April 20, 2024

Orb colt brings $1.25 million at OBS

A colt from the first crop of the 2013 Kentucky Derby (G1) winner led the offerings on Day 1 at OBS (Reed Palmer/Churchill Downs)

A colt from the first crop of 2013 Kentucky Derby (G1) winner Orb brought a final bid of $1.25 million from Solis/Witt at Tuesday’s first session of the Ocala Breeders’ Sales Company’s March Sale of Two-Year-Olds in Training. Consigned by Crupi’s New Castle Farm, agent, the March 24 Kentucky-bred toured the ring as Hip No. 127.

Out of Remember, a Forest Wildcat half-sister to Grade 1 turf winner Dancing Forever, the juvenile counts as his third dam Oh What a Dance, who reared champion filly Heavenly Prize and Grade 1 winner Oh What a Windfall. Oh What a Dance was herself a full sister to Breeders’ Cup Sprint (G1) winner Dancing Spree and a half-sibling to Grade 1 scorers Furlough and Fantastic Find. All were out of Grade 2 Blitey, who in turn was out of 1966 champion three-year-old filly Lady Pitt.

The session-topper, who previously sold for $350,000 at Keeneland September, worked one furlong in :10 at the under tack show.

Rattler Racing Inc. went to $950,000 to secure a Curlin half-brother to multiple stakes winner Wake Up Nick. Consigned by Imagine…, the April 13 Kentucky-bred sported Hip 223.

Reared by Storm Hearted, by Lion Hearted, the colt is from the family of Grade 3 winners Stem the Tide, Gottcha Gold, and American Freedom. Previously an RNA for $120,000 at Keeneland September, he worked one furlong in :10 1/5 at the under tack show.

Also bringing $950,000 was Hip 295, a Scat Daddy colt sold to Live Oak Plantation. The February 14 Florida-bred was offered by Ocala Stud.

Out of West Side Dancer, by Gone West, the colt is a half-brother to Grade 2 winners Discreet Dancer and Travelin Man, and to the stakes-winning Sweet N Discreet. This the family of Broodmare of the Year Weekend Surprise.

The colt worked a quarter-mile in :21 3/5 at the under tack show.

The third offering to bring $950,000 was a Union Rags colt consigned by Bobby Dodd, agent. The February 16 Maryland-bred, Hip 323, was gaveled down to Dennis O’Neill.

Reared by the stakes-winning Alexandra Rylee, by Afleet Alex, the colt hails from the family of Grade 3 winner Whimsey. Previously sold for $135,000 Keeneland September, the juvenile dashed an eighth-mile in :10 at the under tack show.

The session’s highest-priced filly was Hip 211, by Exchange Rate and out of the stakes-placed Spring Jump, by Jump Start. Consigned by Eddie Woods, agent, she sold to Baoma Corp. for $850,000. A $120,000 Keeneland September yearling, she worked two furlongs in :20 4/5 at the under tack show.

With 32 less juveniles sold compared to last year’s opening session, gross and median were essentially unchanged after Tuesday’s trading, though gains were made in average.

On Tuesday, 137 horses sold for $26,320,500, a modest decline from the $26,418,500 grossed from the sale of 169 head a year ago. The $110,000 median equaled last year’s figure, while the session average spiked 22.9 percent, from $156,322 to $192,120.

The sale concludes Wednesday beginning at 10:30 a.m. (EDT). Full results can be found at obssales.com.