$750,000 Dust Up for Nyquist Filly on Day 2 at OBS

During the second session of the Ocala Breeders' March Sale of 2-Year-Olds in Training March 13, consignor Ciaran Dunne sent the Nyquist   filly, Hip 304, through the ring, watching the hammer fall at $850,000. However, the final price was in question before the chestnut could return to her stall.

"We thought the filly was sold for $850,000; I'm not sure what happened," Dunne confessed. "Unfortunately, you have to make game-time decisions. We couldn't sit around, so we decided to go ahead and sell her."

After much deliberation between Dunne, OBS, and the prospective buyers, the results showed agent Justin Casse was indeed the final bid at $750,000. Casse purchased the juvenile for a undisclosed client.

"I'm not entirely sure what happened, but it looked like maybe a bid was taken that was supposed to be lower than they were put in at; that was my take," Casse commented. "After the dust settled, we are happy to have the horse at that number."

Dunne and Paul Reddam's pinhooking partnership Red Wings purchased the filly out of High Heeled Girl for $250,000 off her breeder Stonehaven Steadings last September. A daughter of Malibu Moon, High Heeled Girl is out of grade 1-placed High Heeled Hope and is a half sibling to grade 3 winners Lady T N T  and Sweet Hope .

"I love the sire; he's doing extremely well," Casse said. "He's very fashionable, and she is a beautiful physical. She caught your eye just walking by, and what she did on the track was very special, putting in a good time and being an excellent mover. She jumped through all the hoops.

"She doesn't seem like the type that will need a lot of time and could probably go on; she looks like a promising 2-year-old."

Last week, she sped a furlong in :09 4/5 to be the co-fastest time achieved during the March 7 under tack show.

"She's by a stallion that, for us, is one of the top stallions in the country. They are great horses to train, and we have been fortunate enough to be around a few of them with our connection to Mr. Reddam," Dunne said. "Physically, she is as good a filly as you're going to get. She has great shape, hind leg, and she moved well. She did everything we wanted on the racetrack."

Reddam Racing campaigned 2015 champion 2-year-old male Nyquist to victories in the Best Pal Stakes (G2), Del Mar Futurity (G1), FrontRunner Stakes (G1), and Breeders' Cup Juvenile (G1) at 2. He returned the following year with trainer Doug O'Neill to capture the 2016 San Vicente Stakes (G2), Florida Derby (G1), and Kentucky Derby (G1).

The son of Uncle Mo   earned $5,189,200 in 11 starts with a record of 8-0-1 before taking to stud duty at Darley where he stands this year for $85,000.

Dunne added: "We probably will forget about the shenanigans by the time the check arrives."