In a morning of brisk trade April 19 during the fourth session of the Ocala Breeders' Spring Sale of 2-Year-Olds in Training, Hip 920, a colt by Uncle Mo , sold to D. J. Stable and Robert Cotran for $685,000. Trainer Joe Orseno signed the ticket on the bay colt consigned by Paul Sharp, agent.
"They were all over this horse from the start," said Orseno of D. J. Stable and Cotran, who also own Holy Bull Stakes (G3) winner Hades. "We loved him. We were happy to get him. We paid a little more than we thought we'd have to. Good horses cost money."
Bred in Kentucky by Bobby Flay Thoroughbreds, also breeder of the $850,000 Nyquist colt that tops the fourth session's leaderboard through early afternoon, the colt is out of the graded stakes-winning A.P. Indy mare America. The colt is a half brother to multiple graded stakes winner First Captain (Curlin ). This is also the family of Paris Lights, winner of the 2020 Coaching Club American Oaks (G1).
The colt, a $345,000 buyback in the Stone Farm consignment at the 2023 Fasig-Tipton Kentucky October Yearling Sale, galloped for prospective buyers at the under tack preview.
"He is a very big horse," said Sharp, explaining why the colt galloped instead of breezing. "He will be a late-developing horse. We wanted to do the right thing by the horse. He is a beautiful horse."
Orseno had no concerns that the colt did not breeze, adding, "We're not looking to run him in June or July anyway. I'm hoping to have him ready for Keeneland in the fall."
