Following a day when a staggering 14 juveniles turned in one-furlong times of 9 4/5 seconds during the first session of the Ocala Breeders’ Sales Co. March 2-year-olds in training sale, Thursday’s penultimate session saw a single colt break through with a time of 9 3/5 seconds.
The plateau time for Wednesday’s session of the Ocala Breeders’ Sales Co. March 2-year-olds in training sale under-tack show was well established at 9 4/5 seconds, with 14 horses tying for the co-fastest time over an eighth-mile.
Hill ‘n’ Dale Farm resident Curlin continues to build a strong reputation as a sire of top sale horses and successful runners. His newly turned yearlings already have topped mixed sales at the Ocala Breeders’ Sales Co. and Fasig-Tipton’s Midlantic branch in 2016.
Barbara Banke’s Stonestreet Farm has been a willing partner at auction to secure the right horse, joining forces with the likes of Gainesway, Spendthrift Farm, and the former Regis Farm to close bids at past auctions.
Behind the four horses who fetched seven-figure price tags at the Fasig-Tipton Florida sale Wednesday night came three other high-ticket offerings representing an exciting class of freshman sires. Union Rags had a $975,000 colt sold to Baoma Corp., Tapizar had an $800,000 filly sold to Dennis O'Neill and Erik Johnson, and Bodemeister had a colt sold to Mark Casse, as agent, for $650,000.
Pioneerof the Nile, the sire of Triple Crown winner American Pharoah, saw a surge in commercial popularity last year and has continued to ride the wave, getting the first seven-figure auction horse of his career Wednesday night.
The sophomore jinx was nonexistent for the second edition of the Fasig-Tipton Florida sale of 2-year-olds in training held at Gulfstream Park, with massive gains across the board, including a higher-priced sale-topper than the inaugural edition at the location.
A colt by two-time leading sire and commercial juggernaut Tapit lit up the night at the Fasig-Tipton Florida sale of 2-year-olds in training, selling for $1.8 million to bloodstock agent David Ingordo, signing the ticket for the partnership of Lane's End, Woodford Racing, and Robert LaPenta, Wednesday at Gulfstream Park.
After siring the first Triple Crown winner in 37 years, Pioneerof the Nile has seen his commercial popularity spike, as evidenced by a $1 million colt by the stallion sold to Coolmore Stud on Wednesday evening at the Fasig-Tipton Florida sale of 2-year-olds in training.
The Louisiana Thoroughbred Breeders Association and Equine Sales of Louisiana will join forces in the yearling auction market, according to a release form both entities.
