A filly by Bolt d'Oro (Hip 643) consigned by de Meric Sales, agent, paced proceedings early in the third session of the Ocala Breeders' Spring Sale of 2-Year-Olds in Training April 18, going to Woodford Thoroughbreds for $450,000.
After selling to Emrata Farm as a weanling for $100,000 at the 2022 Fasig-Tipton November Sale, the filly failed to meet her reserve the next two times she entered the sale ring. She was a $145,000 RNA at last year's Fasig-Tipton July Sale, and she exited the ring as a $95,000 RNA at the Fasig-Tipton Kentucky October Yearling Sale.
More time to develop and then an eighth in :10 at the under tack preview for the Spring Sale changed her fortune. Trainer Will Walden landed the winning bid online for Woodford.
"First off she was an A-plus physical," Walden said. "I thought her breeze was phenomenal. She got over the ground really well. She's got speed, but I think that filly will stretch out.
"Her mom has three to race and three winners from stallions that might not be as good as Bolt d'Oro. She just screamed runner at me. I won't be in a hurry with her. She could be a 2-year-old, but we'll let her tell us."
Bred in Kentucky by H. Allen Poindexter, the gray or roan filly was produced from the winning Henny Hughes mare Sky o' Blue, whose first three runners are winners. Sky o' Blue's 3-year-old filly by Tapwrit, Blue Squall, has earned $197,600 in her first six starts and most recently finished second in the Dixie Belle and Purple Martin Stakes at Oaklawn Park.
"(Hip 643) was always a nice filly," shared Tristan de Meric of de Meric Sales. "She was a beautiful filly in July, but she had a slight setback that cost her from selling in that sale, and it wasn't quite resolved enough to sell in October.
"She is an amazing, straightforward filly," de Meric continued. "She did everything right for us. She never missed a beat. She is one of those fillies that did it all. I wish they were all as easy as her."
Third-crop sire Bolt d'Oro, who was champion freshman sire in 2022, had a colt (Hip 351) sell for $800,000 at the second session of the OBS Spring Sale April 17. He also had Hip 787, a colt out of Tipping Point, by Speightstown, from Top Line Sales, agent, sell for $330,000 to Reeves Thoroughbred Racing during session two.
And on April 16 at the sale's opening session, Hip 295, a Bolt d'Oro filly out of Major Z, by Candy Ride , from the Eddie Woods consignment brought a final bid of $460,000 from Bregman Family Racing.
Bolt d'Oro stands at Spendthrift Farm in Lexington for $60,000.
