Thursday, April 22, 2010

OBS Day 4: Sale's last day will begin with Record Price

Thursday's final session of the Ocala Breeders' Sales Co. April sale of 2-year-olds in training opens today with a colt bearing a hopeful name for his sellers: Record Price.

The dark bay or brown son of Strong Contender out of a stakes-placed Holy Bull mare named Crystal Sweet isn't likely to live up to that name when the sale begins at 10:30 a.m. His 10.3 breeze for an eighth-mile is pretty average and his dam's only foal to win from three of racing age, did so in the Dominican Republic. Not that he can't make a racehorse for somebody.

I would have been able to amuse myself greatly by writing that, "the sale's closing statement begins with Omega," but an Omega Code colt already named Zip Code P V R, who was to be the first horse through the ring today, has been withdrawn from the sale, as has Hip 918, a Lido Palace colt.

The sale can be viewed in its entirety, live and online, and begins at 10:30 a.m.

As I have all week, I'll be making my recommendations from Day 4 of the catalog, Hips 917 through 1,221.

OBSAPR, Day 4, Hips 917-1221

Hip 921: Bay colt by Wildcat Heir-Cup of Cheers, by Raise a Cup. When Wildcat Heir first went to stud, in 2006, I would not have anticipating so many of his get from the biggest sale of his sophomore year. But in a racing game that is consistently shortening its sights, the De Francis Memorial Dash-G1 winner is putting speed and remarkable precocity into his foals, already getting more than 40 winners from his first crop, and his initial 2-year-old to start from 102 juveniles this year was a winner, as well. This one didn't work as fast as most of them have -- only 10.4 through an eighth. But he didn't look too bad, comes from reasonably good female family, and I like his New York-bred status for lifetime earnings potential in restricted company. Can we finally get a Wildcat Heir on the relative cheap? ... The dam here is nine-win, stakes-placed Cup of Cheers, who has only been a little bit better than a 50-percent producer. From nine foals of racing age, seven have run and five have won. But one of those, RICH CELEBRATION (g. by Rizzi), won 13 times from ages 2 to 8, including a listed Calder stakes race, for $297,045. Second dam Child of Fate (Promised Land) was a modest winner from a somewhat-noteworthy mid-20th century West Coast female family; a full sister to Stars and Stripes H. winner FULL OF PROMISE and California fair-circuit stakes winner STELLAKO. She produced seven winners from 11 foals, including Lone Star Futurity winner TICKLED FANCY (f. by Admiral's Blade). Third dam Baby Alice (Revoked) won the Hollywood Oaks, then beat up the boys to win the Longacres Derby in a course-record time of 1:48 4/5 for nine furlongs.

(Updated 10:13 a.m.)

Hip 925: Bay colt by War Front-Dance Club, by Montbrook. I haven't often been suggesting 2-year-olds by freshman sires. This is the first of the War Front bunch. But he breezed 10.1, looked pretty sharp doing so, and is the first foal from a winning Montbrook mare -- and Montbrook in a pedigree helps add up to precocity. Second dam Legwork (Alleged) bore four winners from only five foals, including EMERALD EARRINGS (f. by Helmsman), who won 10 times, including five stakes races up the East Coast from Florida to Woodbine, for $494,116. Two others were nice, stakes-placed winners: Open Minded (f. by Wharf), four wins from 2 to 4 and G3-placed for $149,855, and gelding Publisher's Phil (Top Account), a seven-race winner of $118,877 and stakes-placed at Meadowlands. Third dam O'Dalita (His Majesty) was a 2-year-old winner and bore eight winners; third dam the splendid Candalita (Olympia), who won the Matron, Spinaway and Adirondack stakes and was a half-sister to HAIL THE PIRATES. ... There's turf in this family -- Emerald Earrings won the Ontario Colleen H. in addition to dirt races, and both Open Minded and Publisher's Phil were stakes-placed on grass -- and while War Front was a dirt runner, his daddy Danzig has plenty who have performed on the lawn.

Hip 934: Heir to Dare, bay filly by Wildcat Heir-Daringly, by Tactical Advantage. Wildcat Heir, Wildcat Heir, Wildcat Heir. Geez. But this FL-bred breezed 33-flat for three furlongs, co-fastest of the day, and really just looked like she was loping. Dam was unraced, but has produced winners from both prior foals including a Delaware Township gelding, I'll Blow Ur Mind, who won six times at 3 and 4 for $129,246, and filly Penny Sense (Exchange Rate) who broke her maiden last year at 3. Second dam Wedding Jitters (Runaway Groom) won at 2, 3 and 4, was stakes-placed at Calder, and produced five winners including G2-placed Saint Bernadette (Saint Ballado). Third dam Classy Tricks (Hold Your Tricks) won eight times from 2 to 4, including four Calder stakes, for $175,972, and produced an additional stakes-placer in Mystical Tricks ($154K) from eight winners.

