BY BROCK SHERIDAN

The Ocala Breeders’ Sales Company kicked-off their prestigious season of 2-year-old Thoroughbred auctions Tuesday, the first day of their three-day March Sale of 2-year-olds in training, with decided gains highlighted by three million-dollar juveniles. They sold 142 head that garnered $23,049,500 in gross sales Tuesday, an increase of 33.7% above the first day of the March Sale last year when 133 juveniles brought $17,235,500 in gross sales. The average price of $161,185 was a 24.4% increase above the $129,590 average last year while the median hit $90,000, 20% more than the $75,000 median on the corresponding opening day last year. A total of 60 horses failed to meet their reserve, resulting in an RNA rate of 29.4% this year compared to 21.8% last year.

“It was certainly an excellent day,” OBS President Tom Ventura said. “We had a lot of activity in the barns during the week expecting that to translate in the auction ring, and it did. Hopefully we can keep that going for the next two days. Everybody here is working hard trying to find a good horse and the sales results have shown that. You don’t want to predict too much moving forward, we’ve got one day down and two to go. But very happy so far.”

Legion Bloodstock as agent purchased the top seller on day, Hip 95, a bay colt by first crop stallion Corniche that sold for $1.35 million. Consigned by Joe Pickerrell and Courtney Roberts’ Pick View as agent, the colt is out of the multiple graded stakes-winning mare Leigh Court, by Grand Slam. Leigh Court is a half-sister to Group 2-winner King of Sydney, Grade 3-winner Flying Scotsman, stakes-winners Bon Raison and Barracks Road, and multiple graded stakes-placed Star Hill. 

Kristian Villante of Legion Bloodstock said they were determined to make the youngster part of their roster.

“He’s a beautiful colt, his dad was a champion. We’ve been following him since January when he was on the farm and…he’s been a standout all year,” Villante said. “Joe had to pay a lot for him as a yearling and we are fortunate that we have some clients that are willing to step up and try and buy a horse that might be a Derby kind of colt.

“We bought a couple Corniches as yearlings and…I think he stamps them. He’s just putting out a beautiful horse. He should make it.”

Villante said the colt would eventually head to the barn of trainer Whit Beckman as Beckman trains Longines Kentucky Oaks (Grade 1) runner-up Drexel Hill for the Legion Bloodstock team.

“Whit came and saw [Hip 95], he actually came down here last month and he fell in love with this colt just like we all have,” Villante said. “He was here again this morning to see him. We were trying to not leave here without him. We were hoping he wouldn’t cost quite that much but that’s what you have to pay for horses like that.”

The first 2-year-old to hit seven figures on the day was Hip 88, dark bay or brown colt by Nyquist consigned by Ciaran Dunne’s Wavertree Stables as agent. Out of the Catcher In The Rye multiple graded stakes-winning mare La Extrana Dama (Arg), the dark bay or brown colt went to Morplay Racing/Marquee Bloodstock for $1.2 million. La Extrana Dana is a half-sister to stakes-winner Todo Un Senor and multiple graded stakes-winner Senor Candy.

“He stood out on paper, I love the Argentinian sturdiness,” said Ramiro Restrepo of Marquee Bloodstock, who added that a trainer for the Nyquist colt is still to be determined. “The racing down there is two-turns galore and obviously there are a couple champions in the pedigree which is impressive. And Nyquist, I mean, what a season he had last year and the year before that. He stands above a lot of horses in this catalog with that sire power and that’s what we were chasing.”

Both Morplay and Marquee Bloodstock know a thing or two about finding success on the OBS grounds. Morplay campaigns Breeders’ Cup Turf Sprint (G1) winner and reigning champion female sprinter Shisospicy, a graduate of the OBS April Sale, while Marquee purchased freshly minted Tampa Bay Derby (G3) winner The Puma at last year’s April auction.

“We dipped our toe into the racing space a few years back..,and we got hooked,” said Cam Dulgar of Morplay Racing. “With the success we’ve seen with Shisospicy, we’re extremely excited to be able to pick up this colt. The way he worked, hopefully it carries over and we’re excited to partner with Marquee.”

