Best makes impressive splash into deep end

The Fasig-Tipton Gulfstream select sale of 2-year-olds in training is often the playground of established buyers who come to Florida to spend top dollar on prospects with the hopes of graded-stakes success in the near future.

That order was disrupted this year by Larry Best of OXO Equine, who purchased two of the sale’s three most expensive horses: the sale-topping Uncle Mo filly for $1.5 million and a $1.1 million More Than Ready colt.

The night marked a dive into the deep end for Best, who entered the Thoroughbred industry during last year’s Keeneland September yearling sale, where his two purchases didn’t equal the price of either of his two buys at Wednesday’s juvenile sale.

“I don’t buy that many horses,” he said. “When I see something special, I tend to buy it.”

Best, 67, is a Boston native who spent 15 years as chief financial officer and executive vice president of finance and administration for Boston Scientific, which manufactures and markets medical devices. He is the chairman and founder of OXO Capital, an investment firm he founded in 2007 centered on life-sciences and medical-device companies.

Entering the Thoroughbred business came late in life for Best, but he said he has long had industry participants in his social circle.

“Someone who I invited to be a guest in one of my homes in Florida got me hooked on the industry,” he said. “Someone that’s involved with some horses, somebody that I worked with over a number of years. He just intrigued me enough to look into it, and I love the industry, I love the horses, and I guess I got a little addicted.”

At the Keeneland September sale, Best bought a Medaglia d’Oro filly for $750,000 and a Super Saver colt for $150,000. He also owns a few young horses in partnerships. Best said most of his horses are sent to trainer Chad Brown.