Successful March Sale Wraps Up

By Brian DiDonato and Steve Sherack 

The newly configured OBS March Sale of 2-Year-Olds in Training was ruled a success at the conclusion of the two-day event Wednesday afternoon. During Wednesday's session, 155 juveniles changed hands for a total of $24,435,000. The average for the session was $157,645, while the median was $100,000. The buyback rate was 25.8%. 

A Broken Vow colt consigned by Eisaman Equine, topped Wednesday's trade at $950,000 from trainer Linda Rice. The overall sale topper was a $1.4-million Bernardini colt offered by Steve Venosa's S G V Thoroughbreds and snatched up by Live Oak Plantation on day one. 

The cumulative average was $170,804, with 326 horses selling for $55,682,000. The median price was $105,000 and the buyback rate was 22.7% 

Last year's renewal, which was conducted as a select sale and over just one day due to weather, featured a catalogue of 411 compared to 610 this year. The 2014 sale saw 201 horses sell for $37,627,500 at an average of $187,201 with a $135,000 median price. The buyback rate was 22.9%. 

“We were within 10% of the average last year with the opening of the sale–that was kind of a surprise for us,” an upbeat OBS Director of Sales Tod Wojciechowski said. “The number was surprising, but when you walked around the sale and saw the number of quality horses the consignors brought, it wasn't surprising. I think it's indicative in the buying as well. You saw people spreading out on horses… Again, that comes from having a critical mass, if you will, of horses. The buyers like that–they don't all want to gang up on each other on a couple of horses. They like being able to spread around.” 

Eddie Woods was the sale's leading consignor, selling 25 horses for $6,977,000. Conquest Stables was leading buyer with five head secured for $3,160,000. 

“Obviously, the consignors brought a lot of really good horses and they fleshed out the rest of their consignment with the right kind of horses, and I think that will only get better for next year,” Wojciechowski said. “I think the people who came expecting to find those horses and found them will be back and they'll tell more people that there's a good opportunity here.” 

OBS will hold its Spring Sale of 2-Year-Olds in Training Apr. 21-24. Visit obssales.com for more information. 

Rice Steps Up for New Partnership… 
By Brian DiDonato 

Trainer Linda Rice has been a fixture on the New York racing circuit for years, but hasn't necessarily been a major player at the sales–until now. Acting on behalf of a recently formed syndicate of female investors founded by former model and Manhattan socialite Sheila Rosenblum, Rice fended off all challengers to take home hip 481, a Broken Vow colt consigned by Eisaman Equine, for a session-topping $950,000. Out of a stakes-placed Tale of the Cat half-sister to MGSW Futural (Future Storm), the strapping bay turned in a :9 4/5 breeze. 

“I knew it was going to hurt,” Rice quipped after signing the ticket. “Obviously, he breezed outstandingly, and I just really had a special feeling about the colt. I really wanted to take him home. I knew that it wouldn't be easy because there are a lot of very knowledgeable and top horsemen here, and as you can see, the prices have been high all day. So, I thought if I was going to pay quite a bit of money for a horse, it better be one I love.” 

Rice went to $400,000 for a Quality Road colt (hip 246) for the same syndicate–Lady Sheila Stable Two–Tuesday. The :9 4/5 breezer was an $85,000 KEESEP purchase by consignor Hal Hatch's Halcyon Hammock Farm. 

“I've been pretty selective for them–I bought a nice Tiznow filly for them [at Fasig-Tipton Florida] for $350,000 [hip 33] and the Quality Road colt [Wednesday],” Rice said. “I haven't been able to get the numbers, but I've been very selective with what I'm buying. I passed on some horses earlier in the day hoping to get this colt.” 

Rice trains last year's GII Distaff H. winner La Verdad (Yes It's True) for Rosenblum. 

Eisaman Has Visions of May for March Grad… 
By Brian DiDonato 

Barry and Shari Eisaman's Eisaman Equine scooped up yesterday's session topper for just $80,000 as a KEESEP yearling. “He's a very, very good colt and he's been very popular, so we knew he would sell well, but one never anticipates a number like that,” Barry Eisaman stated. “Everything,” the Ocala horseman said when asked what he liked about the Feb. 4 foal, who was bred in Kentucky by Diane Connell, as a yearling. “His size, pedigree, bone, the way he walked. As a training horse, he just has really, really quick speed–especially for such a big horse. He has a great mind. He has many, many qualities that get you to the first Saturday in May.” 

