On the day before Tuesday's Barretts March select sale of 2-year-olds in training in Southern California, here are some of the horses people were saying could bring big money:
Hip No. 147, an Officer -- Rovie Wade colt named El Oficial, consigned by B.C.3. Thoroughbreds, agent.
"I swore they took some DNA from Officer and cloned this horse, and they might have added just a little dash of size to him," said B.C.3.'s John Brocklebank of this 2-year-old's similarity physically to his sire. "He's the complete deal. He kind of makes you feel better in the morning when you watch him go. If you had a bad day, you'd ask, 'Can you bring him out in the afternoon and do it one more time?' " Said Brocklebank's partner, Shane Chipman: "He's phenomenal; he's fun to ride. He's very classy, and he acts like an older horse."
Hip No. 10, an Orientate -- Beautiful Treasure colt, consigned by O & H Bloodstock.
"He's 16 hands and a gorgeous mover by a champion sprinter, which indicates to a lot of people that he has the tendency to be speedy," said Terry Oliver of O & H. "But he's out of an Unbridled mare, and I think there's a lot more Unbridled to him than there is Orientate. When he moves, he covers so much ground, and that's what people like about him. Today's style of racehorse is a really fast horse that carries it over a route of ground."
Hip No. 35, a Cape Town-- Charming Gal filly, consigned by B.C.3. Thoroughbreds, agent.
"She's just sensational," said B.C.3.'s John Brocklebank. "She's a Cal-bred, and this is a nice spot for her. When she walks, she has a beautiful swagger to her."
Hip No. 51, a Bernstein -- Cometuseibella filly, consigned by B.C.3. Thoroughbreds, agent.
"When she comes out of the barn, everybody's going to twist their head around to look at her," said B.C.3.'s John Brocklebank of this filly's attractive appearance. "I would hate to have to choose between her and our Cape Town filly. They both have tremendous shoulders."
Hip No. 52, a Whywhywhy -- Contessa Halo colt named Ikigai, consigned by Wavertree Stables, agent.
"He was a beautiful yearling," said Wavetree's Ciaran Dunne. "He was big and strong. He was correct; he moved good; and he looked like he would be fast. Now, he's a big, strong, good-looking 2-year-old that is fast. He was what we thought he would be."
Hip No. 53, a Stormy Atlantic -- Corner the Groom colt, consigned by Scanlon Training Center, agent.
"He's one of the best horses we’ve had all year," David Scanlon said. "He's just done everything right. He's a beautiful-bodied horse, and he's got speed. I think he's a tremendous racing prospect."
Hip No. 54, a Storm Cat-- Country Romance colt, consigned by Eddie Woods, agent.
"He's so classy temperament wise, and he's sound," Woods said. "He's a man without being tough, just a good horse."
Hip No. 57, a Van Nistelrooy-- Craftimae colt, consigned by Eddie Woods, agent.
"He's a smashing horse,” said Eddie Woods. "He went :21 3/5 (for a quarter mile), but he went the first eighth in :10 flat. He's a big, long-striding horse."
Hip No. 60, a Johannesburg -- Decadant Designer colt, consigned by B.C.3. Thoroughbreds, agent.
"You know how you kind of shoot for the stars, that's how we feel about him," said B.C.3.'s John Brocklebank. "He's just a complete powerhouse. My partner Shane (Chipman) says he's like riding a jet every day."
Hip No. 62, a Vindication -- Destined filly, consigned by Jerry Bailey Sales Agency, agent.
"She's a good mover and a really nice filly," said Lance Robinson, a partner with Jerry Bailey. "We're kind of loaded with fillies out here this year."
Hip No. 63, a Forest Wildcat-- Dixie Ghost colt, consigned by Jerry Bailey Sales Agency, agent.
"He's really, really nice horse," said Lance Robinson, a partner with Jerry Bailey. "His workout time is really good; his gallop out time is really good. He's real sound and has a real good attitude. We don't know a negative about him."
Hip No. 121, an Indian Charlie-- Misty Weave colt, consigned by Wavertree Stables, agent.
"This is a nice horse, and Indian Charlie is finally getting the respect he deserves," said Wavertree's Ciaran Dunne. "He's a big, strong colt that looks like he will go two turns, and he's quick."
Hip No. 124, a Harlan's Holiday-- Ms. Cuvee Napa filly, consigned by Scanlon Training Center, agent.
"She's a really nice filly," David Scanlon said. "She's from a great family. I'm really excited about the Harlan's Holidays."
Hip No. 151, a Forestry -- Sez Fourty colt, consigned by H.T. Training, agent.
"He's just been a nice colt from day one," said Robert Jenkins of H.T. Training. "He was a little narrow, and then he really filled out. He's been sound all the way through training."
Hip No. 167, an Empire Maker -- Storm Away filly, consigned by Jerry Bailey Sales Agency, agent.
"We love her," said Lance Robinson, a partner with Jerry Bailey. "She's just a real special filly with a great pedigree. She's also a great mover and is really fast with a really good mind. She' done everything right. She probably has more of a Storm Cat (than an Empire Maker) look to her."
Hip No. 185, a Malibu Moon -- Tsu Lou filly, consigned by Sequel Bloodstock, agent.
"She's a real pretty, tall, stretchy filly," said Sequel's Becky Thomas said of this 2-year-old, which was a $150,000 yearling. "She's always been wonderful."
Hip No. 190, a Forest Wildcat-- Valarone colt, consigned by Murray Smith, agent.
"He's a lovely horse," Smith said. "Even though Forest Wildcat doesn't have that great sire appeal at the moment, this horse is a fabulous specimen. He's a balanced individual. He has tons of presence; he's big; he's got a beautiful, long neck; he's scopey; and he stands over a lot of ground. He's got a beautiful eye and head on him."
Hip No. 198, an El Corredor-- Who's Sorry Now colt, consigned by Sequel Bloodstock, agent.
"He's a beautiful horse," said Sequel's Becky Thomas of this striking colt with a dark bay or brown coat that is covered with dapples. "He's not a sprinter. On Sunday's track, he was a :10 2/5, :21 3/5, out in :34 4/5 horse, which was very much what he always did at home (in Florida). He's not like a fast, fast horse, but he's a horse that just keeps carrying his speed. When they went to try and pick him up (after Sunday's work), he almost went around again."