(Updated 10:39 a.m.)

Hip 936: Bay colt by Gibson County-Darn That Girl, by Darn That Alarm. How cheap might we get this one, in spite of his 9.4-blazer for an eighth that was amazingly not the fastest time of the final under-tack session? First three dams utterly devoid of blacktype, but this is the first foal from his dam and she won at 2 and 3 for $96,508. Second dam, Diplomatic Girl (Gallapiat) won five times from 3 to 5, covering 45 starts, and bore four other winners from five additional foals, including Sneaky Girl (Snuck In) who collected the sixth win of her 45-race career recently and has earned $279K. Not a brilliant family, but a professional Florida family. This colt might be early enough to do some good work at 2 and 3, yet -- if we're lucky -- sound enough to run on as his second dam and some others have done. Let's hope the breeze doesn't make him too expensive, because if he brings more than the sales average (or even median) we're out.

Hip 940: Hard Rock Candy, chestnut filly by Wildcat Heir-D. D. Rocks, by Tactical Advantage. Where does it end with the Wildcat Heirs? This filly breezed a pretty fair 21.2 and is out of a dam who won three times, but whose first foal hasn't started yet. Second dam Lady Argo (Gold Meridian) won five times in modest races, but was a full sister to Martha Washington S.-G3 winner TEE KAY, and has herself produced two stakes winners in ARGOS APPEAL (World Appeal) -- who has produced four stakes horses of her own -- and SPLENDID SOUND (Trippi) who recently won the OBS Championship S.-R.

(Updated 10:58 a.m.)

Hip 949: Delightful Mary, chestnut filly by Limehouse-Deputy's Delight, by French Deputy. A FL-bred who worked a stellar, session-fastest 20.2 for a quarter and is half-sister to millionaire Ohio Derby-G2 winning DELIGHTFUL KISS (Kissin Kris) who set a track record of 1:49 2/5 for a mile and an eighth in winning the G3 All-American Stakes at Golden Gate Fields, as well. Dam didn't win until she was 4, but has produced four winners from five of racing age and was out of the stakes-winning Sawbones mare Bishop's Delight, who was G1-placed in the Shuvee Handicap and is granddam of G2 winner SHADOW CASTER. Part of the Florida-icon Hobeau Farm's dispersal and selling without reserve, but you'll still have to break your piggy bank. And your spouse's. And your neighbor's.

(Updated 11:09 a.m.)

Hip 957: Chestnut colt by Officer-Dial a Trick, by Phone Trick. Dam didn't race, but has six winners from eight of racing age, and some pretty good ones: EYE OF THE TIGER (c. by American Chance), Washington Park H.-G2, etc., $535,679; WILDWOOD FLOWER (f. by Langfuhr), Piedmont S. at 2, 3rd Beaumont S.-G2, etc., $109,916; and Expanse (f. by Distant View), 3rd Ellis Park Debutante S., dam of REPORTING FOR DUTY (Deputy Commander), Zia Park Derby, MAXXAM Gold Cup H., 2nd Illinois Derby-G2, etc., $466,846. Officer can get winners -- roughly two-thirds of all his starters -- and this mare produces. Second dam, the juvenile stakes-winning It's Freezing mare Ice Fantasy, did, too, including dual-G3 winning track record-setter FIGHTING FANTASY and G3-placed Snow Forest, dam of G1 winner SNOW RIDGE and listed winner PAVAROTTI. Ice Fantasy is the granddam of G2 winner SWEETNORTHERNSAINT, as well. Colt sealed the deal with a blistering 9.4.

(Updated 11:22 a.m.)

Hip 968: Dark bay or brown filly by Pleasantly Perfect-Dixie Talent, by Dixie Union. Dam was unraced and her first of racing age hasn't started, either. But we're going to give this filly a chance not just because she breezed 10-flat (and looked good doing it), but because her second dam, the unraced Fly So Free mare Takeaway, managed to produce anyway: NO GIVEAWAY (g. by He's Tops), Longacres Mile H.-G3, etc., $218,450; YOUCAN'TTAKEME (f. by He's Tops), seven wins, four stakes, $199,975, stakes-producer; Melissa Jo (f. by Fusaichi Pegasus), 2nd Old Hat S.-G3, 3rd Demoiselle S.-G2 and Forward Gal S.-G2, $101,110; and Miss Ballard (f. by Bertrando), 2nd Kent H. Third dam Table Frolic (Never Tabled) was the last in this direct female line to race, and did it well, with six wins, three stakes-placings and $201K earned. She also produced 10-win G2 victor SUPERLICIOUS.

