Saint Ballado Colt Brings $500,000 at OBSC Sale

A Saint Ballado colt purchased for $25,000 last fall was sold for $500,000 Tuesday to top the first half of the Ocala Breeders' Sales Company's selected 2-year-olds in training sale at Caler Race Course. Consigned by Straightaway Farm, the colt was bought by Texan James McIngvale, with Florida horseman J.B. McKathan signing the ticket. The immediate underbidders were California trainer Jeff Bonde and California agent Bruno De Berdt, who teamed up on behalf of several clients to attempt to purchase the colt.

McKathan said he was attracted to the colt because of the way he had worked over the racetrack in the Jan. 28 under tack show, labeling it "effortless."

Produced from the group II-winning Danzig mare Magic Gleam, the colt represented a profitable pinhook for a partnership consisting of Straightaway Farm owner Carl Bowling and the farm's trainer, Jill Julian. Bowling acquired the colt for $25,000 at last year's Keeneland September yearling sale. The colt previously had been sold as a weanling for $275,000 at the 2000 Keeneland November mixed sale.

Earlier in the session, Mike Gill purchased a Storm Creek colt for $360,000. Named Storming Anthony, the colt was consigned by Hoby and Layna Kight, agents. Layna Kight purchased him for only $35,000 at last year's Ocala Breeders' Sales Company August yearling sale.

Gill, who is from New Hampshire, races mostly claimers. Gill's stable is ranked fourth in purses earned through Feb. 4 of this year, according to Equibase. With 112 starters through that period, Gill's horses had earned $375,165. Gill said his business, Mortgage Specialists, is the largest provider of conventional mortgage loans in the country. Gill has recently started breeding, and he said he is purchasing some promising young horses at auction until his mares begin producing runners. He bought several other horses early in the sale.

Storming Anthony was produced from the stakes-placed Trick Me mare Delicate Rose.