OBS March Sale

Trainer William Morey picked up three for his stable while shopping the 2-year-old sales in Ocala last spring. Two of them, led by the streaking GIII Jeff Ruby Steaks-bound Hush of a Storm (Creative Cause), will compete on Saturday's loaded program at Turfway Park. "Two have won stakes, and, of course, the other filly hasn't made the races," Morey said. "We've had some bitter and sweet, but lots of sweet along the way." Hush of a Storm, a $75,000 OBS Spring purchase (:21 3/5; consigned by de Meric Sales) by...

By the time a stallion's fourth book opens, the team behind him is usually pulling out all their stops to fill those pages. But perhaps no marketing technique in their repertoire can have quite the same effect as just one big price tag when the stallion's first crop of juveniles go to market. At last week's OBS March Sale, three first-crop juvenile sires were represented by youngsters that surpassed the $500,000 mark in the sales ring, and representatives from each of their respective farms said the phone has been ringing...

By Brian DiDonato & Steve Sherack What a difference a year makes. With a $750,000 filly from the first crop of Practical Joke leading the way, the first auction of 2-year-old sales season completed a very promising two-day run as the 2021 OBS March sale concluded with across-the-board gains compared to last year and numbers not too far off of 2019 stats recorded during more normal circumstances. Consigned by Top Line Sales as hip 311, Wednesday's highest-priced lot and the sale's overall topper was purchased by Japan's Hideyuki Mori, who...

OCALA, FL- Hardy attempts at optimism were made at last year's Ocala Breeders' Sales Company's March Sale, but an unmistakably ominous atmosphere hung over the grounds. Before the first hip had even reached the walking ring in Ocala, both Keeneland's April Sale and Fasig-Tipton's Gulfstream Sale had been canceled as the tentacles of the Coronavirus pandemic tightened their grip around the nation. There was an unforgettable discord between the then-normalcy of crowded local restaurants and stores while sporting event and festival cancellations seemed to happen between the start of each...

The buying team at Spendthrift Farm had it down to two different 2-year-old colts from the first crop of the late Harlan's Holiday at the 2007 OBS March Sale. Did they ever pick the right one. Into Mischief (Harlan's Holiday--Leslie's Lady, by Tricky Creek), winner of the GI CashCall Futurity and the back-to-back reigning champion general sire, got the final nod of the pair, bringing $180,000 from B. Wayne Hughes's operation following a :10 2/5 breeze. The striking blaze-faced bay--standing the 2021 season for $225,000 at Spendthrift Farm--graces the cover...

The OBS March Sale of 2-Year-Olds in Training, which will feature a Horse Fever statue called "Clockwork Fury" as the last hip to sell on Tuesday, Mar. 16, will now accept phone bids on the unusual offering. It had previously been announced that bidding must take place only in person or via agent/proxy. Potential bidders can now register for phone bidding and will be called just before Clockwork Fury enters the ring. Unlike with live hips, no pre-qualification is necessary. Clockwork Fury has greeted visitors at Journeyman Stud in Ocala...

A unique piece of art entitled "Clockwork Fury" will sell as the last hip of the day Tuesday, Mar. 16, during the OBS March 2-Year-Olds in Training Sale. The "steampunk" horse statue, made by Florida artist Mark Hershberger and owned by Ocala's Journeyman Stud, will be auctioned as a partnership with Horse Fever 20/20 and OBS to help raise funds for Florida Thoroughbred Charities (FTC) and Marion Cultural Alliance (MCA). Due to the fundraising challenges non-profit organizations have faced during the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, Journeyman co-owner Crystal Fernung was moved...

A most unusual offering will be up for sale at the OBS March Sale of 2-Year-Olds in Training. The last hip to go through the ring on Tuesday, Mar. 16, will be "Clockwork Fury," a horse statue with an intriguing history that is part of the Horse Fever 20/20 public art project. The public art, which features life-sized horse statues by various artists, has given over $350,000 in grants to artists and organizations. Breeders will be familiar with Clockwork Fury as he has greeted visitors at Ocala's Journeyman Stud, owned...

In this continuing series, TDN's Senior Editor Steve Sherack catches up with the connections of promising maidens to keep on your radar. After kicking off his career with a promising runner-up effort at Santa Anita last month, the highly regarded 2-year-old Ambivalent (Constitution) will look to go one better at the upcoming Del Mar meeting. "Being a son of Constitution, which is just a huge feather in your cap, he's a horse that we've been excited about from day one," two-time GI Kentucky Derby-winning trainer Doug O'Neill said. Purchased for...

The undefeated SW Café Pharoah (American Pharoah), the even-money pick in Tokyo's 1600-meter G3 Unicorn S., made that price look like a gift on Sunday, as he won that Japanese Road to the Kentucky Derby qualifier by five easy lengths and set a new stakes record in the process (1:34.90). Dieu du Vin (Jpn) (Declaration of War) was second, 1 3/4 lengths ahead of Kenshinko (Jpn) (Pyro), as American-bred sires were responsible for the first three home. It was the first winner on dirt at the graded/group level for his...

In this continuing series, TDN's Senior Editor Steve Sherack catches up with the connections of promising maidens to keep on your radar. Nautilus (c, 2, by Cairo Prince--Pantanal, by Congrats) has every right to move forward with a race under his belt following a better-than-it-looked fourth on debut behind a blowout 'TDN Rising Star' performance from Cazadero (Street Sense) at Churchill Downs May 29. Drawn on the fence in that five-furlong affair, the $130,000 OBS March breezer (:10) was quickly outsprinted while under a ride and raced in tight quarters...

8th-SA, $50K, Msw, 3yo/up, 5 1/2f, 7:00 p.m. ET HRH Prince Sultan Bin Mishal Al Saud's FIERCE FOR SUL (Speightstown) has strung together a series of solid Santa Anita works--including a four-furlong move in :47 flat May 10 followed by a five-furlong breeze in 1:00 3/5 (XBTV) May 18--leading up to this first go for Bob. Baffert. At the OBS March Two-year-olds in Training sale last season, the :10 flat breezer was secured for $650,000, the highest price paid for a Speightstown juvenile from 12 sold in 2019. Dam CJ's...