(Updated 11:33 a.m.)

Hip 970: Chestnut filly by Pure Prize-Doll Baby, by Citidancer. Despite G1 winner Pure Clan, Pure Prize has done a purely average job thus far, with only about 68 percent starters and roughly 50 percent winners from his foals aged 3 and up. Yet he has a ridiculous 192 juveniles on the ground this year (the subject for a different blog post), 16 of whom have already started, with five 2010 juvenile winners. Gonna get at least a few good ones with so many opportunities. Thankfully, this filly could be one of those good ones. She breezed a decent 10.2 and her female family breeds racehorses. She's the first foal out of a dam who was a juvenile winner, and a restricted stakes winner among NY-breds for $151K. Out of the Desert Wine mare Sand Pirate, she's half-sister to three other -- and better -- stakes winners, all girls: SWEET VENDETTA (Stephen Got Even), Black-Eyed Susan S.-G2, etc., $224,596; HALF HEAVEN (by Regal Classic), eight wins from 2 to 5, four Turfway Park stakes victories, $381,904; and LOVE COVE (by Not For Love), six wins at 3 and 4, restricted stakes wins at Belmont and Aqueduct, $396,739. Third dam Wayward Pirate (Pirate's Bounty) was another G3 winner and G1-placed from this girl-power family. NY-bred status lets this one try to win in territory familiar to her family.

Hip 983: Wilddreamscometrue, chestnut filly by Wildcat Heir-Dream With Angels, by Saint Ballado. Yes, another, and this Florida-bred makes about as good a case for herself as any. The speedy 21 2/5 breeze is just the beginning. Another big selling point is her recent Grade 3-winning full sister, RICHIEGIRLGONEWILD, who has won three times from her first four starts for $96,300. Dam didn't race and has only three winners from five prior foals, but her dam got six winners from nine foals including minor stakes-placer Maid for Speed (Phone Trick.) Third dam won the G2 Black Helen H. and G3 Columbiana H. and was twice G1-placed on her way to $414,551.

(Updated 11:57 a.m.)

Hip 998: Bay filly by More Than Ready-Empty Portrait, by Coronado's Quest. I'm tipping this one mostly to suggest that her dam be sent from Kentucky to Oklahoma. Dam wasn't much of a runner and has produced only two minor winners from three to race. This filly breezed 10.2 and looked pretty fair doing it. But the mare is out of the 10-win G3-titleist Illeria (Stop the Music) who produced no fewer than seven stakes horses from Broad Brush (six) and his son Concern (one), who has been banished to the aforementioned Sooner state: INCLUDE (10 wins, Pimlico Special-G1, etc., $1.659 million); MAGIC BROAD (Selima S.-G3, etc., $212,120); ENCAUSTIC (seven wins, Mountaineer Mile H., etc., $478,035); MAGICAL BROAD (Squan Song S., etc., $155,470); Implicit (10 wins, $260,636); Loaded Brush (six wins, $212,390); and, by Concern, Invent (four wins, 2nd Maryland Juvenile Championship S., etc., $149,080). ... Don't know what she'll sell for, but if she runs out for anything at all, I'd be sending her to Concern, too, if he's still around when she's done running.

Hip 1003: Bay filly by Concerto-Epistolary, by Deputy Minister. I like her despite the 22.2 breeze, which is a shade on the slower side. Dam was only placed at 3, but comes from superior broodmare-sire stock in Deputy Minister and has proved it with nine winners from 13 foals of racing age, four of them stakes horses: TEXTURIZER (c. by On to Glory), 2nd Polynesian S.-G3, $77,300; Deputy Lad (g. by Mecke), 11 wins, 3rd Pan American H.-G2, $278,367; Valid Chance (g. by Valid Appeal), eight wins and third in a Laurel stakes Stateside, six more wins at 6 and 8 in the Dominican, $168,707; and Epistola (f. by Buckaroo), four wins, second and third in Colonial Downs stakes races, $80,228. Thre other foals have earned $90K to $109K and unraced Unique Charm (Pentelicus) is a minor stakes-producer of Sweet Yullanna (f. by Sweetsouthernsaint). Second dam, the Royal Saxon mare Saxon's Secret, was stakes-placed, full to a pair of stakes horses and half to two more, and dam of 10 winners, three blackype-placed. ... FL-bred filly is probably a two-turn horse who might take some time, but I think she'll win and in the future might very well produce.

