The Essential Quality colt consigned as Hip 775 at the OBS Spring Sale
The fifth day of the under tack show for the Ocala Breeders' Sales Spring 2-Year-Olds in Training Sale saw a quartet of youngsters stand out as they each worked an eighth in :09 4/5 to tie for the fastest time at that distance April 10.
With temperatures in the mid-70s and light wind throughout, two colts and two fillies—all by young sires—shared the top time. Included in the group were:
Hip 741, a chestnut filly by Justify out of the Malibu Moon mare Aurora Point consigned by Top Line Sales. Aurora Point is a half sister to stakes winner and grade 1-placed Rattlesnake Bridge.
Hip 775, a chestnut colt consigned by Scanlon Training & Sales by Essential Quality out of the stakes-placed mare Be Sneaky, who is by Into Mischief. The colt is from the female family of graded stakes winners Red Ruby, Mo Tom, and Crupi.
Hip 788, a bay filly by Yaupon out of the stakes-winning Astrology mare Big Time consigned by Pick View. Big Time is out of multiple stakes winner Kitty's Got Class and is a half sister to multiple stakes winner and graded stakes-placed Classy John.
Hip 792, a bay colt by Maximus Mischief out of Bless You by Munnings consigned by Grassroots Training & Sales. The colt is from the female family of graded stakes winner Shes All Eltish.
David Scanlon of Scanlon Training & Sales said that while many of the Essential Quality offspring he has seen look like they would benefit from more time, the chestnut colt he prepped has been touting himself as a more mature type.
"(The time) wasn't surprising from that horse," Scanlon said. "We've just been really high on him all year. He looks like a real 2-year-old type. He's a real strong horse, big hip, big, gorgeous walk. He's just a beautiful athlete. He's a little stronger than some of the Essential Qualities. I think some of them have looked a little more like they're going to develop later, but he's much more mature.
"He's out of an Into Mischief mare and I can see a lot of Into Mischief in him."
A total of four horses worked a quarter in :20 3/5 to tie for the day's fastest time at that distance:
Hip 734, a bay colt by Honest Mischief out of the winning More Than Ready mare Ascent consigned by Wavertree Stables. Ascent is out of multiple stakes winner Angel Gift and is a half sister to graded stakes winner Easter Gift.
Hip 736, a dark bay or brown filly by Knicks Go out of As I Please by Majestic Warrior, consigned by Wavertree Stables. As I Please is out of the stakes-winning and graded stakes-placed mare French Kiss and is from the female family of multiple grade 1 winner On Fire Baby.
Hip 787, a chestnut colt by Vekoma out of the winning Big Drama mare Big Thrill consigned by Ocala Stud. Big Thrill, an OBS Spring sale grad, is a half sister to multiple stakes winner Determinato.
Hip 799, a bay filly by Bolt d'Oro out of Blue Kisses by Pulpit consigned by Wavertree Stables. Blue Kisses is out of dual stakes winner Bluegrass Sara .
The OBS Spring under tack show continues April 10 at 8 a.m. ET with hips 864-1035. The under tack show runs through April 12 with the sale itself taking place April 15-18 with sessions beginning at 10:30 a.m. ET each day.