By Michael Compton
Six juveniles eclipsed the 10-second mark for a furlong March 8 at the Ocala Breeders' Sales Co.'s final under tack show for OBS' Selected Sale of Two Year Olds in Training slated for March 12-13 in Ocala, Fla.
Sharing honors for the session's fastest eighth of a mile in :09 4/5 were hip No.'s 59 (originally scheduled to work during the first under tack show the day before), 191, 329, 248, 296, and 333.
Hip No. 59, a Cowtown Cat filly out of the Saint Ballado mare Sea Saint, is consigned by Niall Brennan Stables, agent. The Florida-bred filly is a half-sister to stakes winner Pirate Saint.
Halcyon Hammock consigns two of the fastest workers at Friday's preview: hip No. 191, a Kentucky-bred colt by Harlan's Holiday and a $60,000 Keeneland September graduate, and hip No. 329, a dark bay or brown colt by Roman Ruler. The latter, a Louisiana-bred produced from the stakes-placed Aptitude mare Mila's Fame, cost $54,000 at last year's Equine Sales of Louisiana's inaugural yearling sale.
"I knew he was fast the moment I bought him," said Hal Hatch of Halcyon Hammock. "The handler let him go as they were leaving the ring. He must have run back to the barn in :10 flat that day.
"Both colts have done everything right," Hatch added. "They've been great. I'm pleased. They're very nice prospects."
Hip No. 248, consigned by Eisaman Equine, agent, is a bay colt by Discreet Cat out of the Southern Halo mare Fontal, a graded winner in her native Argentina. The Kentucky-bred colt is a $62,000 Keeneland September graduate.
"He's fast," said Barry Eisaman. "He's been with us since last September, and the entire time he's been easy to train. He's healthy, smart and he's trained like a talented, speedy colt. I can't say we expected to see a :09 4/5 today, but we expected him to perform well. He's a real racehorse."
Hip No. 296 is a filly by Yes It's True—Just for You, by Silver Deputy consigned by Top Line Sales, agent. The Kentucky-bred filly is from the female family of Capote, Minister's Melody, and Bob and John.
"We knew she was fast, we just didn't know how fast," said Top Line's James Gladwell. "We always figured she was a :10 flat kind of filly. She actually surprised us today. She's been sound and happy all along. We came into this without any huge expectations, so we'll let the market dictate what she's worth."
Rounding out the contingent of fastest workers at an eighth was hip No. 333, a gray or roan colt by Smart Strike out of the graded stakes-winning Pulpit mare Mini Sermon. The Virginia-bred colt is consigned by King's Equine, agent. King's Equine acquired the colt out of the Taylor Made Sales Agency consignment at last year's Fasig-Tipton October sale for $115,000.
Recording the fastest quarter in :20 4/5 was hip No. 220, a Cowboy Cal colt consigned by Southern Chase Farm (Greg and Karen Dodd), agent. Produced from the Clever Trick mare Deceptive, the colt is a half-brother to Breeders' Cup Turf Sprint (gr. I) winner Mizdirection. The Dodds bought the colt for $75,000 at the 2012 Keeneland September sale.
Two youngsters worked quarters in :21 1/5: Hip No. 244, a filly by Malibu Moon out of the stakes-winning Grand Slam mare Fast Deal consigned by Don R. Graham, agent; and Hip No. 261, a Tiz Wonderful colt out the stakes-placed mare Glittering Tax, by Artax. From the family of famed Florida-bred Nancy's Glitter, the colt is consigned by Bobby Dodd, agent.
The March sale gets underway March 12 at 11 a.m. with hip No.'s 1-172 slated to go through the ring; Hip No.'s 173-345 sell March 13.
The sale can be viewed live at BloodHorse.com/OBS.
Hip No. 59, a Cowtown Cat filly out of the Saint Ballado mare Sea Saint, was one of those who worked an eighth of a mile in :09 4/5.
Joseph DiOrio