(Updated 12:28 p.m.)

Hip 1015: Bay filly by Grand Slam-Explosive Scarlet, by Explodent. Golly, what a genius I am, tipping a 21.2-breezing Grand Slam filly from a blacktype family. But she's impossible not to mention, because NY-bred status could really make her an earning machine. Dam won four times including a minor stakes race for $117K, but more important has hit winners from all six prior foals and some of them race on and on, including: SWEET BABY JAMES (c. by Housebuster), 11 wins from 2 to 6, two Hawthorne stakes, $363,860; R. Little Redhead (g. by Prized), 19 wins from 3 to 10, $392,606; and Tough Game (c. by Mr. Greeley), 10 wins from 3 to 8, ETR Hollywood Park, 6f in 1:07 2/5. Second dam Scarlet Darling (Crimson Satan) bore nine winners and was half to G2 winner EXPLOSIVE DARLING and G3 winner IMPROVE IT. Certainly shouldn't come cheap.

(Updated 12:40 p.m.)

Hip 1035: Banshee Indian, bay filly by Indian Ocean-Feature Film, by Forest Wildcat. Not thrilled with myself for this one on soundness alone. Sire only raced five times, though he was a G3 winner. Dam was unraced. But there are two things here that I like. First, the breeze, in which she reminded me of a line from the movie "Seabiscuit" -- she looked "fast, in every direction," going a bit wide on the turn and veering briefly toward the rail deep in the stretch, and still posted a scurrying 21.1. If you can get her under wraps, she has a lot of room to move forward. Second, her granddam Cinemine (by Mining) was reasonably sound (12 wins in 26 starts) and undeniably fast, G3 winner of $506K and two track records at Lone Star; 5.5f in 1:02 4/5 and 6f in 1:08 2/5. She has produced the 30-race, stakes-placed Tiznow colt Outrageous Limit, but Feature Film was unraced and colts by Vindication and Mineshaft both raced poorly and briefly. ... Handsome sophomore Indian Ocean's first crop has resulted in about 50 percent starters and 18 percent winners from all foals (one turf stakes winner at Colonial); not terribly bad, though they'd better start doing something quick. Indian Ocean didn't race until he was 3, though. ... I think this Florida-bred girl might be cheap despite her speedy breeze and we're gonna try and get her to run in a straight line (except on the turns) and take good care of her legs. Maybe the grass?

(Updated 1:07 p.m.)

Hip 1046: Bay filly by E Dubai-Fine Day, by Fantastic Light. Suburban H.-G2 winner was out of a Lord at War mare and can get a turf horse; witness Breeders' Cup Turf Sprint-winner and millionaire Desert Code. Let's hope this KY-bred girl with a rapid 9.4 breeze, from a tremendous female family tree seemingly in decline on this branch, is one of those. Her dam was unplaced in one English start; this is her first foal. Second dam was the French G3-placed Forty Niner mare Queen's Gallery who did produce five winners, but the most notable only won the equivalent of $25K in England and Ireland. But the second dam was half to MARQUETRY (G1 winner on dirt and turf, sire), SPAIN LANE (G2 and G3 winner in France) and Reggie V., the dam of FIVE STAR DAY (G2 and twice a G3 winner). All three of those big horses were by different representatives of the Mr. Prospector sireline, as is E Dubai. Though there's precious little blacktype under the first two dams, the speed will make her expensive.

Hip 1048: Bay colt by Rahy-First Quarter, by Sky Classic. Son of the high-quality pensioned sire only breezed a fair 10.3, his one older sibling hasn't raced, and his second dam produced just four winners from seven foals, which not a high percentage. But the good ones are very good ones, including this KY-bred's dam, a G3-placed stakes winner in Canada of $387K. The second dam, First Class Gal (Geiger Counter) won five times herself for $125 non-blacktype, and from just those four winners earned 2002 Canadian broodmare of the year status due to: ONE WAY LOVE (c. by Regal Classic), 15 wins, two G3 wins, $962K, champion sprinter and older horse in Canada; RUNAWAY LOVE (c. by Regal Classic), eight wins, $530K; and His Smoothness (g. by Sky Classic), winner at 2, $298K. And the second dam's half-sister Native Rights (Our Native) was Canada's champion broodmare for 2005 with CLASSIC STAMP (G2, $933K), PRIZED STAMP (G2, $438K) and NATIVE LEGEND ($145K) to her credit. Rahy has long been a favorite of mine, and while this girl wasn't outright fleet, she was pretty in her way of going, wasn't whipped to go any faster, and posted a decent time completely "within herself."

