Claiborne Farm stallions Orb, Flatter, War Front and Data Link were among the top stars of the show during the Ocala Breeders’ Sale Co.’s March sale of 2-year-olds March 14-15.
Kentucky Derby winner and promising freshman sire Orb shone brightest of all when his juvenile son fetched $1.25 million to top the first session of the sale.
Consigned by Crupi’s New Castle Farm as Hip 127, he was bought by Solis/Litt on behalf of LNJ Foxwoods and partners Nancy Favreau and Kathy Psoinos. The Orb colt impressed during the sale’s under tack show when he covered one-eighth of a mile in :10 flat. He was produced from the unraced Forest Wildcat mare Remember, who is a half-sister to G1 winner Dancing Forever.
All five of the Orb offspring that sold during the two-day auction brought either six or seven figures, including Hip 677, who was bought for $600,000 by trainer Todd Pletcher, agent. Consigned by de Meric Sales, agent, he is out of the winning Johannesburg mare Lynette, who is a daughter of multiple G1 winner Strategic Maneuver.
Orb has dominated the commercial sales scene much like he did the Kentucky Derby. The #1 Freshman Sire of both weanlings and yearlings, Orb is now the leading sales sire of first-crop juveniles. So far in 2017, seven Orb 2-year-olds have been sold for an average of $260,000. He stands at Claiborne Farm for $25,000.
All four of the Flatter offspring that were sold at the OBS March sale also brought six figures, including Hip 340, a $600,000 chestnut colt out of the Southern Halo mare Another Moochie; and Hip 81, a $410,000 gray or roan filly out of the stakes-winning Sky Classic mare Penny Marie.
The latter filly turned in one of the four fastest works at the 1/8-mile distance at the opening session of the Under Tack Show when she stopped the timer in a swift :9 4/5. Consigned by de Meric Sales, agent, she was bought by Dennis O’Neill. Five Flatter 2-year-olds have been sold so far this year for an average of $275,000. He stands for $35,000 at Claiborne.
War Front, the world’s #1 sire of 2-year-old stakes winners last year, was also represented well at the OBS March sale. Hip 126, a bay colt out of the Coronado’s Quest mare Rehear, fetched $595,000 from Carolyn Wilson. Consigned by Eddie Woods, agent, he is a half-brother to three stakes winners.
Eclipse Thoroughbred Partners bought hip 142, a bay colt named Hazit, for $430,000. Consigned by Harris Training Center, agent, he is out of G3 winner Rumor (by Indian Charlie) and hails from the female family of G1 winner Dixie Chatter and champion juvenile filly Phone Chatter. War Front stands at Claiborne for $250,000.
First-crop sire Data Link additionally made out well with two offspring selling for six figures: Hip 60, a $185,000 bay colt out of the Pulpit mare Nippy; and Hip 347, a $120,000 chestnut colt out of the Arch mare Arch Enemy.
Data Link, a grade I-winning son of War Front, stands for $7,500 at Claiborne.