Baffert, Shirreffs Excited About Clients' OBS Purchases

Santa Anita Park will soon be receiving some high-priced horseflesh following this week's conclusion of the three-day Ocala Breeders' Sales March 2-Year-Olds in Training Sale in Ocala.

The sale-topper was a colt by Good Magic   out of the winning Uncle Mo   mare Hoppa , who commanded a final bid of $2 million March 21. Agent Donato Lanni signed the ticket for the bay on behalf of owner Amr Zedan. He will be sent to trainer Bob Baffert.

Baffert, who was on hand for the sale, was back at Santa Anita March 23.

"It was good to see some trainers from California there buying horses, that was important," Baffert said. "I'm not sure how many horses in all will be coming back here, probably not as many as there were in years past, but it was crucial to see owners and trainers there buying horses."

Also making a splash at the sale was Southern California-based owners Lee and Susan Searing, who race as C R K Stable. Bidding as Parks Investment, the Searings purchased three fillies for a total of $1.65 million. With trainer John Shirreffs at their side, the Searing's priciest buy was a $950,000 daughter of Arrogate  out of Heart of Paradise , a graded stakes-placed winner by More Than Ready .

"She was a very good-looking filly, all rangy, great conformation," Shirreffs said March 24. "She breezed really well at the show. Just a filly that presented herself really well all the way around."

The Searings also paid $375,000 for a filly by Union Rags   out of the Malibu Moon  mare and grade 3 winner Winding Way . She is a half sister to the Shirreffs-trained Skinner , who is pointed to the April 8 Santa Anita Derby (G1) after showing in the San Felipe Stakes (G2). The Searing's third buy was a filly by Curlin   out of the Cee's Tizzy  mare Tiz o' Gold , making the juvenile a half sister to $2 million-earner Bravazo  .

"I think Mr. Searing is always wanting to improve his broodmare band," Shirreffs said of the focus on fillies.

As for Zedan's sale topper, he was one of just two juveniles at the under-tack show to breeze a furlong in :09 3/5, the fastest time recorded.

"His breeze was phenomenal," Baffert said. "He handled it well, came out of it well, and looked really healthy. That's the key. It's like the NFL Combine."

Shirreffs said the three Searing fillies are slated to arrive at Santa Anita "within the next week." He expects they should be ready to race sooner rather than later.

"It looks like it. They have a great foundation having already worked a few times for the sale," Shirreffs said. "Hopefully everything goes well and they come along."

Baffert indicated it could be a bit longer before the sale topper makes the races. 

"Some that we bought there we'll back off a little, give them 30 days at the farm," Baffert said. "Some we'll go on with. But there were a few we think will be better as they get older. We'll just them out here and see how they go."

The first 2-year-old races of the year in Southern California are slated for the weekend of April 28-30 at Santa Anita. The volume of 2-year-olds ready for racing usually increases during the summer months at Del Mar.