Jacksons Add to the 'Clan'… 
By Brian DiDonato 

After being responsible for Tuesday's session and sale-topping $1.4-million colt, Darley stallion Bernardini was back in the headlines as Roy and Gretchen Jackson's Lael Stable was extended to $850,000 for hip 351 The bay daughter of MGISW Pure Clan (Pure Prize) was consigned by Niall Brennan Stables, Agent XXIX and breezed in :10 1/5. 

“I think she's a great filly,” said Doug Cauthen Thoroughbred Management's Jak Knelman, who signed the ticket. “She's beautiful–she's a beautiful mover–and with that kind of pedigree, you can't buy too many fillies like that. We're really happy and excited about her.” 

Of the price tag, he said, “I think she's definitely worth that.” 

Trained by Bob Holthus throughout her career, Pure Clan was campaigned by breeder Lewis Lakin and at one point in partnership with IEAH Stables and Pegasus Holdings Group. Four-for-four to begin her career, the bay annexed the 
GIII Pocahontas S. and GII Golden Rod S. as a juvenile before finishing third in the 2008 GI Kentucky Oaks. She did her best work on the turf, annexing the GI American Oaks at three and GI Flower Bowl Invitational S. at four before finishing second in the GI Breeders' Cup F/M Turf to conclude her career. 

Pure Clan's dam was the Grade III winner Gather the Glan (Ire) (General Assembly), who also produced Grade II-winnning juvenile Greater Good (Intidab) and the dam of Grade I-winning 2-year-old Sky Diva (Sky Mesa). 

SF Bloodstock bred Pure Clan's first foal–a Smart Strike filly who sold for $320,000 at KEESEP '11–and Borges Torrealba Holdings scooped up the then 7-year-old for $4.5 million at the 2012 Keeneland November sale carrying the Bernardini filly. Pure Clan has a yearling colt by Tapit and a weanling daughter of Tiznow. 

Yesterday's sale of hip 351 followed a successful day Tuesday for the Borges Torrealba and Clay families's Three Chimneys Farm, which sold a trio of offerings for $1.625 million. Click here for more. 

OBSMAR 'Conquest' Continues… 
By Steve Sherack 

The beat rolled on for Ernie Semersky and Dory Newell's Conquest Stables at OBSMAR Wednesday afternoon, adding a trio of high-end juveniles. 

Hip 590, an Uncle Mo colt from the Halcyon Hammock consignment, was the ceiling at $725,000. The $90,000 KEESEP yearling, bred in Kentucky by Hare Forest Farm, breezed in :10. 

Hip 515, an Ocala Stud bred/consigned Adios Charlie half-brother to three-time graded winner and 'TDN Rising Star' Unlimited Budget (Street Sense), was picked up for $600,000. He covered a quarter mile in :21 2/5. 

Hip 537, a filly by City Zip, realized $525,000. The :10 1/5 breezer was consigned by Ciaran Dunne's Wavertree Stables. She was a $90,000 KEESEP yearling. 

“I like Uncle Mo a lot and I thought [Hip 590] was a big, pretty horse,” Conquest's trainer Mark Casse commented. 
Conquest Stables has quickly burst on the scene the past few seasons and has immediately enjoyed plenty of graded success, led by 2013 GI Darley Alcibiades heroine My Conquestadory (Artie Schiller); 2014 GII Natalma S. heroine Conquest Harlanate (Harlan's Holiday); 2014 Summer S. victor and 2015 GIII El Camino Real Derby third Conquest Typhoon (Stormy Atlantic); 2013 Swynford S. winner and 2014 GII Holy Bull runner-up Conquest Titan (Birdstone); 2014 GI Chandelier S. second and GI Del Mar Debutante S. third Conquest Eclipse (Malibu Moon); and this term's 
GII Palos Verdes S. winner Conquest Two Step (Two Step Salsa). 

“He gave it about a year first, and you can tell that he really enjoys it,” Casse said of Semersky's approach to entering the game. “He gets involved and he certainly puts his money up.” 

