Amidst warm temperatures accompanied by occasional wind gusts, the first day of the under tack show for the Ocala Breeders' Sales Spring 2-Year-Olds in Training sale began April 6 with a trio of youngsters breezing an eighth of a mile in :09 4/5 to tie for the fastest time at the distance.
The lone filly to throw down the top time was also the first to breach the :10 mark as Hip 75, a dark bay or brown filly by Upstart out of the winning Proud Citizen mare Lovely Marissa, put forth an impressive move for the Grassroots Training & Sales consignment. The filly is from the female family of Breeders' Cup Classic (G1) winner Skywalker and is a full sister to the winning 2021 OBS April grad Don't Wait Up.
"She's been a really nice filly all year, we expected her to do well," said David McKathan of Grassroots Training & Sales. "She prepped well so we're very happy with her. Physically, she's everything you want to look at when you look at a horse. She's very well balanced, she's just beautiful. She's been showing us all year that she's got ability."
The Upstart filly led a strong day for McKathan as he also had three horses in his consignment work in :10.
"It was a nice beginning," he said. "We're looking forward to getting a break with some cooler weather on Tuesday."
The first of the two colts to work in :09 4/5 was Hip 70, a dark bay or brown colt by OBS grad Shancelot out of Loteria by Nyquist , consigned by Top Line Sales. Loteria is out of a full sister to champion Bernardini.
Matching that time was Hip 134, a bay colt by OBS April grad By My Standards out of Memento by Nyquist, consigned by AVP Training and Sales. Memento is out of stakes winner Martha's Moon and is from the female family of Broodmare of the Year Better Than Honour.
Two horses breezed a quarter in :20 3/5 to tie for the fastest time at that distance:
- Hip 123, a bay colt by Mendelssohn out of the winning Archarcharch mare Marvelous Spot, consigned by Hoppel. Marvelous Spot is a half sister to Sambuca Classica, dam of champion Classic Empire.
- Hip 163, a bay filly by Battalion Runner out of the winning Blame mare Miss Monk, consigned by Ortega Stables. Miss Monk, an OBS grad, is a half sister to grade 1 winner Wicked Strong.
A total of 26 horses breezed in :10 flat
Two horses breezed in :20 4/5:
- Hip 86, a bay filly by Audible out of the Street Sense mare Lustica, consigned by Eddie Woods. The filly hails from the female family of champion and sire Midshipman and graded stakes winner Fast Cookie, dam of grade 1 winner Frosted .
- Hip 112, a bay filly by Charlatan out of the winning graded stakes placed Tizway mare Malibu Stacy, consigned by Tom McCrocklin. Malibu Stacy is out of multiple graded stakes winner Malibu Pier and is a full sister to stakes winner and grade 1 placed, Coasted.
The OBS April under tack show continues April 7 at 8 a.m. with hips 174-346. The under tack show runs through April 12 with the sale itself taking place April 15-18 with sessions beginning at 10:30 a.m. each day.
This press release has been edited for content and style by BloodHorse Staff.
