Hot Horses Drawing Attention at Ocala March Sale

With no clouds in the sky and the sun shining bright, trainers and bloodstock agents from Kentucky to California converged on the Ocala Breeders' Sales Company's grounds March 25 to inspect the 520 horses catalogued for the annual selected 2-year-olds in training sale March 27-28 in Central Florida. Sessions begin at 11 a.m.

Two days before the first sale session, listed below are some of the horses that consignors believe could be standouts:

Hip No. 276, a son of Forest Wildcat--Whatacapote, by Capote, consigned by Barry and Shari Eisaman's Eisaman Equine. The Eisaman's purchased the chestnut Kentucky-bred colt for $120,000 at the 2006 Keeneland September yearling sale.

"He's the type of horse that looks like he is going to go a route of ground," said Shari Eisaman. "He's very intelligent, he's got speed when you want, and you can rate him when you want. He could be the best horse we have ever sent over here. He's got probably the longest stride of any horse we have ever had. He's got a lot of scope and a long neck, and I think that combined with his mind will carry him a long way."

The colt, a half-brother to grade III stakes winner Here's Zealous, breezed a quarter in :21.1 during the sale's first under tack show March 18 to share co-fastest times for the distance.
 
Hip No. 478, a son of Phone Trick--Golden Hen, by Native Prospector. The Eisaman's purchased him for $67,000 at the 2006 Fasig-Tipton Kentucky October yearling sale. The New York-bred colt breezed a quarter in :21 flat March 23 to earn the fastest honors for the distance. He is from the family of grade I winner Super Diamond.

Hip No. 237, a son of Johannesburg--Tasso's Magic Roo, by Tasso. He was purchased for $70,000 at the 2006 Keeneland September yearling sale. The Kentucky-bred colt worked a quarter-mile in :21.3 March 17.

Hip No. 137, a bay son of Put It Back--Restraining Order, by Skip Trial. He was purchased by the Eisaman's for $30,000 at the 2006 OBS August yearling sale. The Florida-bred colt worked a quarter in :21.2 March 16 and is from the family of stakes winners False Promises and Time to Divorce.

Hip No. 151, a dark bay or brown Kentucky-bred son of Tale of the Cat  --Royal Shyness, by Royal Academy. He was purchased at the Keeneland September yearling sale for $95,000. "He is getting a lot of looks," Shari Eisaman said. He breezed a quarter in :21.3 March 17.

Hip No. 15, a gray/roan son of Unbridled's Song--Laptop, by Phone Trick. Consigned by Hartley/DeRenzo Thoroughbreds, he breezed an eighth of a mile in :10.1 March 17.  "He's a three-quarter brother to Value Plus and he's just a beautiful colt," said Randy Hartley of Hartley/DeRenzo Thoroughbreds.

The two Ocala-based pinhookers purchased the Kentucky-bred colt for $275,000 at the 2006 Fasig-Tipton Kentucky July yearling sale.

Hartley is also high on another son of Unbridled's Song, Hip No. 133 out of the Arazi mare Rawafed. The Kentucky-bred colt has not previously been offered at public auction. The colt breezed an eighth in :10.3 during the preview under tack session March 17 and a quarter in :21. 3 during the final under tack session March 23.

"They are by the same sire but they are two totally different types of colts," Hartley said. "One is a big, tall, rangy-type horse and the other looks to be a speed horse. 

Hip No. 12, Silver Deputy-- Lahaina Lass, by Affirmed. Consigned by Nick de Meric, agent.

"She's a precocious-looking filly," de Meric said. "She had a fast breeze (:10.1 for an eighth March 17), and could really come together quickly and make a super 2-year-old."

Bred in Kentucky by Brookdale, the filly was purchased by Newmarket Stable for $47,000 at the 2006 Keeneland September yearling sale. The bay filly is from the family of stakes winners Bluffing Girl, Prince Wild, and Dim Lights.

Other horses from the de Meric consignment include: Hip No. 302, Ask the Moon (Malibu Moon  - Always Asking, by Valid Appeal). The filly worked an eighth in :10.3 during the opening preview session March 18 and another quarter in :10.2 March 24. The Maryland-bred filly was originally purchased for $45,000 at the 2006 Fasig-Tipton September Midlantic yearling sale.

Hip No. 435, a dark bay son of Officer--Ensoleille, by Sunshine Forever, was originally purchased by de Meric for $65,000 at the 2006 OBS August yearling sale. The colt went a quarter in :10.4 during the preview show March 18 and :22.0 during the under tack session March 24.

Hip No. 432, Wiseman's Ferry--Elmira Gulch, by Gulch. Consigned by Niall Brennan Stables, agent. Bloodstock agent Mike Ryan purchased the bay colt for $135,000 at the 2006 Fasig-Tipton Kentucky July yearling sale.  "He's a New York-bred colt, which is drawing a lot of attention, and he's a big, strong, scopey, colt," Brennan said. "He's very correct and has the physical to go along with it. You don't expect this type of colt to have the type of speed that he is showing. He's just a nice, solid colt."

Bred in New York by Denlea Park and South Gate, the colt worked a quarter in :21.1 March 18.

Hip No. 452, Harlan's Holiday--Fee, by Spectacular Bid. Ryan purchased the Kentucky-bred colt for $110,000 at the 2006 Keeneland September yearling sale. The colt worked a quarter in :22.0 March 18 and breezed another quarter in :21.3 March 24.

Also consigned by Brennan, Hip No. 244, Gliltterman--Timely Legend, by Navarone. Sue Fletcher purchased the Kentucky-bred colt for $100,000 at the 2006 Keeneland September yearling sale. The colt worked an eighth in :10.4  March 23. "He has some real nice size and scope," Brennan said. "He is the fourth foal from his dam and the other three are stakes horses."

The Glitterman colt is a half-brother to Song of Navarone, winner of the WinStar Derby March 18.