$1 million Tapit colt tops Day 1 at OBS April sale

A $1 million son of perennial leading sire Tapit led the way Tuesday as the Ocala Breeders’ Sales Co. opened its flagship spring sale of 2-year-olds in training, which traditionally offers more of this crop than any other auction on the season.

OBS reported that 157 juveniles changes hands Tuesday, the first of four sessions, for gross receipts of $19,962,000, down slightly from $20,958,500 for 159 sold in the corresponding 2024 opener. The average price, $127,146, dipped 4 percent from $131,814 last year, while the median declined 29 percent, to $60,000 from $85,000. The session’s buyback rate was relatively steady, at 21 percent compared to 22 percent.

Bloodstock agent Gayle Van Leer bought the session-topping Tapit colt, on behalf of a new partnership that she said will likely be based on the West Coast. In addition to the colt’s furlong work in 10 seconds flat during last week’s under-tack preview on the Ocala Training Center's all-weather Safetrack, Van Leer said she was inspired by the recent success of Tapit’s Arkansas Derby winner and Kentucky Derby hopeful Sandman.

“He reminded me an awful lot of Sandman,” Van Leer told OBS. “I fell in love with him, he’s my Derby horse. This colt is just such a smooth-moving horse, and he caught my eye immediately during the under-tack show.”

The Tapit colt, a May 23 foal, is out of the Dixieland Band mare Palacio de Amor, who was multiple Grade 1-placed as a juvenile. She is the dam of seven winners from nine starters, led by Grade 3-placed stakes winner Threefiveindia, stakes winner Hero’s Amor, and stakes-placed Playful Love, the latter a full sister to this colt.

The colt was bred in Kentucky by Newtownanner Stud Farm and sold for $300,000 to Lugamo Racing Stables at the Keeneland September yearling sale. He was consigned on Tuesday by Top Line Sales, as agent.

“He has been a star since the day we got him,” said Torie Gladwell of Top Line Sales. “We’re really happy for Gayle because she was really excited to get that horse. He’s almost a June baby, but he’s so sound and just smart for a Tapit. I think once they get him to the racetrack, every day he’s just going to get better.”

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