(Updated 1:36 p.m.)

Hip 1061: Sensationalmystery, bay filly by Macho Uno-Forest Mystery, by Running Stag. I've been waiting all sale to like one of the Macho Unos, because he's done so well already at stud. Dam was unraced and has produced a cheap winner from her first foal, but she was by Indy King, not nearly the sire that is Macho Uno. Second dam Gray Touch (Entropy) was stakes-placed and produced nine winners, including YOGI'S POLAR BEAR (Lucky Lionel), G2-placed Touch the Wire (g. by Birdonthewire), who earned $247K, Bullet Train (g. by Bold Ruckus), 10-race winner of $199K Artillery Exchange (Lite the Fuse), $101K-earner Blacktie Preferred (Black Tie Affair) and six-race winner of $96K Rubiano's Touch (Rubiano). Third dam Wava's Girl (Grey Judgement) was a stakes winner and stakes-producer of 10 wins including WAVEBAND (13 wins). A good 10.1 breeze helps.

(Updated 1:52 p.m.)

Hip 1079: Dark bay or brown filly by Wildcat Heir-Gemley, by Big Stanley. People are gonna start thinking I'm on the payroll at Journeyman Stud, where Wildcat Heir stands, but I'm not. They just know what they're doing. This filly breezed a crisp 20.4 for the quarter, but that speed is tempered by soundness from her dam, who won 15 times from 71 races and was once stakes-placed at Tampa for $309,677. Her first foal, Believe Me Homey (g. by Trippi), won twice at 3 last year for $23,770, but hasn't hit the board otherwise in eight lifetime starts. Second dam Tangem (Tanthem) won twice and bore five winners from six foals. Third dam was Blue Mountain Futurity-winning Drop a Gem (Rock Talk), who was half-sister to Monmouth Oaks-G1 winner GOLDEN HORDE, and who also bore five winners, including Ei's Hawkie (Fight Over) who won 18 times and finished second 16 more from 77 starts. Not much recent blacktype, just racehorses, and Wildcat Heir is getting those, too.

(Updated 2:15 p.m.)

Hip 1080: Bay colt by First Samurai-Gem Treck, by Java Gold. First crop for G1-winning juvenile First Samurai, but he's helped considerably here by the catalog page. Dam was unraced, but has worked with several sirelines and has seven winners from nine older foals, four of them blacktype horses: BUDDY GOT EVEN (c. by Stephen Got Even), five wins at 4 and 5, Forego S., Timeless Native S., $145,198; Glittergem (g. by Glitterman), six wins from 2 to 6, 2nd Arlington-Washington Futurity-G3, $146,353; Gem Sleuth (f. by Officer), three wins at 3 and 4, 3rd Bennington S.-R at Saratoga, $138,117; and Deepwater Bay (g. by Chester House), winner in England and stakes-placed there and in Hong Kong. Second dam was three-times G1-winning Tallahto (Nantallah) who produced G1 winner PRINCE TRUE and HIDDEN LIGHT (dam of ARTIE SCHILLER) and G2-placed Le Duc de Bar. Colt breezed 10.1, too.

(Updated at 2:21 p.m. as he's at $12K in the bidding)

Hip 1082: Lime Rock Revenge, bay gelding by Limehouse-Genie's Flight, by Silver Hawk. Gelding means he's in for racing only, with no stud hopes. That's cool. Dam was only placed, but has thrown 11 winners from 13 older foals, all to race. One of them is a Silver Deputy stakes winner of $150K, SILVER ON SILVER. Second dam, T.V. Genie (T. V. Commercial) was G3-placed and a half-sister to five-times Horse of the Year KELSO. She produced seven winners including BUSTED STITCHES. Racehorse family, good breeze of 10.2, and being gelded already means he can focus on being a racehorse, which he will be.

