By Brian DiDonato
A colt from the first crop of California-based stallion Danzing Candy topped the open yearling session of the Ocala Breeders' Sales Company's October sale on a $115,000 bid from agent Donato Lanni. Overall numbers held up reasonably well compared to last year, especially considering the current economic pressures brought about by COVID-19.
After 2-year-olds, horses of racing age and selected yearlings sold Tuesday, Wednesday's open session saw 256 yearlings bring a combined $2,859,400 at an average of $11,170 (down 11.1% year over year) and median of $8,000 (unchanged). The RNA rate was 21.5% compared to 24.6% 12 months ago.
Bred in Kentucky by Dan and Valencia Leach and consigned by Lisa McGreevy's Abbie Road Farm, Agent II, session-topping hip 632 is out of the winning mare Bosserette (Street Boss), who was herself a $155,000 OBSAPR grad in 2013. Bosserette is half to SW Meditations (Out of Place) and a full to MSP Butch Walker and from the family of graded winners Lindon Lime and Regal Thunder.
Danzing Candy was trained to 2017 wins in the GIII Lone Star Park H. and GII San Carlos S. by close Lanni associate Bob Baffert. The Rancho San Miguel resident's previous priciest yearling was $42,000 (a half-brother to Swiss Skydiver {Daredevil} RNA'd for $145,000 at the Fasig-Tipton Selected Yearlings Showcase).
Besecker Goes Back to the Well…
While Pennsylvania-based owner Joseph Besecker had dispersed much of his stock last year, he has remained involved in the sport on a smaller scale, and went to $62,000 Wednesday to reacquire an Exaggerator filly (hip 615) who he had co-bred and sold as a weanling. The dark bay was purchased by consignor Sandi Dorr's Sennebec South Farm for $37,000 the 2019 Keeneland November sale.
Hip 615 is the second foal out of stakes-placed Bazinga B (Lion Hearted), who Besecker claimed for $13,000 in 2016.
“She was part of my dispersal,” Besecker confirmed of the Pennsylvania-bred, who was a foal share with the Exaggerator Syndicate. “[Dorr] did a phenomenal job with the horse. We have the Uncle Lino [2-year-old half-sister named Bazinga Babe] ready to race, who we're very high on; and we have the Hoppertunity [foal colt] who looks like one of the nicest-looking babies I've seen in a long time… There were five live people on this horse–I didn't bid until late. She went for more than I would have thought, but knowing what we know [I thought she was worth it].”
Besecker said Bazinga Babe is in training with Tim Kreiser at Penn National, and noted that he and Kreiser won with a firster on Wednesday at Parx who has been less impressive in the mornings than hip 615's half-sister. An Exaggerator filly herself, Expurgated–a $40,000 OBSAPR acquisition–aired by 8 1/4 lengths in a $25,000 maiden claimer.
“I was at many, many, many more horses [before the dispersal],” Besecker said when asked of his decision to continue owning horses after seeming like he was getting out of the business. “All the reasons I said I got out were the reasons I got out, and I'm still frustrated with some things–especially during COVID. But, now, I'm applying a new business concept.”
Besecker noted that of the six 2-year-old in training purchases he made this spring, three have won, two have finished second and one has finished third.
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