By Jessica Martini
A filly by Not This Time worked the fastest furlong of the week during Thursday's fourth session of the under-tack show for the Ocala Breeders' Sales Company's July 2-Year-Olds and Horses of Racing Age Sale. Consigned by de Meric Sales, the chestnut (hip 640) covered the distance in :9 4/5. She is out of Exotic Design (A.P. Indy), a daughter of multiple Grade I winner Exotic Wood (Rahy) and a full-sister to stakes winner Key to Power. Silvestre Avila purchased the youngster for $19,000 at last year's OBS October Yearling Sale.
“I thought she would be able to work in :10 flat or :10 1/5,” Avila, who is partners with his brother-in-law Chalino Lopez on the filly, said. “She had been training very well and she prepped over there very, very well. So I thought she could do :10 flat, but this :9 4/5 is better for me.”
Of the filly's appeal last fall, Avila said, “I liked the filly when I saw her in the barn. She's a nice-looking filly with beautiful lines. And I like to buy the new sires.”
Avila agreed he had picked the right new sire last season, with the red-hot Not This Time already represented by three winners on the racetrack and a million-dollar juvenile in the sales ring.
“Exactly. I got lucky,” he said with a laugh.
Avila and Lopez enjoyed a major pinhooking score with another first-crop sire at last year's OBS March sale, selling a filly by Daredevil purchased for $5,000 at OBS October for $155,000.
Avila has been working for the de Merics for the past eight years and Tristan de Meric called him a “vital member of our team.”
After last year's success at the March sale, Valery de Meric said of Avila, “He does everything for us. He lives on the farm, he breezes and preps all the 2-year-olds, he night watches for us, he even watches the kids for us sometimes.”
The Not This Time filly is the only yearling Avila purchased last year.
“When I bought that one last year, I tried on a few others, but didn't get them,” Avila said. “I like to buy one or two a year. She's the only one this year, but hopefully she's the right one.”
A colt by Ghostzapper (hip 639) turned in Thursday's fastest quarter-mile work of :21 1/5. He is out of Excellent News (Rahy), a half-sister to graded stakes winner Here's to You (Bertrando). The bay is consigned by Randy Bradshaw who purchased the youngster for $250,000 at last year's Fasig-Tipton Saratoga Yearling Sale.
The under-tack show continues through Saturday with sessions beginning daily at 7:30 a.m. The July sale will be held next Tuesday through Thursday with bidding commencing each day at 10 a.m.
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