Phoenix Thoroughbreds to $825,000 for Bernardini Colt

A Bernardini  colt was purchased by Phoenix Thoroughbreds for $825,000 from King's Equine, agent, to spark the late portion of the Ocala Breeders' Sales March 2-Year-Olds in Training Sale opener March. 12.

The colt (Hip 240) was bred in Kentucky by Godolphin and Robert J. Costigan out of Canadian champion grass mare Inish Glora, a daughter of Regal Classic who is also the dam of multiple stakes winner Roan Inish and grade 3-placed gelding In Equality. She was bred back to Bernardini for 2019.

Scott and Evan Dilworth purchased the colt for $275,000 from Hunter Valley Farm's consignment to the Keeneland September Yearling Sale. He also sold as a weanling through Valkyre Stud's consignment to the Keeneland November Breeding Stock Sale where Andrew Williams Bloodstock paid $270,000.

"He's just a big, nice, scopey horse," Scott Dilworth said. "He just had a lot of definition to him, and we liked him a lot.

"I want to thank Raul (Reyes of King's Equine), he did a tremendous job of getting this colt ready. John Bassett helped me pick this colt out and I've got to give him some credit also. We just try to sell good horses."

"Scott picked him, and he did a very good job." said Reyes. "All I did was polish the apple. He did all the hard work."

The colt breezed an eighth-mile in :09 4/5 March 8 and will be sent to trainer Steve Asmussen, according to Tom Ludt of Phoenix Thoroughbreds.

"(He's) fast and beautiful, a good horse," Ludt said. "I know who I was bidding against, and I was bidding against the right guys. It's expensive right now, but he's a really good colt. Galloped out great, and that's what we're looking for. Now we've just got to get him to do a little bit longer distance.

"He's a beautiful horse, he's balanced, and he's just fast. Speed wins."

Phoenix also purchased Hip 64, a $240,000 son of Tiznow  consigned by Hoby and Layna Kight, and Hip 216, a $130,000 Kitten's Joy  colt consigned by Wavertree Stables. The latter will race for Phoenix Ladies Syndicate.

Looking ahead to Wednesday's action, Dilworth has a Race Day  filly out of the Awesome Again  mare Spirited Away, the dam of grade 2 winner Prospective , consigned as Hip 494 to sell through King's Equine. The filly was an $80,000 purchase by King's Equine from The July Sale, Fasig-Tipton's select yearling sale in Kentucky. He also owns part of Hip 549, a Medaglia d'Oro  colt out of the unraced Unaccounted For mare Unacloud, which King's Equine bought for $235,000 from Taylor Made Sales Agency's consignment to the Keeneland September Sale. He withdrew Hip 94, a Carpe Diem  filly out of the Tapit  mare Class With a K, and said she will likely be sold in Maryland.