Quality Road Colt Breezes Co-Fastest Eighth at OBS June

Speed was the order of the day June 6, during the fifth and final under tack preview in advance of the Ocala Breeders' Sales June Sale of 2-Year-Olds in Training and Horses of Racing Age, which takes place June 9-11 in Ocala, Fla.

Hip 856, a colt by Quality Road   consigned by McKathan Bros., agent, drilled the fastest eighth-mile of the session and co-fastest of the sale, stopping the timer in a lively :09 4/5, while a trio of youngsters—Hips 816, 827, and 835—breezed the fastest quarter-mile of the day in :20 4/5.

The colt by Quality Road is out of the stakes-placed Congrats   mare Tulira's Star , a half sister to grade 3 stakes winner Mountain General and stakes winner Tulira Castle . Bred in Kentucky by Fred Hertrich III and John Fielding, the colt went through the ring at last year's Keeneland September Yearling Sale where he was a $100,000 RNA for Taylor Made Sales Agency, agent for Hertich's Watercress Farm. The colt was entered in the OBS Spring Sale in April but was withdrawn after spiking a fever.

"We've had the colt all year long for Fred (Hertrich)," said Chris McKathan. "We actually had him in the April sale (OBS Spring Sale), but he spiked a temperature. We knew he was a good horse, so we ended up scratching him from that sale and coming here.

"He has always been fast," McKathan added. "We've known that about him all along. We were very pleased with what he did today (in his breeze), and he vetted good, so we should have a good sale with him. Everything went great with the breeze. He galloped out in :33 and change, and being by Quality Road, that should put him on the big boy list. Fred has been a longtime customer of ours, so it is good to finish up the year strong for him."

Among the bullet workers at a quarter-mile was Hip 816, a Quality Road colt consigned by de Meric Sales, agent. Bred in Florida by Bridlewood Farm, the colt has every right to be precocious. He is produced from the stakes-winning Scat Daddy mare Surfside Tiara  and hails from the family of 2-year-old champions and grade 1 winners Flanders  and Air Force Blue  . Offered by de Meric Sales to The Gulfstream Sale, Fasig-Tipton's selected 2-year-olds in training sale at Gulfstream Park in March, the colt was a $400,000 RNA.

Top Line Sales sent out Hip 827 who also breezed a co-bullet quarter-mile. The bay colt by Distorted Humor   is out of the stakes-placed Dixieland Band mare Tally Ho Dixie , making him a half brother to stakes winner and graded stakes-placed Kyriaki . Under the colt's third dam are grade 1 winners Stellar Jayne , Starrer , and Star Billing .

Bred in Kentucky by Copper Penny Stables, the colt previously sold for $80,000 to Phantom Bloodstock from the consignment of Brookdale Sales, agent for Copper Penny Stables, at the 2020 Keeneland January Horses of All Ages Sale. He was a $95,000 RNA for Top Line Sales at The Gulfstream Sale this year.

Rounding out Sunday's co-bullet juveniles at a quarter-mile was Hip 835, a colt by Practical Joke   from the Wavertree Stables consignment. Bred in Kentucky by Springhouse Farm and Circular Rd Breeders, the dark bay or brown colt is produced from the winning Grand Slam mare Tessie Flip, a half sister to multiple grade 1 winner and millionaire Switch  and stakes winner Keystone Gulch . The colt, a half brother to stakes winner Jo Jo Air , was previously purchased by Superfine Farms for $225,000 at last year's Keeneland September sale where he was consigned by Paramount Sales.

Prince Otto (Hip 867), a 3-year-old son of Orb  , clocked the fastest three furlongs of the session, getting the distance in :33 3/5 for consignor Blazing Meadows Farm, agent. The unraced colt is produced from the graded stakes-winning Saint Liam mare Liam's Dream  and is a half brother to multiple grade 2 stakes-placed Local Hero . This is also the family of Distorted Humor. The colt was bred in Kentucky by Three Chimneys Farm.

The three-day OBS June Sale kicks off June 9 with Hips 1-316 slated to go through the ring. Hips 317-632 sell June 10 with Hips 633-874, plus supplemental entries 875-927, selling June 11. All sessions begin at 10:30 a.m. ET.