Fasig-Tipton Midlantic: Orb makes a splash

Bloodstock agent Dennis O’Neill was among the first and biggest believers in Uncle Mo when the stallion’s freshman crop was coming to the sales, purchasing horses like champion Nyquist and Grade 1 winner Gomo from his initial offerings.

O’Neill has now called his shot with this year’s freshman class, offering high praise for Orb after purchasing a son of the Kentucky Derby winner and young Claiborne Farm stallion for $710,000 on Tuesday at the Fasig-Tipton Midlantic sale of 2-year-olds in training.

“He’s kind of my Uncle Mo from a couple years ago,” O’Neill said. “I haven’t seen too many bad Orbs. He’s the one this year.”

O’Neill purchased the colt on behalf of new owner Amr Zedan and said he will be trained by his brother Doug O’Neill in California. The colt had worked a furlong in 10 seconds, tying for the fastest work at the presale under-tack show.

“They look great – they’re really athletic, they’re strong, they’ve got great minds,” Dennis O’Neill said. “I went and checked on this horse a bunch the last couple days, and he just stands in his stall. Just a great mind. Gorgeous, gorgeous horses.”

:: DRF BREEDING LIVE: Real-time coverage of breeding and sales

Orb was represented by six foals sold for an average of $341,000 at the Fasig-Tipton sale, including a colt sold for $525,000 to C.P. Beler through Leon Blusiewicz. This week’s run continued a strong initial juvenile sales season for Orb, who also was represented by a $1.25 million colt at the Ocala Breeders’ Sales Co. March sale of 2-year-olds in training. That transaction made the son of Malibu Moon the first freshman sire to put a seven-figure juvenile through the ring at a North American auction since 2012.

“I’m seeing a lot of [broodmare sire] Unbridled coming through the Orbs,” bloodstock agent Mike Ryan said. “They’re nice. I’m impressed by them. They’re two-turn horses, but they’ve got class. They’re sound, they’re good-training horses, they’re very straightforward.”