Conquest also acquired a pair of 2-year-olds during Tuesday's session–an $800,000 Tiznow colt and a $510,000 Kitten's Joy colt. 

Ocala Stud Says 'Adios' to Pair of Homebreds… 
By Brian DiDonato 

The O'Farrell family's Ocala Stud enjoyed a hugely successful day at OBS March yesterday, selling a pair of homebreds by their stallion Adios Charlie (Indian Charlie) for $675,000 (hip 428) and $600,000 (hip 515), respectively. 

Hip 428, a bay half-sister to stakes winner Puntrooskie (In Summation), worked in a good-looking :20 3/5 and was scooped up by Emmanuel de Seroux's Narvick International. She will be heading to Japan's Northern Farm. 

“For us, she was the best filly in the sale,” said de Seroux. “She was special–quite athletic, a beautiful type–she was fantastic.” 

Conquest Stables got hip 515, a half to MGSW and GISP 'TDN Rising Star' Unlimited Budget (Street Sense), herself a $475,000 OBSMAR grad; GISP juvenile Jardin (Montbrook); and GSP juvenile Beacon Shine (Montbrook). The dark bay colt breezed in :21 2/5. 

“We loved the filly,” Ocala Stud's David O'Farrell said after the sale of hip 428. “She came into the sale really well. She breezed really well and she galloped out incredibly. She came back to the barn, and she wouldn't have even blown out a match. From that point forward, she showed herself extremely well. She's just a classy filly with a good head on her shoulders–she's an extraordinary filly.” 

O'Farrell had high hopes, but was still surprised by how popular the bay miss proved. 

“I knew the sky was the limit, and I knew that her breeze, give or take, may have been the best in the sale,” he offered. “I knew she was going to sell well, but I wasn't expecting that figure. She can run, I believe.” 

Adios Charlie, a $400,000 March grad himself in 2010, was campaigned by Robert Sahn and trainer Stan Hough to a victory in the 2011 GII Jerome S. Out of a full sister to dual Grade I winner Teaks North (Northern Afleet) and a half to MGSW Wooden Phone, the bay joined the Ocala Stud roster in 2012, where he commanded a $3,500 fee in his first season. He stands for $3,000 in 2015. 

“I don't want to call him a project, but he wasn't a cinch,” O'Farrell revealed. “We got Adios Charlie during the March Sale, which is a very difficult time to start a stallion's career. He wasn't able to cover his first mare until mid-April, but we believed in the horse. We loved him and knew we had to breed some good mares to him. He wound up covering 49 mares that first year, and it turned out to be a pretty good book, but you're at a huge disadvantage not having a big book your first year and then trying to sell seasons in your second year… It hasn't been ideal from a timing standpoint to get him his best opportunity, but this first crop of 2-year-olds–with [hips 428 and 515]–they're exceptional.” 

Another 'Sweet' Sale for Hatch… 
By Brian DiDonato 

Hal Hatch's Halcyon Hammock Farm made its second solid pinhook score with a Twirling Candy juvenile yesterday after selling hip 390 for $630,000. Agent David Ingordo signed the ticket as L. E. B. 

“She's been a great filly all season,” Hatch said of the $110,000 KEESEP yearling, who covered a furlong in :10 flat. “I loved her when I bought her. She was just really balanced and had a real fluid walk and a lot of presence–she just stood out… All along the way she made the right moves. She never made a backwards step.” 

Halcyon Hammock sold a son of the Lane's End freshman–hip 293–for $300,000 to Dennis O'Neill on day one of the sale. That colt was a $90,000 September buy. 

“I sold a colt for $300,000 and he was a really nice horse also,” Hatch said when asked about his impressions of Twirling Candy's first crop. “So, I had a colt and a filly that were both very forward and did well for me. I didn't have any problems with them and felt like they were strong-minded, good-willed horses.” 

According to TDN instatistics, Twirling Candy is North America's leading freshman sire by 2-year-old in training sales average, with seven head sold for an average of $374,167. In addition to the Halcyon Hammock offerings, Eisaman Equine sold a colt (hip 170) Monday to Alex and JoAnn Lieblong for $500,000; and Eddie Woods, Agent LXXVI sold a colt (hip 455) to L R K, Inc. for $310,000. 

