Hoppel Scores First Million-Dollar 2-Year-Old at OBS

Consignor Jesse Hoppel sold his first seven-figure 2-year-old in training during the March 11 session of the Ocala Breeders' Sales March 2-Year-Olds in Training Sale when Donato Lanni, agent for Charles and Susan Chu's Baoma Corp., went to $1.05 million for Hip 299.

The big bay Mo Town   colt dazzled during the under-tack show with a quarter-mile breeze in :20 2/5, which was one-fifth of a second off the OBS track record.

"Exceeded. Period," said Jesse Hoppel on his expectations for Hip 299. "That was unreal. I grew up on the sales grounds, and it's unreal."

As the colt's price surged in the sales ring, Hoppel stood in humbled silence, the staggering numbers feeling more like a dream than reality. 

"I've had a lot of horses I thought were really good, but me and my dad (Pat Hoppel) sat there yesterday, and Dad sat there, and we looked at that horse, and he said, 'I don't think I ever brought a horse this good to the sale before.' And, I said, 'I know I haven't, Dad.' And, from my dad, that's a huge compliment."

Hoppel purchased the colt bred by William Lussky as a weanling for $40,000 at the 2024 Keeneland November Breeding Stock Sale. 

When asked what he liked about the colt when he bought him, he said, "It'd be easier if I just told you what I didn't like about him. That wouldn't be much conversation."

Hip 299 is out of the unraced Into Mischief   mare Reckon , who is a half sister to Japanese stakes winner Hug (Justify  ). Reckon's first three dams are all stakes performers. Her dam Fleet Bertie (Afleet Alex) is a stakes-placed winner and the daughter of grade 3 winner Whirlie Bertie, who is out of multiple graded stakes winner and stakes producer De Bertie.

"Beautiful, beautiful horse, breezed exceptional," Lanni said. "Came out of it really well. I think that's the toughest thing on these young horses, is just getting out of those breezes.

"He will go to Bob (Baffert) for Baoma Corp. They've been very lucky with him over the years, so we're glad we got him."

Lanni said he expected a hard-fought battle for the colt.

"I just knew that the good ones are bringing good money," Lanni said. "I'm happy we got him. 

"He's a big, beautiful, scopey horse. It looks like he'll get two turns. Very, very sound-looking. (He) worked really good, and a great (under-tack) time, great gallop out, and came back good and sound, so we're happy."