Clear Creek Stud Hopes Louisiana-Breds Have Appeal

When consignor Val Murrell sends yearlings to the Ocala Breeders' Sales October Sale from his Louisiana base, he is selective because he knows shoppers at the auction that takes place Oct. 13-14 in north central Florida have a good eye and healthy appreciation for prospective athletes.

"When you go that far, you take the nicer ones because those people respect that," said Murrell, the general manager of Clear Creek Stud near Folsom, La., that has a handful of Louisiana-breds cataloged for the auction. "They will give you what they're worth. I have some nice babies, physically and from a pedigree standpoint.

"I have a Lord Nelson  filly (Hip 110) out of a really nice mare (Harbor Princess, the dam of multiple stakes winner Tensas Harbor) for a client," Murrell continued, as he went through the Clear Creek lineup. "The Unified  colt (Hip 216) is a big, grand-looking kind of thing. I have a Cross Traffic  (Hip 492) out of Rebirth, a half sister to (multiple stakes winner) Mr. Sulu. I also have got a Yankee Gentleman (Hip 592) out of a nice mare (multiple stakes winner Wine Diva). I have a Flashback  colt (Hip 213) out of a graded stakes mare (Canadian grade 3 winner Acting Naughty) we like a lot. Then, I have a colt by Custom for Carlos  (Hip 193), a stallion who has done well down there for a number of people, that is a big, good-looking colt."

Despite the market uncertainty as a result of COVID-19's effect on attendance at sales and buyers' buying patterns, Murrell is optimistic there will be demand at the OBS sale, particularly on the part of pinhookers.

"We kind of look at pinhookers as being a big part of it because they make things work," he said. "Pinhookers make a tremendous difference. I like the timing of that market. Towards the end of the season, people haven't filled orders and maybe they've passed up on something they were expecting to get for a little cheaper (price) and they were waiting and waiting. The waiting time is over. You have to move or not have horses."

Murrell said the OBS sale's position within the yearling sales season, albeit shortened this year as a result of cancellations and rescheduling due to COVID-19, is also beneficial to the equine athletes.

"The horses have had more time to grow up, and people can go right to the reining pen without turning them out," he said. "They're a lot more mature."

Murrell said he believes the yearlings he is offering in his OBS consignment have the potential to be competitive in any jurisdiction but that buyers will also have the opportunity to compete in the state's lucrative rewards program for Louisiana-breds.

"The ones we are bringing to Florida, I think, will compete anywhere," he said. "A backup plan never hurts. In the event they aren't able to compete as well elsewhere, they can always gravitate here for the big money. Our purses are improving—they are talking about $45,000-$60,000 maiden special weight races at Fair Grounds (Race Course & Slots)—and the racetracks are all looking forward to big things. If it hadn't been for coronavirus that shook up the slot machines industry, it would have been even better."