Hip 132 sold for $1.1 million to Pedro Lanz as an agent for KAS Stables. By first crop sire Drain the Clock out of the Freud mare Making a Point, the chestnut colt was consigned by de Meric Sales as agent. The colt’s second dam is stakes-placed Point Reyes, by Subordinate and they are from the family of multiple graded stakes-winner and multiple stakes-producer Chieftan’s Command.

“I’ve been here since the prep and I’ve noticed [the Drain the Clocks] are fast and can sustain speed,” Lanz said. “They are athletes, they are incredible athletes. When you see them, they look sharp. And I think they can go the distance. These horses’ strides are very long and they sustain their speed. I have 3-4 that I like in this sale.”

Lanz added the colt would head to the barn of trainer Brad Cox.

“This colt is a beautiful physical,” Lanz said. “If we wanted this horse, we knew we were going to have to fight for him.”

Dropping the gavel at $750,000 was Hip 139, a bay son of Army Mule purchased by Japanese businessman Katsumi Yoshida and consigned by Cesar Loya Training & Sales as agent. The colt is out of the Midnight Lute mare Marching Fire, a half-sister to graded stakes-winner Sharp Sensation, stakes-winner Confessing, stakes-placed Edgerin J and Innocent Man and stakes-placed, stakes-producer True Religion.

The top-selling Florida-bred was Hip 178, Mr Predicted, a bay colt from the first crop by Corniche out of the Take Charge Indy mare Mollyball that went to Justin Casse/Carriganog for $300,000. Consigned by Becky Thomas’ Sequel Bloodstock as agent, the colt is a half-brother to stakes-placed Lawyer Mason and was bred in Florida by Soler & Soler Thoroughbred Corp. Mollyball is a half-sister to multiple graded stakes-winner Adriano, graded stakes-placed, graded stakes-producer Gold d’Oro and stakes producers Star Torina, Moravia and Sugar Canyon.

The top-selling 2-year-old Florida-bred fully registered for the new $1 million Florida Sire Racing Incentives was Hip 12, Thatcapuletgirl, a daughter of Ocala Stud stallion Awesome Slew. Selling for $90,000 to Stephen Skaggs as agent for Averill Racing LLC, the bay filly from the Ocala Stud consignment is out of Hello Juliet, a full sister to stakes-placed, stakes-producer Eva London and a half-sister to stakes-winner and graded stakes-producer Lisa’s Booby Trap, stakes-winner Carilimpio, stakes-placed Nerve and stakes-producer Stepperupper. The filly was bred in Florida by Midge Koontz.

The Florida Thoroughbred Breeders’ and Owners’ Association announced a new $1 million Florida Sire Racing Incentive Program for 2026, providing win incentives to owners and breeders of FSS-eligible 2-year-olds at Gulfstream Park and Tampa Bay Downs.

Each 2-year-old winner of a maiden special weight, allowance, allowance optional claiming or stakes race at either track during calendar year 2026 will earn a $25,000 racing incentive paid directly by the FTBOA – $20,000 to the winning owner and $5,000 to the breeder.

The leading consignor Tuesday was de Meric Sales who sold nine 2-year-olds for $2,715,000. Sequel Bloodstock sold six head for $1,875,000 while Ciaran Dunne’s Wavertree sold three 2-year-olds for $1,565,000.

Legion Bloodstock as an agent led all buyers with their $1.35 million sale topper followed by MorPlay Racing LLC/Marquee Bloodstock and their lone purchase for $1.2 million. West Point Thoroughbreds Inc., Lanes End Bloodstock as agent bought four head for $1.14 million.

The OBS March Sale runs through Thursday and will start each day at 11:00 a.m. Hips 272-544 sell Wednesday and Hips 545 – 816 go before the auctioneer Thursday.

–portions of this story provided by OBS Press Office

Check Florida Sire Eligibility: 2026 March Two-Year-Olds in Training Sale

Return to the March 10 issue of Wire to Wire