(Updated 2:26 p.m. with bidding at $16K)

Hip 1093: Atlantic Goddess, bay filly by Stormy Atlantic-Godmother, by Show'em Slew. A 10.1-breezing FL-bred whose dam was a G3-winner of nine races for $373K. She has produced four winners from six of racing age, including G3-placed Cinderella's Wish (Speightstown). Second dam Gallant Libby (Gallant Knave) won seven times for $148K including three stakes races. She also produced: WINTER MELODY (f. by Frosty the Snowman), a 15-race winner and G3-annexer for $614K, dam of a listed winner by this filly's sire in STORMY BALLAD ($101K); GALLANT GARRICK (c. by Skip Trial), eight wins, Owners' Day H. at Delaware Park, $228K; GALLANT SNOWMAN (g. by Frosty the Snowman), Draft Card S. at Delaware Park, $172K; and unraced War Goddess, dam of LIBBY'S HALO ($96K) and Mister Alimony ($167K).

(Updated 2:34 p.m.)

Hip 1109: Dark bay or brown filly by Royal Academy-Good Intentions, by Anet. Breeders' Cup Mile-G1 winner gets his share of racehorses, especially overseas and on grass. Mare was a turf stakes winner among 2-year-olds at Calder and earned $110K; this is her first foal of racing age. Her dam, Orena (Runaway Groom), was unplaced in one start, but a full sister to RUNAWAY CHOICE, a turf sprinter who won six times from 2 to 6, for $254,950. Their half-sister GUESS (Twining) was a Suffolk dirt-stakes winner of $130K. Third dam Diamond Sunjet (Sunny Clime) won 11 times for $132K, including the Minaret Stakes at Tampa, and was a half-sister to millionaire WEKIVA SPRINGS (10 wins, Gulfstream Park H.-G1, Suburban H.-G1, etc.) This Florida-bred breezed a capable 10.2 and should improve on grass.

(Updated 2:51 p.m.)

Hip 1114: Hot an Cool, dark bay or brown filly by Awesome Again-Gourmet Girl, by Cee's Tizzy. Can we get an Awesome Again (current fee $50K) out of a $1.255 million-earning champion with three G1 wins for under $10,000? Under $5,000? Maybe. Depends how hot buyers are for a KY-bred girl who only galloped out of a mare for whom a production record of "cool" would be a warming trend. Gourmet Girl has come nowhere near reproducing herself in the foaling stall, with five of racing age and only one even to race. At least that one was stakes-placed, Luxury Class (f. by Gone West), who won thrice at 2 and 3 for $68,588. Second dam is the Euro G3-placed Welsh Pageant mare Rhondaling, who also produced G1-placed Northern Mischief (Yankee Victor) and G3-placed 2009 juvenile Marfach (Leroidesanimaux). ... Getting a stakes foal from Gourmet Girl could be like playing Russian roulette; there might be only one bullet in the gun. But at least her gallop was pretty.

(Updated 3:02 p.m.)

Hip 1123: Gray or roan colt by Mizzen Mast-Gypsy, by Marfa. Dam a stakes-placer who produces; five winners from six of racing age (all ran), including G3-placed GAL ON THE GO (Irgun), who is a stakes-producer herself of dual-G3 heroine SOCIAL QUEEN (Dynaformer, $344K). Other winners are more modest, but winning begets winning. Witness second dam Nice Gal (Naskra), who won a dozen times and produced seven winners, including the outstanding PERFECT DRIFT (Dynaformer), who won 11 times from 2 to 6 for $4.7 million, including the Stephen Foster H.-G1 and six other graded stakes races. So this colt just worked a very-average 22-flat? He moved well doing it and the time just helps keep the price down. Mizzen Mast has 79 percent runners and nearly 54 percent winners from his first four crops and there's good reason to believe this is another racehorse for him.

(Updated 3:15 p.m.)

Hip 1145: Bay filly by Candy Ride(ARG)-Hortense(CHI), by Hussonet. This little girl went unsold for $5,000 as a yearling and only breezed 10.4 at this sale. But her Chilean-bred dam was turf-sprint stakes-placed at Sam Houston after coming to the States and is a full sister to Chilean G2-winner CONSERVATORIO. Their dam was a full sister to WEEPING (11 wins and a G3 in Chile) and Waco (six wins there), and half to HUSSERL (nine wins from 17 starts in Chile). Candy Ride is getting racehorses, but can so much Southern Hemisphere breeding succeed in the States? (Actually, yes, but I don't know that this one will get much chance). Worsrt-case, buy her cheap and send her back to South America, probably win a bit with her, and have a broodmare who would cross very well with the stock that's already down there.

