By Jessica Martini
A pair of colts shared the fastest furlong time during the second session of the under-tack show for the Ocala Breeders' Sales Company's June Sale of 2-Year-Olds and Horses of Racing Age Friday in Central Florida.
Consigned by Randy Bradshaw, hip 403 became the third horse of the four-session under-tack show to cover the furlong distance in :9 4/5 Friday.
“We thought he would probably go in :10 1/5 or :10 flat, so I wasn't totally surprised by :9 4/5,” Bradshaw said. “He's a pretty fast colt.”
The youngster, out of Zadie Creek (Repriced), is a half-brother to multiple stakes winner Beyond the Reach (Sahm).
“He's a medium-sized horse and built to be fast,” Bradshaw said of the colt. “He's just a quick-looking horse and by a sire who gets quick horses. He's a very honest, genuine horse who gives it to you when you ask him. That's all we can ask as trainers–he's there every time we ask him to go.”
Hip 403, who was bred by James Leech, RNA'd for $30,000 as a Keeneland November weanling in 2016. Bradshaw is consigning the colt on behalf of Jeff Weiss of Rosedown Racing. The two men have already enjoyed success at OBS this spring, having teamed up to sell the $1.1-million sale topper by Medaglia d'Oro in April.
“He's a lucky guy,” Bradshaw said of Weiss with a chuckle. “I've had three horses at the breeze shows for him and two of them went :9 4/5.”
Friday's under-tack show was delayed by about a half-hour when heavy rains hit the area just prior to the start of the last set of the day. During that set, hip 332 became the fourth horse of the week to work the furlong in :9 4/5. The colt by Dialed In is out of Top Trick (Hat Trick {Jpn}), a daughter of multiple graded stakes winner Blushing Heiress (Blushing John). Bloodstock agent Mike Ryan signed the ticket on the colt at $225,000 at last year's Keeneland September sale and he is consigned to the June sale by de Meric Sales
After several years with a fairly stagnant middle market, Bradshaw agreed the April sale saw increased competition in that range and he hopes that trend continues as the juvenile sales season concludes next week in Ocala.
“[The] June [sale] is always going to be a little tough because it's the last 2-year-old sale of the year and we're getting close to starting into buying yearlings again,” he said. “You've got to have one that works fast and looks good and has some sire power to get them sold, but if you have the right horse you can get it done in June.”
He continued, “If you get a shin or something happens earlier in the year that you can't make March or April, the June sale gives you one last shot to get there. Sometimes some of these horses need a little time to develop, so it's a necessary thing that we have a June sale. I think it's a little bit tougher to get one sold at this juncture and most people are looking for a bargain this time of year. It's down to the last hooray with people needing to sell their horses and people looking for a bargain, so I think the middle market will be all right for June.”
While the racing world turns its eyes toward Belmont Park for an action-packed weekend in New York, Bradshaw still saw plenty of familiar faces watching the works from the OBS grandstand Friday.
“A lot of the agents are up in New York with the Belmont and all of the big races this weekend, but looking at the grandstand, it's the same group that's always up there clocking horses,” he said. “The word gets around if you have a decent horse. I only have two, so hopefully we'll get them both sold.”
During Friday's under-tack show, a colt by Fed Biz (hip 402) worked the fastest quarter-mile of :20 3/5. Consigned by Potrero Stables, the chestnut colt is out of You Laughin (Sharp Humor), a half-sister to multiple Grade I winner Sweet Reason (Street Sense) and graded stakes winner Don't Forget Gil (Kafwain). He was purchased by South Legacy Stables for $7,500 at last year's Keeneland September Yearling Sale.
Sexyama (hip 407), a once-raced daughter of Cairo Prince, turned in the day's fastest three-furlong work of :32 3/5. Purchased by Hal Hatch for $55,000 at last year's Keeneland September sale, the youngster is consigned by Hatch's Halcyon Hammock Farm. A half-sister to multiple stakes placed Cowboy Cool (Divine Park), she was fifth behind Thursday's Astoria S. winner Athens Queen (Majestic Warrior) in her 4 1/2-furlong debut at Keeneland Apr. 19.
The June under-tack show continues through Sunday with sessions beginning daily at 7:30 a.m. The sale will be held Wednesday through Friday, with bidding starting each day at 10 a.m.
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