Timing is everything at 2-year-olds in training sales. While success often hinges on how fast a prospect can zip an eighth of a mile, timing is also important in the sense of the span of time needed for a young athlete to hit developmental milestones.
Providing evidence on both fronts is a strong and diverse group of juveniles that Randy Hartley and Dean DeRenzo's Hartley/DeRenzo Thoroughbreds have brought to Fasig-Tipton's Midlantic 2-Year-Olds in Training Sale May 20-21. Among the anticipated standouts in the consignment are Hip 12, a filly from the first crop of Volatile . Hip 59, a colt from the initial crop of Authentic , and Hip 429, a Curlin colt that cost $600,000 at last year's Keeneland September Sale.
During the first under tack show, the Volatile filly and the Authentic colt paced proceedings both recording bullet works. The Volatile filly sped an eighth in :10 flat and the Authentic colt got a quarter mile in :21 1/5.
Bred in Kentucky by Newton Anner Stud Farm, the filly by Volatile was purchased by Hartley/DeRenzo for $230,000 at last year's Keeneland September Sale from the consignment of Blake-Albina Thoroughbred Services. The chestnut filly is produced from the stakes-placed Exchange Rate mare Exchange Cat and is a half-sister to graded stakes-placed Grit and Curiosity.
"She is just beautiful," said Dean DeRenzo between showings in a busy shedrow May 19. "She has a big walk. We knew she could really run, but the track was slow on the day of her breeze. She went out there and scorched it and galloped out great. We were excited about the work. We watched all the other breezes that day, and she was the only :10 flat for the whole day.
Bridlewood Farm bred the Authentic colt in Florida out of the Grade 1-winning Uncle Mo mare Gomo. Winner of the 2015 Darley Alcibiades (G1), Gomo also finished second in the Sorrento Stakes (G2) and third in the Del Mar Juvenile Fillies Turf Stakes during an accomplished 2-year-old campaign that year for owner Reddam Racing. Bridlewood Farm acquired Gomo for $1,500,000 in foal to Medaglia d'Oro at the 2017 Fasig-Tipton November Sale where she was consigned by Taylor Made Sales Agency.
Hartley/DeRenzo went to $300,000 to secure the Authentic colt at last year's Keeneland September Sale from the consignment of Gainesway Farm, agent for Bridlewood Farm. Hartley/DeRenzo offered the horse earlier this year in the OBS March Sale where he was an RNA at $385,000 after working in :10 at that sale's under tack preview.
He once again flashed his speed in Maryland, this time over a quarter mile. DeRenzo is hopeful that the underlying factors of growth and maturity may bolster his stock at this later stage of development.
"The Authentic colts look like they really love the dirt," related DeRenzo. "He went in :21 1/5, and has what they are saying was the fastest gallop out of all three days of the breeze shows. So, that was nice to have those two right off the bat on the first day. He is from a great family, and we like pedigree and conformation. Of course, they are pricey to buy when we buy them, but I think we get a really good horse.
"It seems as soon as spring starts to come, they all of a sudden develop," DeRenzo continued. "It's probably Mother Nature saying, 'This is the time to start to grow.'"
Selling on Tuesday for Hartley/DeRenzo is Hip 429, the expensive son of Curlin who breezed an eighth in :10 1/5 in his under tack session. He was acquired by Hartley/DeRenzo out of Gainesway's consignment at last year's Keeneland September Sale.
Bred in Kentucky by Mandy Pope's Whisper Hill Farm, the bay colt is out of the unraced Concord Point mare America's Starlet, a full sister to 2017 Test Stakes (G1) winner American Gal and to stakes winner and graded stakes-placed Americanized. This is also the family of 2009 Apple Blossom Stakes (G1) winner Seventh Street, and Reynaldothewizard, winner of the 2013 Golden Shaheen (G1) at Meydan Racecourse in the United Arab Emirates and an earner of more than $2 million.
Hartley/DeRenzo is no stranger to the colt's accomplished family. The outfit bought Reynaldothewizard for $400,000 as a yearling and sold him the following year for $775,000 at the 2008 Fasig-Tipton February Sale. They also sold the colt's graded stakes-placed second dam, American Story, to Kaleem Shah at the 2009 Fasig-Tipton February Sale for $400,000 after purchasing her for the same price the year before at the 2008 Keeneland September Sale. American Story was subsequently acquired by Don Alberto for $2.2 million at the 2017 Fasig-Tipton November Sale where she was consigned by Hill 'n' Dale Sales, agent.
"He is a racehorse," declared DeRenzo of the Curlin colt. "He went the last day and showed off beautifully. We also went out well. We have had the family going back to the second dam and bred Grade 1 winners from the family. Having the opportunity to buy back into the family with this Curlin colt, we jumped right on that. I believe he is going to be a crazy good racehorse.
"He has done everything the right way," DeRenzo added. "He hasn't been through a (2-year-old) sale yet, but I did target him to the (OBS Spring Sale) but thought he would probably have an advantage with another month. A month is a lot of time at this stage of their lives."
Hartley/DeRenzo also have a Justify colt, Hip 400, who breezed an eighth in :10. The chestnut colt was a $200,000 acquisition at the 2023 Keeneland September Sale and he is produced from the winning Smart Strike mare Weekend Strike. He is a half-brother to Sizzling, a group 3 winner in Ireland. The colt's second dam is Weekend Storm, a full sister to Summer Squall and a half-sister to A.P. Indy.
"All of our horses showed off how we thought they would," DeRenzo said. "So, we're happy. Traffic at the barn has been jammed. I think buyers are liking what they see. Now, we just need to see how the market holds. It was a little low in April. There is some uncertainty going on in the U.S. It's an election year, and things can get a little strange in election years. I think the good horses sell well anyway. We'll find out."