(Updated 3:54 p.m. as she enters the ring)

Hip 1182: Soldier's Tune, gray or roan gelding by Concorde's Tune-Jessica Bush, by Lost Soldier. Want a racehorse ... right away? And probably cheap? This FL-bred should be close to the track and they did you a favor by gelding him already so you don't have to bear that cost (and wait), and he can focus on his job from the get-go. ... Breezed a credible 47-flat for four furlongs, one of very few to work that distance, and did it well within himself, whipped twice at the top of the stretch and only shown the stick one more time on the way home. Sire is unheralded, but gets 81 percent starters and 64 percent winners from all foals. He even gets 5 percent stakes winners, which is fair by today's standards. This mare was a modest winner at 2 and her first foal, Don Seis (by Don Six ... get it?), broke his maiden at 2 and has won again at 3 from six total starts for $39K. Second dam Oh My Jessica Pie (On to Glory) won 10 times from 17 starts at 2 and 3 for $403,707, including the G3 Churchill Downs Budweiser Breeders' Cup H. and five Calder stakes (including the Calder Budweiser Breeders Cup H.; she's apparently a suds-lover). She produced the Major Moran filly OH MY BUTTERFLY ($151K), 11-race winner Darn That Buck ($161K) and six total winners. Might be one of the handful who get announced upon entering the ring as already having his gate card; many of the 4f-workers do. Buy and perhaps go racing ... now.

(Updated 4:08 p.m.)

Hip 1184: Bay filly by Forest Camp-Jezebella, by Wild Again. Dam a cheap winner at 4, but has two winners from three of racing age including a stakes-winner in BALIAN (g. by Hennessy), who has earned $237K, and a cheap winner by Johannesburg. This filly didn't just work a pretty good 21.4, she did it in a handride, never feeling the stick. Second dam is the Crafty Prospector racemare For All Seasons, who won stakes races at Belmont (listed) and Gulfstream (restricted), was G1-placed in the Shuvee among her five graded-stakes performances. She only had two registered foals; the other was a modest winner in the U.K. and U.S. for $21K total. Third dam was the Irish Tower-sired G3 winner Religiosity, dam of 10 winners from 13 foals, including the Storm Cat line-sired Canadian champion KNIGHTS TEMPLAR (Exploit), Canadian stakes-winner DIAL A SONG (Mining) and Carson City daughter Kit's Girl, dam of G2 sprinter from this sireline, EATON'S GIFT (Johannesburg). Love how this KY-bred broke 22 seconds without being aggressively asked.

Hip 1187: Code Dancer, bay gelding by Omega Code-Jocey's Dance, by Seattle Dancer. For someone who isn't a fan of Elusive Quality, finding him overpriced for the results (oh, yeah, some G1 horses, and lots that do nothing), I sure find myself recommending a lot of the sons and daughters by his son, Omega Code. This one breezed a fleet 21.1 and, like the tipped-horse two prior, the sellers have done you the favor of gelding him already, so you're buying a racehorse who won't be distracted by the fillies on the back side. His dam was unraced, but has thrown six winners from nine foals, eight to race. Most were modest winners, but horses who made 20 to 50 starts, including the Is It True gelding All True, who won nine times from 2 to 8 and was stakes-placed among the FL-sired restricted for $99K. There's actually nice blacktype under the second dam, Green Greek (Green Ticket), who produced millionaire GRECIAN FLIGHT (f. by Cormorant, 21 wins, Acorn S.-G1, ETR monmouth, etc., stakes-producer), GRECIAN COMEDY (16 wins, $384K, granddam of BULLSBAY-G1), and EVZONE (16 wins, $328K), and unraced Bangled (dam of Florida Oaks-G3 winner ANKLET, $486K). ... Modest performance of late, but this family means business at the racetrack and this one looks like he could eclipse his siblings.

(Updated 4:31 p.m.)

Hip 1194: Dark bay or brown filly by High Fly-Jovetta, by Elusive Quality. Only mentioning her -- the 9 3/5, ridiculously fast workout-topper -- because she's going to sell for too much. Dam was unplaced from one start and her first foal by millionaire Express Tour (who hasn't sired much) is yet to start. Second dam won 17 times and was stakes-placed, and produced G3-winner HAWKS LANDING (Air Forbes Won), with six total winners from nine foals, but most didn't last nearly as long on the track as she. Third dam Lori's Way (Assagai) produced a dozen winners, only two of more than $70K earnings. This filly actually looked pretty good in getting 9.3. (How could you not, I guess?) But I have a hard time tipping a filly who I think will bring a lot of money on speed alone, when there's so little black type on the page and she's by a sophomore sire who has only three winners from a very small group of foals thus far. ... Good luck to her. Maybe she's a champion in waiting.

(Updated 4:51 p.m.)

