Justin Casse

Yaupon colt at OBS
$1-Million Yaupon Colt Tops Finale as OBS March Sale Concludes with Record Gross

by Jessica Martini & Christina Bossinakis OCALA, FL - With one more million-dollar juvenile bringing its three-day total to a record-tying seven, the Ocala Breeders' Sales Company's March Sale of 2-Year-Olds in Training concluded Thursday with its highest-ever gross and increases in both average and median from a year ago. "Gratified, pleased and happy for the consignors," OBS Director of Sales Tod Wojciechowski said of the auction's record-setting results. The consignors bring the horses and the quality of the horses that they bring is what brings the prices. So I...

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$2-Million Into Mischief Colt Leads Way as Keeneland September Powers Into Book 3

LEXINGTON, KY -- The Keeneland September Yearling Sale marched into Book 3 Saturday with no signs of slackening of its torrid pace as the auction's fifth session continued to produce double-digit gains over last year's figures. During the opening Book 3 session, 278 yearlings sold for $61,799,000. The session average was $222,299--up 26.69% from last year's corresponding figure--and the median of $300,000 was up 20%. The buy-back rate ticked down to 26.43% from 28.62% a year ago. "Today marks the fifth consecutive session in which we've set a record, an...

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Million-Dollar Hits Keep Coming at Keeneland: Into Mischief Colt Brings $2 Million Saturday

After a dark day Friday, the Keeneland September Yearling Sale picked up right where it had left off when a colt by Into Mischief (hip 1197) brought a final bid of $2 million early in Saturday's fifth session of the 12-day auction. Bloodstock agent Justin Casse signed the ticket on behalf of Coolmore, White Birch Farm, and John Oxley. Consigned by Gainesway, the bay colt is out of the unraced Miss Jessica J (Empire Maker), who is a half-sister to champion Jaywalk (Cross Traffic) and multiple stakes winner Danzatrice (Dunkirk),...

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Americans at Arqana: Should I Stay Or Should I Go Now?

DEAUVILLE, FRANCE--Americans' plans for the Arqana sale were understandably shaken up when U.S. President Donald Trump made good on his threat to impose tariffs on the European Union and others in early August, meaning that French-bred horses purchased here-like all French products imported to America--would be subject to a 15% surcharge when they are brought back into America. Several buyers are deciding to break, train and race their horses in Europe instead, while others will brave the fee and come back to the U.S. On the final day of the...

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How Will U.S. Tariffs Affect Americans Buying at Arqana?

DEAUVILLE, FRANCE-- When U.S. President Donald Trump made good on his threat to impose tariffs on countries around the world on August 1-including a 15% tax on goods coming into America from the European Union-markets across the world shuddered. In the bloodstock world, the first to be affected will be the Arqana August Sale, which starts this Saturday, August 16. An Arqana-sponsored plane full of Americans arrived Wednesday morning from Saratoga, and the TDN spoke with some of those who came over, and others who stayed home, and international buyers...

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Casse Lands $350K Not This Time Colt in Book 5 Opener at Keeneland

A colt by Not This Time led the initial Book 5 session of the Keeneland September Sale in Lexington Wednesday. Consigned by his breeder Woods Edge Farm, Hip 3027 was purchased for $350,000 by bloodstock agent Justin Casse, purchasing on behalf of an undisclosed client. "He is a lovely colt," said Casse. "He was spotted well in the latter part of the sale by one of the best consignors out there, Peter O'Callaghan. His pedigree stood out. You weren't going to run into many pedigrees like that at this stage...

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Omaha Beach Filly Runs To the Money and Earns a 'Rising Star' at the Spa

With the Angels (f, 2, Omaha Beach--Sister Margaret, by Pulpit) was accorded a 6-1 chance on the morning line for Thursday's state-bred opener from Saratoga, but she was well-tried in the market and ultimately made even-money look like a gift in a debut romp that was worthy of the 'TDN Rising Star' designation. Having breezed an eighth of a mile in :9 4/5 before selling to agent Justin Casse for $350,000 at this year's OBS April Sale, the dark bay filly--who fetched $65,000 at last year's Fasig-Tipton Saratoga New York-Bred...

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Thursday Insights: Into Mischief $475k OBS June Grad Debuts At Big A

6th-BAQ, $90K, Msw, 3yo/up, 6f, 3:39 p.m. ET. DEPUTY MISCHIEF (Into Mischief), a 3-year-old Bill Mott trainee, makes his first start for co-owners John Oxley, Neil Sands, Tom McCrocklin and Justin Casse. The $475,000 2023 OBS June Sale graduate is out of Canadian champion 2-year-old filly and 'TDN Rising Star' Delightful Mary (Limehouse). Herself campaigned by Oxley, she counts as a half-sister MGSW Delightful Kiss (Kissin Kris). Deputy Mischief has an extended female family which includes MSW Dr Ardito (Liam's Map) and Japanese multiple group 1 stakes runner-up Wilson Tesoro...

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$775K Caracaro Filly Tops Solid OBS Spring Opener

by Jessica Martini & Stefanie Grimm OCALA, FL - While it took some time to find its stride, the first session of the Ocala Breeders' Sales Company's Spring Sale of 2-Year-Olds in Training gained momentum throughout the day and concluded with figures in line with the first session of its record-setting 2023 renewal. "I thought it was a good day," said OBS Director of Sales Tod Wojciechowski. "A good horse sells well and I thought we had a lot of nice horses today. Holding true to last year, that's a...

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$1.5-Million Not This Time Colt on Top as Action Ticks up at OBS March

by Jessica Martini & Christina Bossinakis OCALA, FL - With a pair of colts topping the seven-figure mark, the tempo picked up during the second session of the Ocala Breeders' Sales Company's March Sale of 2-Year-Olds in Training Wednesday. With 144 horses sold Wednesday for $25,488,000, the session average was $177,000--up 6.2% from last year's corresponding session--and the median of $87,500 declined 2.8% from a year ago. The buy-back rate was 31.8%. "I thought it was a very good session," said OBS Director of Sales Tod Wojciechowski. "It felt like...

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Promoting the American Thoroughbred Industry: Letter to the Editor, Justin Casse

During the recent holiday season, I had the opportunity to engage in meaningful discussions with my 13-year-old son, Max, about his future aspirations. As he approaches an age where decisions about higher education and career paths come into focus, we've delved into conversations about his collegiate preferences and professional ambitions. It is not uncommon for adolescents at this stage to express a desire to emulate the occupational choices of family members. Max, in particular, has conveyed an interest in following in the footsteps of his father, cousin Norm, uncle Mark,...

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Emotional Scenes At Arqana As Without Words Lifts Longways Stables' Spirits

There were emotional scenes in the early parts of the Saturday session at Arqana when Without Words (Mendelssohn), who Mick Murphy and Sarah O'Connell of Longways Stables failed to sell at the breeze-up here in May, was knocked down to Justin Casse on behalf of Joseph O'Brien for €450,000.  Without Words carried O'Connell's colours to victory on her second start for trainer Francois Rohaut at Toulouse. There was a kaleidoscope of significance to the win and subsequent sale with Murphy revealing afterwards that his wife had recently been diagnosed with...

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