Part One: 2013 OBS March Sale of Selected Two-Year-Olds in Training

Fasig-Tipton and Keeneland are the two most well-known Thoroughbred sales companies in North America, but also among the highest quality, most familiar American auction firms is the Ocala Breeders’ Sales Company, or OBS. Based in Ocala, Florida, OBS is home to several annual sales, including three sales for juveniles.

Among such auctions is OBS’ initial juvenile sale of the year, the OBS Selected Sale of Two-Year-Olds in Training, or the OBS March Sale. Recent graduates of this auction include the grade one winners Camp Victory, Plum Pretty, and Spring in the Air, as well as the 2013 Derby hopefuls Itsmyluckyday and Revolutionary. Over time, the sale has produced the likes of a dozen Breeders’ Cup victors and 17 champions.

345 two-year-olds were cataloged for the 2013 edition of this sale, down seventeen horses from last year. The auction entrants took to the track on Thursday and Friday (March 7 and 8) for the under-tack show. The sale itself will also be divided into two sessions: hips 1-172 are set to go through the sales ring on Tuesday, March 12 whereas hips 173-345 will take their turn on Wednesday, March 13.

Listed below are the twenty-three horses I was most impressed with, based primarily on their performances in the breeze show, though weight was placed upon pedigree as well. Conformation was not used as a judging factor due it not being accessible for all horses. I will do a follow-up piece after the sale, spotlighting these horses again with the results of the auction.

Hip #25: Though she struggled with maintaining the correct lead, this filly displayed rather impressive length of stride throughout her breeze despite traveling with too much unnecessary knee action. The time for her one-furlong work was 10 1/5 seconds.

Sired by a grade one-winning son of Forest Wildcat in D’wildcat, hip 25 is a three-quarters sister to the multiple stakes-winning John Johny Jak. Her second dam produced a graded stakes-winning, grade one-placed mare that became a productive broodmare.

Hip 25 is consigned by Halcyon Hammock Farm, Agent II.

Hip #47: In a brisk 10-second-flat breeze, this colt moved powerfully and quickly, though performing with less fluid action and less lift to the shoulder than I would like to see.

Sharing a sire with nine grade one winners in Elusive Quality, hip 47’s second dam is Ruby’s Ransom, a half-sister to two group one winners and producer of the graded/group stakes winners Sacred Song and Strut the Stage.

Hip 47 is consigned by Sequel Bloodstock, Inc. (Becky Thomas), Agent.

Hip #61: Despite holding his head too high, this colt turned in a very impressive work, allowing imposing extension to his stride as a result of remarkable lift to his shoulder. The colt also displayed a flat knee while striding out to record a 10 1/5-second breeze.

A son of the promising Tiz Wonderful, who tends to throw good-looking individuals, hip 61 is out of a half-sister to a graded stakes winner. This colt is bred on the same successful Tiznow/Mr. Prospector sire line cross as the grade one winners Bullsbay and Gemologist.

Hip 61 is consigned by Wavertree Stables, Inc. (Ciaran Dunne), Agent XVI.

Hip #65: Though displaying a bit too much knee in his 10 2/5-second breeze, hip 65 performed with much lift to his shoulder, thus permitting him to gallop with a powerful, lengthy stride.

By the sire of a pair of champions in Exchange Rate, hip 65 is out of a black-type-winning half-sister to a graded stakes winner. The Danzig/Sky Classic sire line cross on which this colt was bred also produced the group one-winning Speciosa.

Hip 65 is consigned by All in Sales (Tony Bowling), Agent.

Hip #75: This colt turned in a 10 1/5-second clocking for his one-furlong work. The chestnut moved commandingly, lifting his shoulders to allow a flat knee and authoritative stride.

Sired by the on-fire Tapit, hip 75 is out of a black-type-winning mare and is bred on the same Tapit/Northern Dancer sire line cross as the grade one winners Laragh and Tapizar.

Hip 75 is consigned by Wavertree Stables, Inc. (Ciaran Dunne), Agent XIV.

Hip #98: Despite traveling with a bit too much knee, this filly was an efficient mover, traveling with a lengthy stride while completing one-furlong in 10 1/5 seconds.

