Late Florida Horse Owner's Legacy Alive at OBS

The legacy of the late Florida horse owner Lawrence Hobson was very much alive during the June 14 final session of the Ocala Breeders' Sales June 2-Year-Olds in Training Sale as a Stay Thirsty  filly he bought for $1,500 sold for $160,000.

Offered by Hemingway Racing and Training Stables as Hip 869, the bay filly named Dontletsweetfoolya was bought by Emerald Sales, agent.

Out of the Catienus mare Stunning Electra, the filly's catalog page is sparse, with black type appearing next to the fourth dam, Palazada, who did not produce any stakes horses but is a half sister to Oak Leaf Stakes (G1) winner Astrious and two other stakes winners. But although the filly bred in Kentucky by BHMFR may lack a strong female family, she more than makes up for it with her talent.

"She was always a very athletic-looking filly," Michele Hemingway said. "Every step of the way she has done everything right. She is so smart. She is easy to train. We always knew she was special. She breezed an eighth-mile in :10, then galloped out :20 1/5, :32 2/5, and :46 for the half-mile. She worked well, she is correct, she moves well, she looked good on the end of a shank and vetted well."

Hobson bought the filly from Scott Mallory at the 2017 Keeneland November Breeding Stock Sale, one of the first purchases by Hobson and his wife, Lori Hurt, when they began buying weanlings with the intent of re-selling them as yearlings.

"Unfortunately right after they bought the horses, he was diagnosed with terminal cancer," Hemingway said of Hobson, who was introduced to her through Taylor Made Sales Agency. "So when he was diagnosed, I got involved with helping give them direction on what to do with the horses. We put a few in the fall yearling sales, and then Taylor Made and I said, 'Instead of selling them as yearlings we should sell them as 2-year-olds so they can show themselves for what they are.'"

Hobson died in October and Hurt, who operates a shipping business, is continuing with the horse business as a way of honoring her late husband.

"It was hard at first, wondering how she was going to do it," Hemingway said. "This whole year is about honoring Lawrence's memory. She owns the farm in Ocala they purchased together and I will help her with purchasing horses for the upcoming year."