Full House Expected for OBS March Sale

A large contingent of trainers were on hand March 20 for the final of two breeze shows leading up to the Ocala Breeders' Sales Company's selected March 2-year-olds in training sale.

The sale is March 22-23.

Highlighting the work show were colts by Delaware Township, Silver Charm, and Siphon, each working a quarter mile in :21.1. Sons of Trippi and Pioneering each clocked an eighth in :10.1.

"There are more working trainers here for this breeze show than I can ever remember seeing at any breeze show before," said consignor Robert Scanlon. "This is more of a trainer's sale. People wanting to spend $100,000 to $150,000 on a real racehorse, this is their sale. There is something here for everyone."

Ron Ellis, Paul McGee, Elliott Walden and Joe Orseno were among the active trainers inspecting the 630 horses catalogued for the two-day sale.

Consignor Becky Thomas of Sequel Bloodstock said she expected to see a strong middle market. "If you look at the 2-year-old sales overall," she said, "there has not been a middle market that has been solid. Everyone here is very optimistic that this is going to bring a strong middle market.

"A lot of people I talked to at other 2-year-old sales all said they were coming in for this sale because they believe they can buy a good, solid horse for $100,000. Buyers have a chance at this sale."

Scanlon said the number of buyers inspecting horses throughout the week had remained consistent, but said the large number of people filling the grandstands to watch the breeze show was larger than normal.

The top workers for a quarter-mile were:

-- Hip 338: a chestnut son of Delaware Township, consigned by Mesa Verde Bloodstock, Brett Brinkman, agent, worked an eighth in :10.3 March 12. He was bred in Florida by Harry and Louise Bono.

The colt, produced from the Private Terms mare Miss Gumbo, is from the family of stakes winners Bishop's Delight and Shadow Caster. Bill Heiligbrodt's Heiligbrodt Racing Stable purchased the colt as a weanling for $120,000 at the 2003 Keeneland November mixed sale. He was consigned to the 2004 Fasig-Tipton Kentucky July yearling sale but failed to meet his reserve.

--Hip 349: a grey or roan son of Silver Charm, Silver Ferriri, was consigned by Eisaman Equine and is selling at public auction for the first time. He breezed an eighth in :10.3 March 13.

M.G.G. Holdings bred the colt in Kentucky from the Miswaki mare Miswila.

-- Hip 420: a bay son of Siphon, consigned by Scanlon, was bred in Florida by Adena Springs Farm and was originally purchased by G. Lack Farms for $55,000 at the 2004 Keeneland September yearling sale.

The colt, who worked an eighth in :10.3 March 13, was produced from the stakes winning Cherokee Colony mare Poopsie and is from the family of stakes winners Famous Partner and OutofNowher.

The top works for an eighth were:

-- Hip 421: a bay son of Trippi from the consignment of Nick de Meric, agent. Bred in Florida by Glibert Campbell, the colt was produced from the Storm Creek mare Precise Storm and is from the family of stakes winners Precise End and Precisely.

The colt, who worked an eighth in :10.3 March 13, was originally purchased by Misty Horse for $57,000 at the 2004 OBS August yearling sale.

-- Hip 487: a chestnut son of Pioneering from the consignment of Terry Oliver, agent. The colt was bred in Kentucky by Richard Lake and was produced from the Taylor's Special mare Sarita Sarita.

The colt, who orked an eighth in :10.4 March 13, was originally purchased by H & C Bloodstock for $40,000 at the 2004 Fasig-Tipton Kentucky July yearling sale.

Sessions begin at 11 a.m. each day of the sale.