The environment within the pavilion turned electrical because the extremely anticipated Flightline colt (Hip 1056) made his entrance into the ring through the April 17 finale of the Ocala Breeders’ Gross sales Spring 2 year-olds in coaching sale. Following every week of relentless buzz, the opening bid shattered expectations, beginning the ground at a cool $1 million.
A spirited bidding battle ensued, however Donato Lanni, bidding on behalf of Zedan Racing Steady, prevailed with a profitable bid of $10.5 million, shattering the earlier file for a juvenile at OBS. Grade 1 winner Brant, who was additionally purchased by Zedan throughout final yr’s OBS March 2-year-olds in coaching sale for $3 million, had held the earlier file.
Hip 1056, consigned by Hartley/DeRenzo Thoroughbreds, is the second-highest-priced 2-year-old ever bought in North America.
“Bob [Baffert] cherished him. The primary time he noticed him, he cherished him,” Lanni mentioned. “And clearly, Amr [Zedan], he’s robust. He’s robust to outbid. He’s an emotional man. He’s nice for the game. He loves the racing. His enthusiasm is unbelievable.”
Lanni mentioned he anticipated the competitors to be fierce, however had no concept the worth would go that top.
Hip 1056 breezed an attention grabbing furlong in :09 3/5 through the under-tack present for consignors Hartley/DeRenzo Thoroughbreds.
“When he labored, all people bought on that rail and watched. He delivered,” Lanni mentioned. “He did all the things you requested him and plus. Bob mentioned the one different horse that [Hip 1056] reminded him of was Unbridled’s Track on the 2-year-old in coaching sale when he went to Barretts.”
From the primary crop of 2022 Horse of the 12 months and Lane’s Finish stallion Flightline, the colt was bred in Kentucky by Edward and Beverly Seltzer and W.S. Farish. Hip 1056 is out of the graded stakes-placed, stakes-winning Into Mischief mare Lucrezia. He was bought as a weanling for $575,000 by Basic Equine on the 2024 Keeneland November breeding inventory sale.
“[Flightline] is likely one of the biggest racehorses of all time,” Lanni mentioned. “And, he’s out of an Into Mischief mare. This horse seems to be quick, and he seems to be like he’ll carry his endurance like Flightline.”
Randy Hartley and Dean DeRenzo’s Hartley/DeRenzo Thoroughbreds now maintain the file for the highest-priced colt and filly ever bought at an OBS 2-year-old sale. Earlier within the week, they bought a filly (Hip 570) by Jackie’s Warrior for $2.3 million to Dermot Farrington.
“Superb horse,” Randy Hartley mentioned. “We not often see these sorts of horses come via the 2-year-old gross sales. [We] thank Tom Durant a lot, and his farm, and Jack Bruner, who runs the ranch out in Texas, for believing in us, that we may do that with these form of caliber horses.”
Hartley mentioned the colt by no means missed a beat, breezing after which displaying with the utmost class all week.
“Once you’re round him for 5 seconds, you may simply see that he breathes a distinct air than different horses,” Hartley mentioned.
Hartley and DeRenzo have been consigning 2-year-olds since 1992. A few of their prime success tales embrace the 2025 champion feminine sprinter Shisospicy and a number of Grade 1 winner Taiba.
“It’s arduous to remain at that stage,” Hartley mentioned. “There are such a lot of good horsemen out right here, they usually’re all making an attempt to purchase the identical horses.”
Hartley mentioned they’re continuously evaluating their program, making adjustments as mandatory.
“I even switched breeze riders for this sale,” he defined. “I simply felt like I wanted one thing completely different. I discovered this younger child named Adrian Martinez. He doesn’t get on loads of horses, however I noticed one thing in him. He’s the smoothest rider I’ve ever seen on a horse. It simply felt proper.”
