Consigned by Brandon and Ali Rice, RiceHorse Stable as agent 

By first crop sire Gift Box, out of the Mineshaft mare What A Sassy Gal. He is a half-brother to stakes-placed Brazen Boy.

Brandon Rice – ©Brock Sheridan Photo

Brandon Rice said:

“New sire and [this colt has] length in all the right places. He has bone under him and is good footed. He’s got a good mind. Anybody in the barn can ride him.

“He actually went through the April OBS Sale. Was completely clean, no shins, [breezed in :10.40] and not many people pulled him out [to look at him]. So we [withdrew] him.

“He went :10 flat here [during last week’s under tack show] and I think we had a pretty elite gallop out. So he showcased himself more brilliantly.

“And he grew in every way—mentally, 100 more pounds on him, more mature. Everybody that recalls seeing him in April has mentioned that we have improved him.

“He’s ready to go. He’s the right size. Not too big. Not too small. He has a really pleasing walk. He doesn’t look like a horse that’s going to limit out at six furlongs or be a one-turn horse.

“We don’t know what Gift Box is going to become, but this is not the only Gift Box I liked last Fall. But he’s the only one I managed to get my hands on. We only paid $26,000 for him. [2023, OBS October Yearling Sale] We bought him out of [New Hope AB LLC as agent consignment]. [A consignor] that has a pretty astute eye – I see what he buys. So we hope we do right by the horse and he makes us all look good in the future.

“He’s a playful colt. You get on him and a quick smootch and tap, tap and he’s gets down to business. He walks in the gates. He loads into the trailer like an old pony. He trains both directions, [he trains] past traffic.

“When you have one like that, you take a lot of pride showing him to all the people that come by to see him. They’re going to be impressed by everything—his coat, his condition and his demeanor.”

View Hip 350 on the OBS Online Catalog

Return to the June 11 issue of Wire to Wire