Parrish Farms Brings Elite Yaupon Colt to OBS June Sale

George Parrish Jr.'s Parrish Farms brings a small but powerful consignment to the Ocala Breeders' Sales June 2-Year-Olds in Training and Horses of Racing Age Sale, including a Yaupon colt (Hip 78) whose elite pedigree and talent more than make up for the consignor's lack of quantity. Hip 78 is out of the graded stakes-placed and stakes-winning Giant's Causeway mare Apple Martini, who is a full sister to grade 1 winner and millionaire Giant Oak. Parrish, who usually pinhooks around 10-12 horses a year to prep at his training center located near High Springs, Fla., said he bought just four horses this year due to the competitive market, and two of them are by Yaupon. He bought Hip 78 as a yearling for $72,000 at last year's Keeneland September Yearling Sale. "He had a big walk, a very balanced horse, a good shoulder," Parrish said of Hip 78. "When I bought him, he was small. That's the only way I was able to buy him, but he's matured into a good-sized horse, and he's a very, very balanced horse. Martha Jane Mulholland raised him at Mulholland Springs, and I like her. She raises a nice horse. "I'm so particular when I buy. It's hard for me to buy because I'm too particular. I really liked him, and I was lucky enough to be able to buy him." The Yaupon colt breezed a furlong in :10 during Day 1 of the under-tack show last week, the co-fastest time for a colt during the first session. Four fillies breezed a furlong in :09 4/5. "I thought the track was a little slower the first day," he said. "He prepped in :10 1/5 very easy, and I thought he'd come back in :09 4/5, but the track wasn't as quick when I prepped him, but I liked the work. "He's a very straightforward horse with a really good mind. He walked up to the breeze show and breezed and walked back to the barn like it was just another day. He's very sensible." View Hip 78's work during the under-tack show. Parrish said he is particularly fond of the progeny of 2025 leading freshman sire Yaupon. "I really like them. They're really nice horses, very good to deal with, and athletic," he said. Parrish said he expects the market to be strong coming off a record-breaking Ocala Breeders' Sales Spring 2-Year-Olds in Training Sale and is confident his horse will be well-received. "The market should carry him. People seem to be liking him. They're coming back and looking a second and third time," Parrish said. "He has a popular pedigree, too." This Yaupon colt pairs explosive speed with an elite, black-type female line. His standout athleticism and deep pedigree signal a classic talent in the making. He will head to the ring Tuesday morning as the sale gets underway at 10:30 a.m. ET with Hips 1-327 slated to sell.