The Barretts March Select Two-Year-Olds in Training Sale was topped by a $400,000 Eddie Woods-consigned Twirling Candy colt who was scooped up by Conquest Stables. 

Sadler Gets His Twirling Candy… 
By Brian DiDonato 

Conditioner John Sadler was seated alongside David Ingordo when the agent secured hip 390 for $630,000, and Sadler revealed that the bay filly would be joining his California stable and carry the green silks of Kosta and Pete Hronis's Hronis Racing. 

A 'TDN Rising Star,' Twirling Candy was campaigned by his breeders the Craig Family Trust when he annexed the 2010 GII Del Mar Derby and GI Malibu S. and 2011 GII Strub S. William S. Farish's Lane's End and Martin Wygod bought into the colt thereafter, and he romped in the GII Californian S. before a close third in the GI Hollywood Gold Cup and narrow second in the GI Pacific Classic S. 

“I trained the sire, and I really liked the [sale-topping] Twirling Candy at Barretts [March]–I think I was the underbidder,” Sadler said. “We liked this filly a lot. She was very athletic and a really nice filly, so we're excited. 

Sadler added, “I thought we'd get her for a little less, but you have to stretch a little bit sometimes, and we were willing to do a little stretching.” 

Ingordo scooped up the last horse in the ring yesterday as L. E. B. for $560,000. Hip 610, a $160,000 Fasig-Tipton New York-bred buy by consignor Hartley/DeRenzo, was a colt by Sidney's Candy (Candy Ride {Arg}), another former Sadler trainee, 'TDN Rising Star' and freshman sire. Sidney's Candy stands at WinStar Farm. L. E. B. was the session's leading buyer with four purchases for $1,205,000. 

Constitution Half-Bro to Bridlewood & Whitehorse… 
By Steve Sherack 

A Tiznow half-brother to this year's GI Donn H. hero and 'TDN Rising Star' Constitution (Tapit) registered a $450,000 final bid from Bridlewood Farm's General Manager George Isaacs late during Wednesday's final session at OBS March.
The bay, consigned by Hoby and Layna Kight as Hip 585, will be campaigned in partnership by John and Leslie's Malone's Bridlewood Farm and Robert LaPenta's Whitehorse Stables. The $175,000 KEESEP yearling graduate zipped through an eighth in :10 at the under-tack show. 

“We have quite a few horses for Mr. LaPenta's Whitehorse Stables and we want to position ourselves on a couple of nice colts this year to try and get lucky and catch lightning in a bottle and try to have a stallion prospect down the road,” Isaacs said after being thanked by Hoby Kight. 

Hip 585, bred in Kentucky by Grapestock, was produced by the stakes-placed Distorted Humor mare Baffled. She is also the dam of GIII Tempted S. heroine Jacaranda (Congrats). Constitution, of course, also won last term's GI Florida Derby. He was a $400,000 FTSAUG yearling purchase by WinStar Farm and Twin Creeks Racing. 

“He's certainly by a very good stallion and he's half to a very current and very good horse in Constitution,” Isaacs continued. “Jacaranda is certainly a very nice filly, too. [Hip 585] looks like he has a lot of class–a Classic kind of colt and he had a great video. He's everything we're looking for, and I thought, given the strength of the sale, he kind of fell through the cracks late in the day.” 

During Tuesday's session, Bridlewood, White Horse and Sheep Pond partnered for Hip 88, a $550,000 Flatter colt from Nick de Meric's consignment. Sheep Pond also campaigns the unbeaten GI Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies Turf heroine Lady Eli (Divine Park). 

Eclipse Adds Another 'Boss' to the Stable… 
By Steve Sherack 

After campaigning 2013 GI King's Bishop S. hero and 'TDN Rising Star' Capo Bastone (Street Boss) and last term's GI Arkansas Derby winner and GI Kentucky Derby third-place finisher Danza (Street Boss), it didn't come as too much of a surprise to see who ended up signing for Hip 436 at OBS March Wednesday. 

