Classic Empire's Half Brother Among OBS Hips to Watch

When Ocala Breeders' Sales begins its two-day 2-year-olds in training and horses of racing age sale June 13, a half brother to champion Classic Empire and two sons of Scat Daddy will be among the horses to watch.

This "short list," taken from a catalog of 767 horses, is based on breeding, workout times, and the price paid if the horse was previously sold.

Classic Empire's half brother, consigned by agent Randy Bradshaw as Hip 323, is a son of Concord Point who worked an eighth-mile in :10 3/5. Bred in Kentucky by Steven and Brandi Nicholson, he is out of the Cat Thief mare Sambuca Classica.

In addition to his Eclipse-winning sibling whose three grade 1 wins include the Sentient Jet Breeders' Cup Juvenile and Arkansas Derby, the colt is also a half brother to multiple stakes winners Anytime Magic and Uptown Twirl, the latter a 4-year-old filly who was sold at last year's Keeneland November breeding stock sale for $1.075 million.

One of the Scat Daddy colts, consigned as Hip 68 by Ciaran Dunne's Wavertree Stables as agent, not only sports a fine pedigree, but is also the highest-priced pinhook prospect remaining in the sale after withdrawals.

The colt, bred in Kentucky by William Duignan and Tranquility Investments, is out of a winning Smart Strike mare who is a full sister to grade 2 winner Bel Air Beauty (the dam of Canadian champion Stacked Deck). He was bought by agent Justin Casse on behalf of a partnership for $260,000 from Paramount Sales at the 2016 Keeneland September yearling sale. The colt breezed a quarter-mile in :21 1/5.

The other Scat Daddy son, Hip 33 from agent James Layden, is an Ontario-bred full brother to Canadian grade 2 winner Conquest Daddyo and a half brother to stakes winner Hangingbyathread. A $105,000 Keeneland September purchase, the colt breezed the sale's co-second-fastest time for a quarter-mile of :20 3/5. He went through the ring at OBS in March and was bought back on a final bid of $145,000.

Hip 216 from de Meric Sales, agent, is a filly by The Factor   bred in Florida by Lambholm. The bay half sister to Canadian stakes-placed Conquest Soprano worked a quarter-mile in :21, the co-second fastest of the day during her breeze show, and is making her first appearance in a sale.

A Smart Strike colt that is a half brother to Santa Anita Derby and FrontRunner Stakes (both G1) winner Gormley is consigned by Wavertree Stables as Hip 271. Bred in Kentucky by Castleton Lyons and Kilboy Estate, the colt descends from the female family of champion grass mare Estrapade and 1990 Horse of the Year Criminal Type. He was timed in :10 3/5 for an eighth-mile workout. Consigned to the Keeneland September sale, the colt was an RNA on a final bid of $70,000.

The sale in Ocala, Fla., begins at 10:30 a.m. (EDT) daily.