By Stefanie Grimm
Saturday marked the final day of under-tack previews for the Ocala Breeders' Sales Company's March Sale of 2-Year-Olds in Training and a colt by Gun Runner (hip 654) set the bar within the first six hips of the day with the sales co-fastest time, breezing an eighth in a swift :9 3/5.
The grey or roan colt, consigned by Eddie Woods, agent, was a $200,000 Keeneland September grad for St. Clair Stables last year. He is the first foal out of Tynan, a winning daughter of Liam's Map who is a half to GSW/MGISP and Walmac stallion Pappacap (Gun Runner) and GSW Boppy O (Bolt d'Oro). The dam received a timely pedigree update when another half-brother, $650,000 FTSAUG buy Our Souper Hero (War Of Will), just missed by a half-length in a well-met debut at Gulfstream Park Friday.
“He worked exceptionally well,” said Woods after the breeze. “We thought he'd go really good anyway, and he may [have] over achieved a little bit even. He's a stylish, good-looking horse. He's been very straightforward all winter. Very quiet, laid back horse and all class.”
Woods acknowledged that the market for classy sons of Gun Runner would be hot anywhere the colt went.
“We could've brought him anywhere,” he said. “March is a great sale–may as well have him here.”
:9.3 speed from a Gun Runner is…exciting😅
Has the pedigree to be an outstanding 2yo: o/o Liam's Map 1/2-sis to the G2SW and GI Breeders' Cup Juvenile runner-up PAPPACAP (also by Gun Runner), as well as the G3-winning 2yo BOPPY O@eddiewoods2yos @OBSSales @Three_Chimneys pic.twitter.com/iizdhZWi8e
— Lucas Marquardt (@ThoroStride) March 8, 2025
Breezing early in the session seemed advantageous, though the weather was not nearly as much of a hindrance Saturday as it was Thursday.
“Conditions were really good today,” Woods continued. “We had one little squall of rain come through in the third session which upped the wind a little bit but other than that, it's been quite good.”
With OBS March giving buyers their first look at freshman sires, Woods's consignment also includes a son of Independence Hall (hip 404) who took advantage of more favorable conditions Friday to work in :9 4/5. He's also represented by a daughter of Yaupon (hip 315) who worked a quarter-mile in :21 Friday and a son of Maxfield (hip 669) who breezed the same distance Saturday in :21 2/5.
“Among the freshman [in my consignment], it's Independence Hall. My Yaupon is quite nice but there seems plenty of nice ones around. I also think the Maxfields are going to be nice.”
Behind the Gun Runner colt, a total of 14 runners worked their furlong in :9 4/5 including colts by the aforementioned Maxfield (hips 672 and 721) and Yaupon (716). A More Than Ready colt (hip 757) who is a full-brother to Eclipse champion turf female Rushing Fall, also matched the :9 4/5 time.
A pair of fillies shared the fastest quarter-mile Saturday. A filly from the first crop of Charlatan (hip 601) out of GISP Sweet Shirley Mae worked in :20 2/5 along with a filly by Aurelius Maximus (hip 619).
The March Sale will be held over the course of three sessions and kicks off Tuesday, Mar. 11, running through Thursday, Mar. 13. For the complete catalogues and under-tack results, visit www.obssales.com.
Not a subscriber? Click here to sign up for the daily PDF or alerts.
