Drain the Clock 's momentum from the under-tack show carried into the ring during the opening session of the Ocala Breeders' Sales March 2-Year-Olds in Training Sale March 10, when Hip 132 sold for $1.1 million to Pedro Lanz, agent for KAS Stables.
The New York-bred colt breezed a furlong in :09 4/5 during the under-tack show for the de Meric Sales consignment. He was purchased for $145,000 by de Meric Sales at last year's Fasig-Tipton New York-Bred Yearling Sale.
"We bought him at the New York-bred sale, and he's been a nice horse all year. We've always liked him a lot," Tristan de Meric said. "He's done everything right since day one. I'm still shocked with the result here. I knew he was a nice horse, but I'm just happy all the stars aligned for him.
"I had a feeling he might bring more than $500 (thousand), but after that is really hard to gauge. To be honest, I didn't think he would get over that million mark, but I can see why people fell in love with him. He's a beautiful horse, and he's done everything right. He vetted clean. He jumped through every hoop, and I hope he does for the next connections as well."
Buyer Pedro Lanz said after getting outbid on a filly by Nashville earlier in the session, he had a feeling he would have to dig deep for the son of Drain the Clock.
"He's a nice New York-bred, beautiful physical," Lanz said. "I told Prince Abdullah, we have to go very strong if we want this horse. We have to fight for him. He's going to stay here (in the United States) and go to trainer Brad Cox."
Lanz said he has been very impressed by the progeny of Drain the Clock, with his eye on a few more in the days to come.
"Physically, they (progeny of Drain the Clock), are athletes," he said. "They are incredible athletes. I think they can go the distance; these horses strike very long, and I think they can sustain their speed. They gallop out very fast."
De Meric echoed Lanz's confidence in Gainesway's first-crop sire.
"I've been high on Drain the Clock. The two we had are both here, and they can both run," de Meric said. "They both look like they should be early. And again, looking at the sire himself, on paper, it makes sense for him to have early, fast 2-year-olds."
De Meric Sales will send out Hip 482, a filly by Drain the Clock, March 11 during the second session of the sale. She breezed a furlong in :10 during the under-tack show.
The Kentucky-bred filly was picked up by de Meric Sales for $90,000 at last year's Fasig-Tipton's The July Sale.
Fourteen juveniles by Drain the Clock will be offered throughout the remainder of the sale, including Hip 284 and Hip 748, who both clocked a quarter-mile in an OBS record of :20 1/5 during the under-tack show. Hip 508, an Ohio-bred filly, clocked the co-fastest furlong time during the under-tack show, breezing in :09 3/5.
