By Jessica Martini
The under-tack preview of next week's Ocala Breeders' Sales Company's June Sale of 2-Year-Olds in Training continued with its second session Thursday and colts by Midnight Lute and Midshipman earned the bullet time for furlong and quarter-mile works.
Hip 355, a son of sprint champion Midnight Lute, equaled the breeze show's fastest furlong time when working in :9 4/5 for Luke McKathan's Timber Creek.
“I knew he was going to work as fast as any horse at the sale,” McKathan admitted Thursday afternoon. “He threw a shoe at the sixteenth pole and still worked that fast. And he galloped out fast, too. I think he galloped out in :32 4/5.”
The bay colt is out of stakes placed Screen Giant (Giant's Causeway). McKathan purchased him for $9,500 at last year's Fasig-Tipton Kentucky October Yearling Sale.
“Nothing bothers him and he's very correct,” McKathan said.
Asked if he was surprised by the April foal's yearling price tag, the horseman admitted, “I sure was. I couldn't believe it. But Taylor Made, when they lead one in there, they are going to sell it. He was just a big old, rough horse. But boy, he looks like a racehorse now. He is a big, pretty horse.”
Timber Creek sent out three horses to work in Ocala Thursday. Hip 228, a son of Midshipman, worked in :10 flat, and a Kitten's Joy full-sister MGISW Real Solution (hip 278) went in :10 2/5.
“I had a good day all around,” McKathan laughed.
McKathan, the father of J.B. and Kevin McKathan and uncle of David McKathan, said he has no plans to retire anytime soon. Although his wife Jocelyn may have other plans.
“Everybody wants to know when I'm going to retire,” he said. “I'm not going to retire. They are going to find me dead with a lead shank in my hands. I enjoy. I love it.”
“We've got about nine yearlings [to pinhook],” he continued, “And they are all really nice. But from what Jocelyn said, it's going to be a lot less in the future. She's ready to retire. She said I am working her to death.”
Jaime Mejia's Thoroughbred Champions Training Center sent out the fastest quarter-mile worker of Thursday's session of the under-tack show. Hip 354, a colt by Midshipman, equalled the mark of :20 3/5 set by four horses Wednesday. The chestnut is out of Shine a Spotlight (Nobiz Like Showbiz) and from the family of graded stakes winner Take the Cake. He was a $1,000 purchase at last year's Keeneland January sale and RNA'd for $190,000 after working a quarter in :20 2/5 at the OBS March sale.
The under-tack show continues through Saturday with sessions beginning daily at 7:30 a.m. The June sale will be held next Tuesday and Wednesday.
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