Speed was on display during the April 20 under tack show in preparation for the Ocala Breeders' Sales spring 2-year-olds in training sale, as two 2-year-olds zipped the fastest eighth-mile (:09 3/5) that has been recorded during the first four days of workouts.
One of the two fastest workers, a More Than Ready filly consigned as Hip 778 by Ciaran Dunne's Wavertree Stables, agent, was produced from the Clever Trick mare Miss Mary Apples, who finished second in the 2002 Schuylerville Stakes (G2) at Saratoga Race Course. Bred in Kentucky by KatieRich Farms, the filly is a half sister to multiple stakes winner Miss Red Delicious and stakes winner Dr. Diamonds Prize, who was also grade 2-placed in Canada.
Dunne said the speedy workout time was no surprise because the filly has always shown talent, as evidenced by her $390,000 purchase price when acquired by JSM Equine from the KatieRich offerings at last year's Keeneland September yearling sale.
"She is an absolutely stunning individual and we're just happy it all came together on the day for her," Dunne said. "She is as good as you could want one to be on the end of a shank. If you don't like her, you don't like horses. She was as obvious as the nose on your face as a yearling. She was so pretty and we got caught up in the heat of the moment and brought her home."
The other quick juvenile Thursday was a son of Tiznow who descends from the family that includes champion Gold Beauty. Consigned as Hip 793 by Bobby Dodd, agent, the colt out of the Distorted Humor mare Moonbow was bred in Kentucky by WinStar Farm and purchased by Brad Grady's Grand Oaks for $125,000 from Woodford Thoroughbreds at the 2016 Keeneland September yearling sale.
"We knew he was pretty nice," Grady said. "He prepped really good. He's real pretty and he moves good. He is a big, strong horse with a big hip."
The colt's second dam is multiple stakes winner Storm Beauty, a Storm Cat half sister to champion sprinter Gold Beauty who has produced grade 3 winner Buffum , multiple stakes winner and grade 2-placed Stormy West, and graded stakes-placed Renaissance Lady.
The day's fastest time of :21 for a quarter-mile was turned in by Hip 734, a New York-bred Teuflesberg filly consigned by New Hope, agent. A half sister to multiple stakes winner Brenda's Way, the filly was bred by McMahon of Saratoga Thoroughbreds.
The under tack workouts continue through April 22, beginning at 8 a.m. ET daily.
Under tack results and videos are posted on the OBS website at obssales.com and can be viewed on-site at kiosks in the breezeway and in the video room adjacent to the horsemen's lounge and at area hotels.
The sale at the OBS headquarters in Ocala, Fla., is scheduled for April 25-28 with daily sessions beginning at 10:30 a.m. ET.
