OXO Equine Lands $1.5M Into Mischief Filly

When Larry Best made his foray into the Thoroughbred business, one of his first big acquisitions was a $1.05 million son of Arch from Tom McCrocklin's consignment at the Ocala Breeders' Sales March 2-Year-Olds in Training Sale.

That colt—named Instilled Regard—won a grade 3 stakes and placed in two grade 1 events for Best's OXO Equine, so it was not surprising that the owner returned to the source of his success March 27, purchasing an Into Mischief  filly consigned by McCrocklin for $1.5 million during The Gulfstream Sale, Fasig-Tipton's selected 2-year-olds in training sale.

Offered as Hip 139, the filly was bred in Kentucky by Breffni Farm and is out of the Empire Maker  mare Specification, a half sister to grade 1 winner and sire Skimming. She was purchased for $450,000 by McCrocklin from Woods Edge Farm's consignment to the Keeneland September Yearling Sale. 

"We sold Instilled Regard to Mr. Best and he came back, so we're appreciative of that," McCrocklin said. "She's a lovely filly, very classy, and she vetted clean. She's by a wildly popular stallion. It was the perfect storm. I thought she would bring seven figures, but it was a classic deal where all the major players were on her."

The price paid by Best was the co-second-highest price for a filly at the Florida sale and tied for the most expensive filly sold at the auction since it moved to Gulfstream Park five years ago.

Best, who campaigns Instagrand, a grade 2-winning son of Into Mischief for whom he paid $1.2 million last year, said the stallion was not a major factor in his purchase of the filly but that she sold herself on her own merits. The filly worked a quarter-mile in :20 3/5 during the under tack show March 25. 

"I was looking for a filly, and I obviously like the family," he said. "Instagrand had nothing do with it. It could have been a Quality Road  filly. She looked the part and had a strong breeze. That it's an Into Mischief makes me happy because I think the Into Mischief sire line have strong hearts. There was nice scope to the filly."

Best said he was disappointed that some 60% of the horses on his shopping list did not pass muster with presale veterinary exams.

"I just didn't have very good luck," he said. "I'm disappointed from that standpoint, but I think Fasig-Tipton did a good job with the sale."