Hip 1200: Bay colt by Desert Warrior-Karakorum Kiss, by Lord Carson. Colt breezed a nice 10.1 completely in-hand and already has two winning full-siblings (once stakes-placed) in Kiss and Fly, who won at 2 and four times from 19 starts at 3 for $127K, and Baci a Tutti, a winner at 3 and 4 for $51K. This is the third foal of racing age from the dam, who obviously has hit twice with this sire already. Second dam did little at the track and had only one other foal to race, but third dam Distant Doll (Distant Land) won 15 times, including a Louisiana Downs stakes race, for $196K, and produced 14-win stakes victor WESTERN TRADER (Herat), who earned $720K and won on both turf and dirt. New York-bred should hold his own when sent back Northeast.

(Updated 5:01 p.m.)

Hip 1205: Dark bay or brown filly by Ghostzapper-Katy Kat, by Forest Wildcat. Stakes-winning dam of $210K is also G3-placed and full sister to juvenile stakes-winner YADDO CAT (Permian Basin S. at Zia and Princess H. at Sunland, $112K). Dam has produced three winners from her prior registered foals, albeit only for $55K-$71K. Second dam, stakes-placed Fit to Fight mare Kombat Kate, produced four other winners from seven other foals, including G3-placed Kombat Kat ($234K) from this sireline via Future Storm. Third dam Caitland (Key to the Kingdom) was only placed, but a half-sister to G1 multi-millionaire and sire WILD AGAIN, and she produced LANCE (10 wins, Omaha Gold Cup-G3, Board of Governors' H.-G3, $284K), MR. DECATUR (Borderland Derby-L, $175K) and BUILDING CODE (nine wins, four stakes in Canada, $132K), plus Aussie-stakes-paced Oakmont. Filly only breezed 10.3, but was never whipped nor really asked for more.

Hip 1208: Rain Dance, dark bay or brown colt by Survivalist-Keetoowah, by Cherokee Run. Dam won three times for $48K and has no blacktype siblings, but I have a good feeling about this 10.3-breezer; I liked the way he went even though the time wasn't awe-inspiring. Second dam Miss Indy Anna (Apalachee) won seven of 10 lifetime starts including the Churchill Downs Budweiser Breeders' Cup H.-G2 and Columbia S.-G3, and was G1-paced in the Test Stakes for $349,500, but just never reproduced herself, though she did throw seven winners from nine foals. Third dam Savanna Anna (Vice Regent) was half to blacktype and did give us stakes horses in TIME LIMIT (Gilded Time), Hutcheson S.-G2, Spectacular Bid S.-G3, etc., $379K and VICTORIANNA (Tale of the Cat), NTR in the Fit for a Queen S. at Arlington, 6.5f in 1:14 2/5, $137K, and winning daughter Shebandowana (Mt. Magazine) bore WANNA RUNNER (El Corredor), winner of the Lone Star Derby-G3, etc., for $656K. Ontario-bred will get synthetic at Woodbine and I think he'll like it (Victorianna did). Grass might work, too.

(Updated 5:21 p.m.)

Hip 1220: Menil, bay filly by Johannesburg-Kreisleriana, by Seeking the Gold. Ignore the 10.4 breeze for an eighth; she's going to be at her best running about ten-eighths (or more). Dam was a 2-year-old winner for $166K in Japan, but her two older foals, both colts by Giant's Causeway, were a two-and-done (Titanic Blow, which that probably was to the connections) and Photo Shoot, who is only just getting started, unplaced in his first try this year. Second dam Kooyonga was Irish-bred and by Persian Bold, whose get, the Racing Post reports, won at an average of 10.5 furlongs. Kooyonga was the champion 3-year-old filly in both Ireland and all of Europe, champion mare, champion miler in Ireland, and highweight filly at 3 and 4 on the Irish handicaps, from 9.5 to 10.5f at 3 and from 9.5 to 11f at 4. She won the Irish One Thousand Guineas-G1 and the Coronation S.-G1, among her graded victories, and her 11-furlong score in the Preis Bayerisches Zuchtrennen-G1 made her highweight in Germany, as well. Kooyonga was half to HATTON GARDENS, dam of South African champ 3-year-old KUNDALINI and others. The family runs all day and I like that, even if nobody else does. ... OK, that can mean it could be tough to find her races. Maybe she needs to go overseas. But she looked like a smooth-mover who could go all day.

And with that -- and with the sale about to resume in the back holding area of the OBS facility after a 30-minute break for some sort of "incident" at the site -- I'm out.

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