Fletcher Tops OBS Opener With Mineshaft Colt

By Jessica Martini
Donato Lanni, bidding on behalf of Arkansas businessman Frank Fletcher, went to a session-topping $550,000 to secure a son of Mineshaft during Monday’s first day of the four-day OBS April sale. 
“At the 2-year-olds sales, those boxes that we like to check, they get bigger and tougher to check and so few of them check them at the 2-year-old sales and he did that,” Lanni said after signing the ticket on hip 218. “He has a great constitution, a great mind on him, and he worked great.” 
Lanni admitted the price tag wasn’t a surprise. “Obviously everyone was on him,” he said. “The good ones, that’s what they cost. You bid on the ones you love and hope you get them bought. But sometimes the good ones cost a lot.” 
Fletcher is owner of Fletcher Auto Group, and has interests in restaurants and hotels. He purchased a Pulpit colt for $375,000 at last year’s April sale. Now named Roger Rocket, the bay colt was a debut winner at Santa Anita in January for trainer Bob Baffert. 
The juvenile worked a furlong last week in :10 1/5. He is out of Kelly Pond (Deputy Minister) and is a half-brother to graded stakes placed Clear Pond (Dynaformer). 
Consigned by Eisaman Equine, the juvenile was purchased by longtime Eisaman client Eric Antonio Delvalle for $65,000 out of last year’s Keeneland September sale. 
“He grew into a racehorse,” said Shari Eisaman. “He’s well-balanced, could run and loved the synthetic track. He showed like he’s a Derby horse. They want big, correct, good-moving colts who have some pedigree. And that’s what he was.” 
Of Delvalle, Eisaman said, “He races a little bit, but not a lot. He just enjoys a little bit of action; he likes to buy his own and sell them. So we let him do his own thing.” 
Delvalle couldn’t make it to the sale, but Eisaman said he was more than satisfied with the result. 
“He texted us and said ‘Thank you very much,’” she confirmed. “He’s very happy.” 
In addition to the session topper, Eisaman Equine sold a filly by Flatter for $250,000 yesterday. Eisaman acknowledged the operation had a good day at the sales, but she added buyers were being selective. 
“I think for the colts, it’s way stronger,” she said. “But you have to have the pedigree. You have to have sire power. If you don’t have sire power, you’re in trouble. It helps if they have a good video and a fast work, but you’ve got to have a decent pedigree.”