A Forest Campcolt turned in the fastest quarter-mile work Sunday at Fairplex Park during the second and final under tack show for the Barretts March select sale of 2-year-olds in training. Consigned by Niall Brennan Stables, agent, he covered the distance in :21 2/5. His time for an eighth of a mile was :10.
"He's such an honest colt," Niall Brennan said. "He really bellies down every time he works. He gives you 110%, and he's so competitive. He's not a big, scopey kind that's going to bring that crazy kind of money, but he's a real nice colt."
Kentucky bloodstock agent Mike Ryan purchased the chestnut colt for $140,000 at last year's Keeneland September yearling sale. Produced from the 17-year-old winning Miswaki mare Magical Flash, the colt is a half-brother to stakes winners Bright Magic, Take the Ribbon, and Hot War.
The colt breezed an eighth in :10 2/5 during the first Barretts under tack show on March 12.
Sunday's fastest workers at an eighth, each stopping the clock in :10 1/5, were a Kafwain -- Cat's Image filly named Kafe, consigned by Mary Knight, agent; a Seattle Bound -- D. J.'s Chocolate filly named Chocolate Bound, consigned by Knight; an Orientate -- Miss Blues Sweep colt, consigned by B.C.3. Thoroughbreds, agent; a Hennessy -- My Success colt, consigned by Jerry Bailey Sales Agency, agent; and a Slewdledo -- Sky Jig colt, consigned by Knight.
The Southern California weather was cool, with cloudy skies that turned sunny before the under tack show ended. Consignor Becky Thomas of Sequel Bloodstock said the track was slower than it had been for the first show, when the weather was hot and the track very dry.
Not as many horses worked Sunday as had been expected because rainy weather in Central Florida forced the postponement of the first under tack show for the Ocala Breeders' Sales Co. March select juvenile auction from Friday and Saturday to Saturday and Sunday. Unable to get their work riders to both the OBS show and the Barretts show, some sellers decided not to work their Barretts horses.
Barretts announced prior to Sunday's show that the preliminary reports from an autopsy revealed that the Hold That Tiger-- Wancha Back colt, which collapsed and died while working March 12, suffered a ruptured artery.
The Barretts sale is Tuesday, beginning at 2 p.m. (PDT), with live coverage on HorseRacing TV. HRTV's Peter Lurie will host the coverage, and be joined by his colleagues, Becky Witzman and Sean McCarthy.
