Lanni Stays Busy at OBS

Bloodstock agent Donato Lanni continued his OBS April shopping spree Wednesday, going to $700,000 to acquire a colt by Bernardini from the Northwest Stud consignment. Lanni, who was bidding on behalf of an undisclosed client, said the youngster will be trained by Bob Baffert. 
    “A lot of the better pedigrees are in March, so he was a horse that stood out on pedigree in April,” Lanni explained. “It looks like he still has a lot of maturing to do, being a May baby. That's our program. We try to buy horses who can run on the first Saturday in May.” 
    The dark bay juvenile (hip 741) is out of Grade I winner Tarlow (Stormin Fever). He worked a quarter in :21 flat at last week's under tack preview. 
    Lanni paid credit to the colt's consignor. 
    “Northwest does a good job,” he said. “It looks like they take care of a horse.” 
    The $700,000 colt was another big result for Northwest Stud this sales season. Through Off the Hook, as agent, Northwest purchased the 2-year-old for $200,000 out of last year's Keeneland September sale. 
    “When we bought him, he was a little bit behind as a yearling and then he started to develop very nicely,” explained Northwest general manager Dr. Alfredo Lichoa. “We knew he was going to be for April because he was a late foal.” 
Lichoa added, “He has so much class and he's a very honest horse. He's a very straightforward horse who never took a step back. And we're happy he's going to go to a very good home.” 
    The Ocala-based Northwest Stud, established by Guiseppe Iadisernia in 2007, was also responsible for the $1.6-million Giant's Causeway co-topper at the OBS March sale and sold an Unbridled's Song colt for $550,000 at Fasig-Tipton Florida. 
    “I think we were very blessed this year,” Lichoa said. “We had three very special horses this year. We're very happy with the results. It's paying back. We have been working hard. We have a very good team. We have eight guys working the sales together. We're like a family.”