Quality Road

By Jessica Martini & Christie DeBernardis OCALA, FL - A pair of million-dollar juveniles punctuated a day of lively trade in Central Florida as the Ocala Breeders' Sales Company's Spring Sale of 2-Year-Olds reached its midway point with a second session Wednesday. "We certainly picked up where we left off yesterday and the action was just as good, if not better, and we hope it continues to move forward into the next two days," said OBS Director of Sales Tod Wojciechowski. "We came into the sale with some expectations given...

A son of leading sire Quality Road was the first to hit the seven-figure mark at the OBS Spring Sale's second session Wednesday, bringing $1.5 million from Marette Farrell. Bred by Bart Evans and Stonehaven Steadings, the bay is a son of MGSW & MGISP Wasted Tears (Najran). Consigned by de Meric Sales, the :10 flat breeze RNA'd for $385,000 at KEESEP.

Baffle 'Em, a 3-year-old filly by Quality Road, brought a final bid of $75,000 to top the Wanamaker's March online auction. Offered by Bradley Thoroughbreds and purchased by Jay Reese, Baffle 'Em was sold as a racing or broodmare prospect. The sale grossed $110,000 and had an average of $11,000 with a total of 10 horses changing hands. "It is great to see continued growth in our selling and buying base alongside customers who have returned after their previous experiences. While we take pride in our platform, service, and ability...

Sponsored by Alex Nichols Agency 8th-Fair Grounds, $55K, Msw, 3yo, 6f, post time: 5:23 p.m. ET An intriguing cast of sophomore colts seek their diplomas at Fair Grounds Thursday. Frank Fletcher Racing Operations, Inc. paid $500,000 for K C Rocket (Kantharos) at OBSAPR '20 off a powerful :10 flat breeze and strong gallop out before turning him over to Al Stall, Jr. A $75,000 KEENOV weanling and $165,000 KEESEP yearling, the chestnut is out of a Midnight Lute daughter of dual champion Silverbulletday (Silver Deputy). While that Hall of Famer...

The fireworks at the annual Keeneland and Fasig-Tipton November sales are always a highlight of the year as seven-figure bids abound on some of racing's top broodmares and broodmare prospects. But after the dust settles, it can be years before words get out on the breeding careers of the sales' top offerings. We catch up with the connections of a few of these most recent million-dollar broodmares and learn of their mating plans for 2021 in our ongoing 'Million-Dollar Matings' series.     CONSTELLATION (Bellamy Road-For Royalty, by Not For...

6th-Gulfstream, $40,000, Msw, 2-7, 3yo, f, 6f, 1:11.68, ft, 3 lengths. BOSTON POST ROAD (f, 3, Quality Road--Lemon Bay, by Bernardini), whose one breeze available to view on XBTV was enough to conclude that she possessed some ability (4f, :50.60, 13/18, Video), was given a 3-1 chance facing a particularly well bred group of sophomore fillies Sunday. Away on top, the dark bay allowed a foe to take command but she kept that one honest through an opening quarter of :22.68 before poking a head in front into a :46.72...

Sponsored by Alex Nichols Agency 7th-GP, $50K, Msw, 3yo, 6f, 3:10 p.m. Todd Pletcher sends out a pair of flashy firsters in what looks like a particularly salty maiden event. Dupuis (Distorted Humor) will carry the same Robert and Lawana Low silks as his stablemate Colonel Liam (Liam's Map), winner of last month's GI Pegasus World Cup Turf Invitational S. A $165,000 FTKOCT yearling, Dupuis topped the OBS July 2-year-old sale at $700,000 off of a :10 flat work. The Apr. 30 foal hails from the family of Florida speedsters...

Sponsored by Alex Nichols Agency The most expensive yearling and second-priciest progeny overall of superstar sire Quality Road to sell in 2019, FIND NEW ROADS, will open his account in this New Orleans dirt sprint Thursday afternoon. Hammering to Tom Durant for $950,000 at Keeneland September, the bay is out of a daughter of GSW Welcome Surprise (Seeking the Gold), herself a half-sister to dual champion and legendary super-sire A.P. Indy (Seattle Slew) as well as Classic winner Summer Squall (Storm Bird). Trained by Bret Calhoun, Find New Roads shows...

Lady Apple (Curlin-Miss Mary Apples, by Clever Trick), third in the 2019 GI Kentucky Oaks, has been retired and will be bred to Grade I sire Quality Road, owner Phoenix Thoroughbred announced on Monday. A four-time Grade III winner-in the 2019 Fantasy S., Iowa Oaks, Remington Park Oaks-and in the 2020 Houston Ladies Classic, the bay was trained by Steve Asmussen for the majority of her career. Bred by KatieRich Farms in Kentucky, the 5-year-old was a debut second at Keeneland in April of 2018 for trainer Mark Hubley after...

The Lane's End Press Pass event has become increasingly popular over the past few years, and while hosting a large gathering in their stud barn was made impossible for the farm due to the current circumstances, Lane's End still worked to make the third annual Press Pass a reality. Through a Zoom meeting, media members joined the virtual get-together to chat with Bill Farish and the rest of the Lane's End team about the farm's stallion program. TVG racing analyst Scott Hazelton hosted the event and led participants through the...

WinStar Farm and CHC Inc.'s debuting Prime Factor (Quality Road), a $900,000 purchase out of the 2019 Keeneland September yearling sale--the joint-second priciest of 63 Quality Road yearlings to sell in 2019--was off as the 21-10 second choice and turned his first trip to the post into a one-horse affair en route to 'TDN Rising Star' honors. Smoothy into stride, the bay sidled up alongside pacesetting Dr. Duke (Ghostzapper) as the top two pulled well clear of the peloton rounding the turn. Prime Factor eased to the front while racing...

Sponsored by Alex Nichols Agency 2nd-Gulstream Park, $50k, Msw, 2yo, 6f, post time: 12:35 p.m. Todd Pletcher saddles firster PRIME FACTOR (Quality Road) for China Horse Club and WinStar Farm. The bay colt was a $900,000 purchase at last year's Keeneland September sale. He is out of Haylie Brae (Bernardini), a half-sister to graded-winning freshman sire Speightster and a granddaughter of blue hen mare Classy 'n Smart (Smarten). Christophe Clement sends out Shel Evans's Broadway (Quality Road), a $500,000 purchase at last year's Fasig-Tipton Saratoga Yearling Sale. The juvenile is...