A daughter of the graded stakes-producing High Cotton, hip 98 is a half-sister to the graded stakes-winning Den’s Legacy. The filly’s second dam produced four black-type horses, including the grade one-winning C. S. Silk and the graded stakes-winning Remember Sheikh.

Hip 98 is consigned by SGV Thoroughbreds (Steven Venosa), Agent.

Hip #110: Like my other Tiz Wonderful selection, this colt kept his head too high throughout his 10 3/5-second breeze. Though traveling with a slight amount of unnecessary knee action, hip 110 moved in strong fashion, performing with much lift to his shoulder and noteworthy length to his stride.

Though this colt’s pedigree is rather understated, hip 110 is bred on a cross similar to the grade one-winning Bullsbay.

Hip 110 is consigned by Niall Brennan Stables, Agent VI.

Hip #129: Though this colt traveled on the wrong lead and could have been flatter about the knee, hip 129 moved powerfully, lifting his shoulder to allow for a fairly long stride. The final time for his work was 10 3/5 seconds.

A son of the blazing Harlan’s Holiday, hip 129 is a half-sister to the graded stakes-winning Tajaaweed. The colt’s second dam produced the multiple graded stakes-winning and grade one-placed sire Mr. Greeley, as well as the black-type-winning granddam of Street Sense. This colt was one of my selections at the 2012 Fasig-Tipton July Sale for yearlings.

Hip 129 is consigned by Eddie Woods, Agent XLII.

Hip #135: This colt carried his head too high, was a bit erratic with the front legs, and ran greenly, changing leads, but moved in a robust manner, covering much ground with his stride to complete his breeze in 10 2/5 seconds.

Among the second crop of the graded stakes-winning Horse Greeley, hip 135 is a half-brother to the graded stakes-winning Strike the Bell. The granddam of this colt produced two black-type winners that each foaled a grade one winner.

Hip 135 is consigned by Eisaman Equine, Agent.

Hip #144: Traveling with a commanding, quick-legged stride, this filly displayed a small excess of unattractive knee action but remained an efficient mover in her 10 1/5-second breeze.

A member of the multiple grade one-winning Pioneerof the Nile’s first crop, hip 144 is a half-sister to a black-type-placed gelding. Intriguingly, this filly is a direct descendant of the great mare Twilight Tear.

Hip 144 is consigned by All In Sales (Tony Bowling), Agent.

Hip #154: Though exhibiting a bit too much knee, hip 154 traveled in an imposing manner, using his shoulders to allow for a powerful stride. The final time for his breeze was 10 2/5 seconds.

By the late champion War Pass, hip 154 is a half-brother to a pair of graded stakes performers, including a graded stakes winner. He is a direct descendant of the Oaks Stakes victress Sunny Jane.

Hip 154 is consigned by de Meric Sales, Agent I.

Hip #163: Going a quarter-mile in 21 2/5 seconds, this colt was less fluid about his stride than he could be due to sloppy knee action but moved robustly.

Sired by the graded stakes-producing Yes It’s True, hip 163 is a half-brother to the graded stakes-winning Areyoutalkintome and is out of a half-sister to the graded stakes-winning Elaborate.

Hip 163 is consigned by Craig L. Wheeler, Agent.

Hip #186: Although he ran greenly throughout his breeze, hip 186 was a powerful mover, lifting greatly from his shoulder to allow a rather flat knee, though he did appear to run too widely with his front legs. The colt finished his breeze in 10 1/5 seconds.

A member of Keyed Entry’s second crop, hip 186 is a half-brother to a stakes winner that produced a pair of black-type runners. This colt descends from a prolific female family, being a direct descendant of Ormonda, an outstanding broodmare who was the granddam of Triple Crown hero Whirlaway.

Hip 186 is consigned by Boutte Sales, Agent I.

Hip #195: Despite showing slightly excessive knee action, this colt was a professional mover, galloping with a lengthy, effortless stride to complete his one-furlong work in 10 1/5 seconds.

A son of A.P. Indy’s grade one-producing champion Mineshaft, hip 195 descends from a rather nondescript dam line, though he is from the same family as the grade one-winning Storm Tower.

