OBS spring sale coincides with graduates’ Derby bids

The Ocala Breeders’ Sales Co. is relishing a return to normalcy this week with its flagship spring sale, which offers more 2-year-olds in training than any other auction in North America, back in its traditional April dates after the calendar was pushed asunder by the coronavirus pandemic in 2020. But OBS continued to do steady business last year through the challenges. Several 2020 graduates, now 3, are possible Kentucky Derby starters, led by Medina Spirit, who will attempt to give Hall of Fame trainer Bob Baffert a record seventh victory.

“The OBS 2-year-old sales have long been a source of quality horses that compete at the highest levels of the sport,” company president Tom Ventura said. “We are proud to see the current crop of 3-year-olds continue that success with Medina Spirit, Brooklyn Strong, Candy Man Rocket, Dream Shake, and Get Her Number performing with the best of their class. Overseas, Mouheeb won the UAE 2000 Guineas and Panadol ran a strong second in the UAE Derby.”

Medina Spirit, a Protonico colt bred in Florida by Gail Rice, was a $1,000 short yearling at the 2019 OBS winter mixed sale, purchased by Christy Whitman. He was later consigned to the 2020 OBS open sale of 2-year-olds and horses of racing age, which is typically held in June but was pushed to July last year. He was a relative bargain at $35,000 for Zedan Racing Stables.

“With all the uncertainty in the world during the last 2-year-old season, buyers had an opportunity to add quality horses to their stable at reasonable prices,” Ventura said. “The market is more stable at this point, with most racetracks running regular schedules with an increase in purses. Owners will not only be able to reap the rewards of higher purses but more importantly be able to visit the racetracks to watch their horses train and race.”

Two other potential Derby entrants are graduates of the OBS spring sale of June 2020. Both sold for five-figure prices in that buyers’ market. Dream Shake, still under Derby consideration, was a $75,000 purchase. Get Her Number, a Grade 1 winner as a juvenile who is 21st on the Derby points list, was a $45,000 purchase.

Derby first-crop sires

Tampa Bay Derby winner Helium, from a sireline with proven classic success, is among the 3-year-olds looking to give their first-crop sires a major boost in this Kentucky Derby.

Helium is from the first crop of Claiborne Farm stallion Ironicus, a millionaire who won three graded stakes on turf. Ironicus is by Distorted Humor, represented by a dual classic winner from his own first crop when Funny Cide won the 2003 Kentucky Derby and Preakness Stakes before finishing third in the Belmont Stakes in his Triple Crown bid. Distorted Humor, who stands at WinStar Farm, later added a Belmont winner to his résumé when Drosselmeyer took the 2010 edition. Distorted Humor also is the grandsire of a classic winner via his son Flower Alley, who, in his second crop, turned out 2012 Derby and Preakness winner I’ll Have Another.

Along with Ironicus, the other first-crop stallions expected to be represented in the Derby are Protonico, sire of

Medina Spirit, and Mshawish, sire of Sainthood. Protonico stands at Castleton Lyons, moving to that location in 2019 after several moves in his short career. The four-time graded stakes-winning son of Giant’s Causeway entered stud in 2017 at Taylor Made Farm before relocating to Darby Dan in 2018, and then Castleton Lyons. The versatile Grade 1 winner Mshawish continues to stand at Taylor Made. Mshawish finished the highest of these three of the 2020 freshman earnings list, at 13th. Ironicus was 34th, and Protonico 43rd.

Since the turn of this century, five Kentucky Derby winners have emerged from the first crop of their respective sires. Following Funny Cide, by Distorted Humor, in 2003 came Street Sense, from the first crop of Street Cry, in 2007. Birdstone was represented not only by 2009 Derby winner Mine That Bird, but also Belmont winner Summer Bird in his first crop. Most recently, Nyquist captured the 2016 Derby for Uncle Mo, and 2017 hero Always Dreaming was from the first crop of Bodemeister.

Travel Column, who will vie for favoritism in the Kentucky Oaks, is from the first crop of Frosted, who stands for Darley. Fellow race candidate Ava’s Grace is by Laoban, who, after a stellar start at stud for Sequel Stallions in New York, moved to WinStar for 2021. Keepmeinmind, 24th on the current points list for the Derby, also is by Laoban.

OTTBs at Kentucky three-day

A number of Thoroughbred ex-racehorses are set to contest North America’s most prestigious three-day event, the Land Rover Kentucky CCI five-star, beginning Thursday at the Kentucky Horse Park in

Lexington. The Kentucky fivestar is returning in 2021 after being canceled in 2020 due to the coronavirus pandemic. With the pandemic ongoing, this year’s event is closed to spectators under United States Equestrian Federation rules.

As of Monday, 10 Thoroughbreds were set to compete at the event, consisting of dressage, cross country, and stadium jumping phases. Seven of those made at least one start, and four were winners. The most successful on the track was Steady Eddie, who won 7 of 36 starts while racing as Big Jet in his native New Zealand. Steady Eddie began his eventing career with Olympian Boyd Martin before longtime assistant Michael Pendleton took over the ride. This will be Pendleton’s top-level debut.

The other winners on the track were AP Prime, an Aptitude gelding who won twice from 31 starts, with Leah Lang-Gluscic; More Inspiration, who took 4 of 28 starts, with Holly Jacks-Smither of Canada; and Palm Crescent, a maiden-winning Quiet American gelding under Meghan O’Donoghue.

French-bred former steeplechaser Tight Lines, with longtime partner Will Coleman, was the highest-placed Thoroughbred at Kentucky’s most recent renewal, finishing 13th in 2019. The other Thoroughbreds set to compete this year are the unraced Business Ben with Allison Springer; unraced Ceceila, under Daniela Moguel of Mexico; the unraced Jak My Style with veteran international competitor Buck Davidson, recently named to the board of directors of the Retired Racehorse Project; and Johnny Royale, who raced under the name Chivas Royale in New Zealand, with fellow countryman Joe Meyer.