Mike Repole, owner of top Kentucky Derby Presented By Yum! Brands (gr. I) candidates Uncle Mo and Stay Thirsty , struck early during the opening session of the Ocala Breeders’ Sales Co. March select sale of 2-year-olds in training in Central Florida. He purchased a $325,000 colt by champion Uncle Mo’s sire, Indian Charlie, during the auction’s first hour March 15.
“I’m hoping this horse I bought today is going to be the best Indian Charlie I own,” joked Repole, who then added: “I listened to my executive team: my racing manager Jim Martin; Ed Rosen, my pedigree guy; and Todd Pletcher, who loved the way the horse moved. At the end of the day, I just write the check.
“We are just trying to buy some nice horses that can run and we can have some fun with,” he continued. “Todd really liked this horse a lot. He was probably Todd’s favorite horse of the day -- maybe for both days -- and we were going to get him.”
The bay juvenile breezed an eighth of a mile in :10 prior to the auction.
“He had an exceptional work and an exceptional gallop out,” said Pletcher, who trains both two-time grade I winner Uncle Mo and recent Gotham Stakes (gr. III) winner Stay Thirsty. “I remember the horse from last September (at the Keeneland September yearling sale). I liked him then and still like him now.”
Pletcher signed the sale ticket for the six-figure juvenile as agent.
The colt, who is a full brother to the winner Charlie’s Song, is out of the unraced Storm Creek mare Eva’s Melody. She is a half sister to grade II winner Straight Man (by Saint Ballado) and stakes winner Al’s Helen (by Distinctive), who is the dam of grade III winner Pure Precision (by Montbrook) and two other added-money winners: Circus Charmer (by Manila) and Blazed Star (by Gate Dancer), who also is a stakes producer.
McKathan Bros., agent, consigned the colt. Future Bloodstock purchased him for $77,000 from Eaton Sales, agent, at the 2010 Keeneland January horses of all ages sale. Paramount Sales, agent, offered him at the Keeneland September auction, where he was a $77,000 buy-back.
Gaines-Gentry Thoroughbreds and Richard Nip bred the colt in Kentucky.