Trio of First-Crop Juveniles Share Furlong Bullet at OBS Tuesday

[Wandering Eyes]

In the early minutes of the first session of the under-tack show for the Ocala Breeders' Sales Company's June 2-Year-Olds in Training Sale Tuesday, a colt by Yaupon (hip 104) turned in what would be the day's fastest furlong time of :9 4/5 and that mark was matched later in the day by a filly by Leinster (hip 81) and a colt by Engage (hip 152).

It was the second :9 4/5 work at OBS for the colt from the first crop of Yaupon, who put in a similar work ahead of the company's March sale.

“It wasn't a big surprise that he went as fast as he did, because he'd already went :9 4/5 in March,” said consignor Julie Davies. “He had a P1 [chip] after the breeze in March, so we had to stop and take that out. We had plenty of interest in him in March, but people didn't want to fool with that. So obviously there was the question mark of what fitness he lost in the time that he was off, as he hasn't done much between then and now, but we had no reason to think that he wouldn't do as well as he did then. He showed up and he did it again.”

When the colt was purchased for $85,000 at last year's Keeneland September sale, the name on the ticket was 'Happy Birthday, Chili.'

“My boyfriend, Chalino, picked him out as a yearling,” Davies said. “He and Tami Bobo were together up in the back ring and they picked him out. Everybody calls him Chili, and it was his birthday, so Tami signed the ticket Happy Birthday Chili.”

The colt is out of After the Party (Into Mischief) and from the family of Grade I winner Callback.

“He has always been fast and he's always been very happy to train,” Davies said of the juvenile. “He enjoys training. He's a happy horse with a great mind.”

A filly from the first crop of multiple graded winner Leinster, who is already sire of the Royal Ascot-bound Lennilu, equaled the furlong bullet for consignor Octavio Mejia. The bay is out of Wildcat Gaze (Wildcat Heir), a half-sister to stakes winners Saratoga Treasure (Treasure Beach {GB}) and April Gaze (High Cotton).

Purchased for $13,000 at the OBS Winter sale last year, she RNA'd for $27,000 at the OBS October sale.

Rounding out the trio of bullet workers was a colt by another first-crop sire in multiple graded winner Engage. Consigned by Blue Sapphire Stables, the juvenile hit the bullet mark Tuesday despite changing leads several times down the lane.

“Three weeks ago, he kicked the stall at the farm and the leg went through it and he got a serious cut,” said Blue Sapphire's Jesus Avila. “It still bothers him a little bit, so that could be why he was switching leads there.”

Avila continued, “He prepped :10 flat last week. So he could have gone :9 3/5, I think.”

The bay colt is out of Bazinga B (Lion Hearted) and is a half-brother to stakes winner Bazinga C (Exaggerator). He was purchased for $3,500 at last year's OBS October sale.

Blue Sapphire Stables also sent out the fastest quarter-mile worker of Tuesday's session when I'm Here For Grace (Combatant) (hip 45) covered the distance in :20 4/5.

“She was fast, but she is kind of small,” Avila said. “I think she's 15.2, but she can run. She is a late April foal, so I think she is still going to grow.”

The filly is out of stakes-placed True Religion (Yes It's True), a half-sister to graded winner Sharp Sensation (Sharp Humor), and she is a half to stakes-placed Monster Man (Unbridled's Song). She was purchased for $5,000 at last year's Fasig-Tipton Kentucky October sale.

“I want to buy the best ones for little money,” Avila said with a laugh when asked about his yearling purchases. “I buy inexpensive horses–under $10,000. So I look at the new sires and the [lighter] pedigree page.”

Tuesday was the first of five sessions of the under-tack show and Davies said she thought conditions had remained consistent throughout the day.

“It didn't get too hot, it rained a little, so I did feel like it stayed pretty consistent today,” she said.

The under-tack show continues through Saturday with sessions beginning each day at 7:30 a.m.

The June sale will be held next Tuesday and Wednesday. Bidding commences at 10 a.m. for each session.

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