grade I winners Executiveprivilege and Hoppertunity. "He will be a graded stakes winner, no doubt about it."
Hip No. 72, Busman's Holiday, a colt by Harlan's Holiday-—Renaissance Lady, by A.P. Indy. Consigned by Thomas and Casse, agent. "He's a typical Harlan's Holiday," said Becky Thomas of the colt who breezed a furlong in :10 1/5 at the preview. "He's very fast. He's precocious and he has a great mind."
Hip No. 79, a filly by War Front —Santa Catarina, by Unbridled. Consigned by Wavertree Stables (Ciaran Dunne), agent. "She's a queen, really," Dunne said of the $600,000 pinhook who breezed a furlong in :10 2/5. "She's tall, elegant, and moves well. She has bags of quality."
Hip No. 87, a colt by Uncle Mo—Seeking Gabrielle, by Foresty. Consigned by Niall Brennan Stables, agent. "He's a beautiful colt," said Brennan of the colt who worked in :10 2/5. "He's a wonderful representation for his sire. He's a smooth colt. He's a tremendous mover on the racetrack and he has a lot of stretch. I expect him to sell very well."
Hip No. 109, a filly by Hard Spun —Swaythisway, by Scat Daddy. Consigned by Crupi's New Castle Farm. "This filly is a freak of nature," said J.J. Crupi of the dark bay or brown who worked an eighth in :10 1/5. "She does everything right."
Hip No. 112, a colt by Super Saver —That's OK, by Not for Love. Consigned by Eddie Woods, agent. "He's a wonderful horse," said Woods of the colt who cost $230,000 as a yearling and breezed an eighth in :10 2/5. "He's a big, leggy horse with stretch. He's done well all along the process."
Hip No. 115, a colt by Pulpit—Tippecanoe Creek, by Olympio. Consigned by De Meric Sales, agent. "He's a big, strapping colt," said Nick de Meric of the chestnut who worked an eighth in :10 2/5. "He's beautifully put together. He has a strong hip and shoulder; he's nicely balanced and is a good mover on the dirt. He had a huge gallop out at the preview."
Hip No. 116, a filly by City Zip—Touche de Velours, by Meadowlake. Consigned by De Meric Sales, agent.
"She is very much in the City Zip mold," said Nick de Meric of the filly who worked a furlong in :10 2/5. "She's not super big, but she is very balanced and athletic. She had a terrific breeze over a track that wasn't especially kind to smaller horses."
Hip No. 117, a colt by Bluegrass Cat—Unbridled Melody, by Unbridled's Song. Consigned by Kings Equine. "He's been very well received here," Kings Equine's Raul Reyes said of the colt who worked an eighth in :10 1/5. "It looks to me that everyone who wants a nice New York-bred is going to try to get him."
Hip No. 120, a colt by Tapit—West Coast Swing, by Gone West. Consigned by Thomas and Casse, agent.
"He is one of the most special colts I've ever been around," said Becky Thomas of the bay who drilled an eighth in :10 2/5 at the preview. "He is a beautiful mover, and he's just stunning to look at. He has a beautiful walk and he covers a lot of ground. He had the best gallop out in the sale. He's an incredibly nice colt."
Hip No. 121, Wildly Distorted, a colt by Distorted Humor --Wild Poppy, by El Prado. Consigned by Wavertree Stables (Ciaran Dunne), agent. "He's a fabulous physical," said Dunne of the gray or roan colt who clocked an eighth in :10 2/5. "He's by a sire of the moment and he's from a strong female family."
Hip No. 130, a colt by Scat Daddy—Alittlebitearly, by Thunder Gulch. Consigned by Crupi's New Castle Farm. "This colt is the real deal," J.J. Crupi said of the half brother to 2014 Breeders' Cup Classic (gr. I) winner Bayern who worked a spirited eighth of a mile in :10 1/5 at the breeze show.
Hip No. 134, a colt by Malibu Moon —Atlantic Voyage, by Stormy Atlantic. Consigned by Niall Brennan Stables, agent. "He has a stallion's pedigree," said Brennan of the colt who cost $270,000 as a yearling and worked an eighth in :10 3/5. "He's a smoother type Malibu Moon, not a bulky kind. He has a beautiful big stride and looks like a two-turn horse.
Hip No. 145, a colt by Mineshaft —Chelsea Ballad, by Street Cry. Consigned by Crupi's New Castle Farm. "This colt is all racehorse," J.J.Crupi said of the colt who stopped the timer in :10 2/5 in his eight of a mile breeze.
Hip No. 146, a colt by Quality Road —Choo Choo Lady, by Giant's Causeway. Consigned by Eddie Woods, agent. "As his sire's name suggests, this horse is all quality," said Woods of the $200,000 pinhook who breezed an eighth in :10 2/5.
Hip No. 147, filly by Smart Strike—Christies Treasure, by Belong to Me. Consigned by Hoby and Layna Kight.
"I think she's going to do very well," said Hoby Kight of his $100,000 Keeneland September sale graduate who worked an eighth in :10 1/5 at the under-tack preview. "Everybody seems to like her. She looked like a panther as a yearling. She is big and long with a big hip. She has developed the right way."
Hip No. 151, a colt by Medaglia d'Oro —Crisp, by El Corredor. Consigned by Adena Springs. "He's a big horse with a lot of scope," Adena Springs' Jack Brothers said of the colt out of the 2010 Santa Anita Oaks (gr. I) winner Crisp. "He is the type of horse everyone looks for. He looks like a two-turn horse."
Hip No. 154, a colt by Speightstown —Daguerreotype, by Silver Deputy. Consigned by Niall Brennan Stables, agent. "He is a very sharp, quality colt," said Brennan of the colt who got an eighth in :10 2/5. "He looks like a summer 2-year-old. He's very professional and is naturally fast."
Hip No. 159, a filly by Awesome Again—Dearest Trickski, by Proudest Romeo. Consigned by Adena Springs. "She is a big, pretty filly out of a grade I winner," said Adena Springs' Jack Brothers.
Hip No. 165, a filly by Awesome Again—Down, by Mr. Greeley. Consigned by Adena Springs. "She is a strong filly," Adena Springs' Jack Brothers said of the gray or roan filly produced from the grade 1-placed mare Down. "She's been popular at the barn."
Hip No. 166, a filly by Distorted Humor—Downthedustyroad, by Storm and a Half. Consigned by Imagine.
"She's a very forward horse. We really weren't targeting this sale, but she has done so well in her training that we brought her here," said Imagine's Marne Fauber of the filly who breezed an eighth in :10 2/5 at the under-tack show. "She worked great. She has a phenomenal mind and does everything you ask of her."
Hip No. 172, a filly by Giant's Causeway—Embur's Song, by Unbridled's Song. Consigned by Niall Brennan Stables, agent. "She's the first foal out of a Canadian champion," said Brennan of the filly worked an eighth in :10 2/5 "She has a wonderful pedigree and has the looks to go along with it."