Hip 195 is consigned by Wavertree Stables, Inc. (Ciaran Dunne), Agent.

Hip #198: Though he displayed too much knee, this colt allowed enough lift to his shoulders to provide for a long stride. He breezed in 10 3/5 seconds.

Sired by the producer of an abundance of grade one winners in Mr. Greeley, hip 198 is not only a sibling to a graded stakes winner and a black-type-winner, but is out of a black-type-winning half-sister to the grade one winners Editor’s Note and Hold That Tiger.

Hip 198 is consigned by Woodford Thoroughbreds, Agent.

Hip #199: Completing his breeze in 10 seconds flat, this colt could have galloped more fluidly, but nonetheless exhibited a long, powerful stride.

Among Old Fashioned’s first crop, hip 199 is out of the grade one-winning Celtic Melody. The Unbridled’s Song/Gone West sire line cross on which this colt is bred is the same that produced the graded stakes winners Forest Music and Praying for Cash.

Hip 199 is consigned by Sequel Bloodstock, Inc. (Becky Thomas), Agent.

Hip #266: Although not as smooth-strided about the front legs as I would like to see, this filly traveled with vigorous, quick strides, breezing in 10 seconds flat.

A half-sister to one of my two-year-olds sales selections of 2012, Brown Eyes Blue, hip 266 is out of a half-sister to three black-type winners, two of which were graded stakes winners. This filly is from the family of champion Sunshine Forever.

Hip 266 is consigned by Wavertree Stables, Inc. (Ciaran Dunne), Agent VI.

Hip #277: Though she could have extended her stride more greatly and been more even about her front legs, this filly was fairly efficient in her 10 4/5-second work.

A daughter of the promising Big Brown, hip 277 is out of a half-sister to four black-type winners, including the champion Countess Diana.

Hip 277 is consigned by Niall Brennan Stables, Agent XVI.

Hip #285: Despite struggling with his leads, this flashy colt performed in strong fashion, appearing powerful while posting a time of 10 1/5 seconds.

Sharing his sire with three grade one winners in Congrats, hip 285 is out of the black-type-winning, graded stakes-placed Icy Warning. This makes him a half-brother to a pair of black-type winners, as well as the producers of two graded stakes winners.

Hip 285 is consigned by Eisaman Equine, Agent.

Hip #296: Recording one of the fastest works of the under-tack show by going a furlong in 9 4/5 seconds, this filly demonstrated impressive lift to her shoulders and traveled in a strapping manner.

A daughter of the graded stakes-producing Yes It’s True, this filly’s stakes-placed second dam, My Song for You, is a half-sister to the grade one winners Capote and Exceller. My Song for You produced the graded stakes-winning Minister’s Melody, who yielded several black-type horses, including the grade one-winning Bob and John.

Hip 296 is consigned by Top Line Sales, LLC, Agent.

Hip #304: Though this colt could have traveled more fluidly, he appeared robust, eating up the ground with his long stride. He completed his one-furlong work in 10 3/5 seconds.

This colt is sired by a top Argentinian sire in Indygo Shiner and is out of a black-type-placed sister to several black-type horses, including the multiple graded stakes-winning Eagleton. The A.P. Indy/Mr. Prospector sire line cross on which hip 304 is bred is the same one that produced the grade one victors A Z Warrior and Rail Trip.

Hip 304 is consigned by Boutte Sales, Agent I.

Hip #341: This filly recorded a 10-second flat breeze, and though she struggled to maintain the correct lead, hip 341 had noteworthy lift to her shoulder, allowing her to run with lengthy, athletic strides while remaining quick-legged.

A member of champion Kodiak Kowboy’s first crop, hip 341 is out of the graded stakes-placed Mrs. M, making her a half-sister to the black-type-placed Dan the Tin Man.

Hip 341 is consigned by All In Sales (Tony Bowling), Agent.

Hip #343: Although he displayed too much knee, hip 343 was a professional mover, traveling with good extension of stride to record a 10 1/5-second breeze.

Sired by the thriving Malibu Moon, this colt is out of a half-sister to three graded stakes winners and the producers of many talented horses, including an Irish champion and a grade one winner.

Hip 343 is consigned by Eisaman Equine, Agent.