Empire-Breds Rock Solid in Opening Session of OBS March

[1]by Sarah Mace

The Ocala Breeders’ Sales Company’s 2012 March Sale of Selected 2-Year-Olds in Training got off to a solid start for New York-breds in the first session on Tuesday, with seven of the eight colts and fillies offered changing hands for an average price of $92,857.

Trainer Todd Pletcher signed as agent for the top two New York lots, both bred by Eaton & Thorne, Inc. and foaled at Thorndale Farm in Millbrook. The top Empire-bred, a colt by Ready’s Image (Hip 91[2]), went for $220,000.  Purchased as a yearling at the Fasig-Tipton New York Preferred sale in Saratoga for $150,000 by Nick de Meric (agent), the colt is out of an unraced daughter of Storm Creek, Queen of Valentine, who has produced two winners and is a half-sister to multiple Grade 3-winner and Grade 1-performer Feline Story (Tale of the Cat).

The Ready’s Image colt is one of fourteen horses who worked eighths in: 10 flat at the first session of the OBS March Under Tack Show last Thursday. Consignor Nick de Meric said before the sale, “He’s a crackerjack looking colt. He’s a super individual.”

Todd Pletcher also paid $150,000 for Hip 18[3], a chestnut filly from the first crop of New York Freshman Sire Bustin Stones[4]. Her unraced dam Land on Your Feet has produced three winners and is a half sister to stakes-winner Reflect the Music (A.P. Indy).

This filly, too, sold last summer at the Fasig-Tipton New York-bred sale in Saratoga, going to Inlander Stable for $87,000. Consignor Niall Brennan of Niall Brennan Stables (agent) said, “She’s a New York-bred by a New York stallion, so obviously that gives her tremendous added value. She’s a popular filly, and she can run. She’s a real two-year-old.”

The filly’s sire Bustin Stones, who stands at Waldorf Farm[5] in North Chatham, was a Grade 1-winning sprinter who went unbeaten in six starts and retired with $480,150. Winner of the 2008 editions of the Grade 1 Carter Handicap and Grade 2 General George Handicap, Bustin Stones was voted 2008 New York Champion Male Sprinter.

Finally, a Kentucky-bred son of Vinery New York[6]’s Bluegrass Cat (Hip 44[7]) hit a home run in Session 1. He was purchased by Bob Baffert (agent) as his “pick of the day” for $300,000 as the seventh highest priced 2-year-old in the session.

Source URL: https://www.nytbreeders.org/news/2012/03/14/session-1-obs-march-2012/

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