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| Staff Writer |
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Gayle Van Leer signed the million-dollar ticket for a magnificent Tapit colt as the Ocala Breeder's Sales Spring 2-Year-Olds in Training Sale got underway with a blockbuster purchase on Tuesday.
The striking grey, catalogued as Hip 249, topped the first day of trading at a cool US$1 million and will race for a new partnership with potential West Coast connections.
Van Leer was smitten with the youngster from first sight, revealing: "He reminded me of an awful lot of Sandman, which I fell in love with. He's my Derby horse. He's such a smooth-moving horse, and he just caught my eye immediately during the under-tack show."
Consigned by Top Line Sales as agent, the million-dollar headliner was bred in Kentucky by Newtownanner Stud and is the 11th foal out of multiple Group One placed mare Palacio de Amor, making him a half-brother to multiple graded stakes-placed Threefiveindia and stakes winner Hero's Amor.
The colt caught the eye during the under-tack show, breezing an eighth of a mile in a sharp :10.
Torie Gladwell of Top Line Sales was beaming after the sale: "We didn't even train that horse. He was a ship-in; somebody else got that horse ready. They did a great job getting him ready and sending him to us. He was a star since the day we got him. I'm happy for Luis (Gavignano) (owner of Hip 249), really happy for Gayle. She was super excited to get that horse."
Gladwell added: "He's just a good-quality horse. He's almost a June baby, but he's so sound, and just smart for a Tapit that I think he's going to improve once you get him to the racetrack. Every day is just going to get better and better."
Case Clay Thoroughbred Management emerged as the day's leading buyer, securing three promising youngsters for a combined US$1,185,000.
Clay's haul included the session's second-highest priced lot at US$600,000 - Hip 246, a colt by Vekoma out of Paden Affair from the family of multiple graded stakes-winner and millionaire Crazy Beautiful. The speedster recorded a blistering quarter in :20 3/5 during the under tack show for consignor Thorostock.
Clay also snapped up a brace of fillies - Hip 24, by Yaupon out of multiple graded stakes-placed Lady Lumberjack from Niall Brennan Stables, and Hip 181, a Street Sense half-sister to stakes winner and multiple graded stakes-placed High Opinion, consigned by Hoppel.
The session's highest-priced filly sparked a US$900,000 bid from Donato Lanni, acting for Baoma - owners of leading Kentucky Oaks contender Tenma.
Hip 190, a daughter of Curlin out of the Into Mischief mare Motivated Seller, was consigned by De Meric Sales and will join Hall of Fame trainer Bob Baffert.
The sale marked the highlight for De Meric, who topped the consignors' standings with eight lots sold for US$2,257,000.
"I mean, for the most part, it (the market) felt pretty good for us," said Tristan de Meric. "We've got more nice horses to come, but I feel good about the opening day. It feels pretty good up here, I have to say."
Despite the headline-grabbing prices, day one figures showed a slight market correction. A total of 156 horses changed hands for US$19,962,000, including private sales, with ten horses reaching US$450,000 or more.
The average settled at US$127,146, with a median of US$60,000 - notably lower than last year's US$85,000. Forty-two horses failed to meet their reserve, resulting in an RNA rate of 21%.
Last year's corresponding session saw 159 horses sell for US$20,958,500, with an average of US$131,814 and the top lot being a US$775,000 filly by Caracaro.