Consigned by Top Line Sales, a Florida-bred filly by the aforementioned Darley resident brought $450,000 from Eclipse Thoroughbred Partners/Ben McElroy. The $55,000 KEEJAN short yearling and $105,000 KEESEP RNA breezed an eighth in :9 4/5. Southern California-based Simon Callaghan will train. 

“First and foremost, we're at a 2-year-old in training sale,” Eclipse President Aron Wellman explained. “The most important thing that we're looking at here is their on-track performance. And this filly's breeze was just off the charts. When I'm analyzing breezes in person and on video, I'm not even looking at the pedigrees yet. This filly just jumped off the page with her breeze–it was the first thing that caught our eye.” 

He continued, “Then when we looked at the catalogue and saw that she's by Street Boss, that certainly is a plus in my book. We've been very fortunate with his offspring. It's not like we're going to sales looking for them, but if a good one comes across, we're certainly going to be in the market for them. He's been good to us and I'd like to think that we've been pretty good to him, too.” 

Street Boss (Street Cry {Ire}), winner of the 2008 GI Triple Bend Invitational H. and GI Bing Crosby H. for Bruce Headley, stands for $10,000 at Darley in Lexington, Kentucky. Hip 436 was produced by an unraced Holy Bull mare Smooth Kitten. 

“She's a very different type of Street Boss,” said Wellman, adding that bloodstock agent Gary Young plays a pivotal role in the selection process for Eclipse. “She doesn't really have any of his particular physical traits that would tell you that she's a Street Boss. Objectively, taking Street Boss out of the equation, she's just a lovely filly and is incredibly well-balanced. Hopefully, she lives up to our expectations.” 

Eclipse also purchased: Hip 200, a $180,000 Proud Citizen colt; Hip 296, a $130,000 High Cotton colt; Hip 356, an $85,000 Old Fashioned colt; Hip 538, a $55,000 Ready's Image filly; and Hip 578, a $160,000 Lemon Drop Kid colt. 

Getting the 'Point' Across at OBSMAR… 
By Steve Sherack 

West Point Thoroughbreds reloaded its racing stable at the two-day OBS March Sale, adding eight head for a total of $1,505,000 ($188,125 average). 

Hip 366, a colt by Arch–Rebuke (Carson City) from the Imagine… consignment, led the way at $580,000. The $35,000 KEESEP RNA was bred in Kentucky by AR Enterprises. He breezed an eighth in :10 1/5 at the under-tack show. 

West Point also purchased: 
• Hip 35, a $45,000 Paddy O'Prado colt, consigned by 
A. R. Equine, Agent III (:21 3/5). 
• Hip 97, a $130,000 Court Vision colt, consigned by 
SGV Thoroughbreds (Steven Venosa), agent 
(:10 3/5) 
• Hip 236, a $70,000 Awesome of Course filly, 
consigned by Ends Well (:10 1/5). 
• Hip 269, a $90,000 Cape Blanco (Ire) colt, consigned 
by Ian Vickers (:21 4/5). 
• Hip 284, a $275,000 Super Saver colt, consigned by 
Q Bar J Thoroughbreds LLC (:10 1/5). 
• Hip 305, a $255,000 Include colt, consigned by 
Woodside Ranch, Agent II (:21). 
• Hip 308, a $60,000 (PS) Congrats colt, consigned by 
Mayberry Farm, Agent X (:10 3/5). 

“He's just a beautiful horse,” West Point head Terry Finley said of the Arch colt. “When they look like that, you've got to be in the mix. Do you want to pay that much for a 2-year-old? No, you never do. You just have to hope that he is as good or better than you think he is.” 

West Point has picked up some of its biggest stable stars at the OBS 2-year-old sales throughout the years, including Grade I winners–Dream Rush (Wild Rush) ($285,000 '06 OBSFEB); Flashy Bull (Holy Bull) ($205,000 '05 OBSFEB); Irish Smoke (Smoke Glacken) ($285,000 '07 OBSMAR); and Lear's Princess (Lear Fan) ($110,000 '06 OBSMAR). Commanding Curve (Master Command), second at 37-1 in last year's GI Kentucky Derby, was a $75,000 OBSAPR graduate. 

“We're just looking for real good athletes and everything else comes together,” Finley concluded.