Wavertree's OBS Success Continues at Final Session

Ciaran Dunne's Wavertree Stables stayed on a roll at the Ocala Breeders' Sales Spring Sale of 2-Year-Olds in Training, with a Candy Ride  colt bringing a bid of $975,000 from agent Steven W. Young during the April 26 finale.

The colt cataloged as Hip 1066 was bred in Kentucky by Tom Mara's White Hall Lane Farm. Citizen Advocate, a daughter of Proud Citizen who produced the colt, was claimed by Mara for $40,000 and went on to win three stakes and earn $327,450. Citizen Advocate's half sister Come a Callin produced champion Caledonia Road, and the colt's female family includes grade 1 winners Hymn Book and Data Link.

"I think he's very special," said Young, adding the Candy Ride colt will be sent to Todd Pletcher to be trained on behalf of an owner he declined to name. "We hoped we'd get him for less, but that's what these horses cost. I think this is a proper horse, and if we're right he could end up in a stallion barn."

Young said the colt "did everything but come off the ground" during his eighth-mile presale workout in :10.

Dunne said Mara usually races the horses he breeds but decided to send the colt to auction because "it's hard to turn down what (buyers) are willing to give" for such a quality individual.

"He was one of my original clients and been with us through thick and thin," Dunne said.

The consignor said his April sale success makes up for his less-than-successful OBS March 2-Year-Olds in Training Sale. During Thursday's OBS session, a Liam's Map  colt from Wavertree was purchased by Robert and Lawana Low for $1.2 million.

"We felt we had a really strong group coming in," Dunne said. "We kind of took our lumps in March by saving all these colts. It was a little hard being here in March and watching everybody else having a good sale and we didn't have the right stuff. But it worked out. Giving them a little bit of extra time helped, and they've been well received."