Son of Gun Runner Sells for Record $3 Million to Lead 2025 OBS March Sale

For Immediate Release

Consignor Eddie Woods stood in the back ring March 13, trying his best to articulate the thoughts whipping through his mind in the moments after selling the colt who had just carved out a piece of history on the OBS grounds.

While the sentences were halted by the rising emotion catching in his throat, they also spoke volumes about what the man who has been a fixture in Ocala for more than three decades had just achieved in what is slated to be his penultimate outing under his banner.

Woods, who is planning to offer his final consignment at the OBS April sale next month, made sure to lock down his place in the company’s annals during the third and final day of selling at the 2025 OBS March Two-Year-Olds in Training Sale. Hip 654, a gray or roan colt by Gun Runner from Woods’ consignment who had been one of the most popular members on the sale grounds, justified his hype when he sold for an all-time OBS record $3 million to Donato Lanni, Agent for Zedan Racing.

The colt, who is the first foal out of the Liam’s Map mare Tynan, a half-sister to graded stakes winners Pappacap and Boppy O, first turned heads when he breezed an eighth in :9 3/5 during the under-tack show, tying for the fastest time at the distance.

After opening with a bid of $200,000, the steel-colored youngster – who is a three-quarter sibling to Pappacap – proceeded to blow past the previous record price for a horse sold at OBS: $2.45 million paid by agent John Moynihan on behalf of Coolmore Stud interests for a Tiznow colt at the 2017 April Two-Year-Olds in Training sale.

“I mean he wasn’t a secret. He’s a pretty cool horse and everyone loved him,” Lanni said after signing the ticket. “Just very lucky to get him for (owner) Amr Zedan. We always come here to look for nice horses and he was nice horse.

“He (Zedan) is pretty excited, and Gun Runner is a tremendous stallion. This colt worked really well, he galloped out good, he did everything you’d want one to do. Just excited about him.”

For Woods, the milestone achievement allowed him a moment of reflection as he prepares for his swansong at the OBS April Sale of Two-Year-Olds in Training auction, which runs from April 15-18 with the under-tack show taking place April 6-12.

“It’s like winning the Olympics,” an emotional Woods said. “My God, the only way to go out is on top. That’s the only way. It’s been 31 years in April that we started selling here. We’ve done well here. We’ve made a lot of money here; we’ve lost a lot of money here. It’s just the way it is.

“The three million I couldn’t see coming,” Woods continued. “I mean, there hasn’t been a 2-year-old selling for $3 million in a long time. He’s just a special horse and that’s what it takes to get that thing done. Now I hope he’s lucky for them.”

The record-setting Gun Runner colt was one of four horses that cracked seven figures on the day to close out a solid edition of the OBS March Sale, which posted gains in gross and average compared to the 2024 exercise. Overall, a total of seven horses sold for seven-figures or more during the three-day auction, the most ever for an OBS March sale.

“I thought it was a great sale, it was a fun three days,” said OBS Director of Sales Tod Wojciechowski. “The quality of horses showed through in the prices. Really from the day after the under-tack show when most of the people were getting here to look at horses, there was a ton of activity on the grounds. You could really feel the juice in the air.

“Eddie (Woods) has been a big part of OBS for a number of years now…and he’s been instrumental in the growth and evolution of the 2-year-old sales,” Wojciechowski continued. “It was very gratifying to see him go out like that.”

The day’s second highest priced horse and second highest price of the sale came when Hip 721, a bay filly by freshmen sire Maxfield consigned by de Meric Sales, Agent, sold to Marquee Bloodstock, Agent for $1.25 million. The filly, who breezed in :9 4/5, is out of All in With Aces by Quiet American, and is a half-sister to Grade 1 winner Hard Aces and multiple stakes winner Astrollinthepark. 

“Her work was pretty outstanding, not just in the time but the way that she did it,” said Ramiro Restrepo of Marquee Bloodstock. “She was a very talented filly. When you went back there to see her, she was just showing herself with a ton of class. Obviously, there were a lot of people on her. This filly comes from Carrie Brogden (of Machmer Hall) and they’ve produced so many Grade 1 horses on their farm. And Maxfield is a very exciting horse.”

Added Tristan de Meric, “You never expect that much. We knew that everyone was there that could get her over that million-dollar mark but when it does happen you have to really be thankful because they don’t come around like her a lot.”

Hip 636, a bay filly by Quality Road consigned by Wavertree Stables, Inc. (Ciaran Dunne), Agent was the first to hit seven-figures during Thursday’s session when she sold to AMO Racing USA LLC for $1.05 million. The filly, who breezed in :9 4/5, is out of the multiple stakes winning and Grade 1 placed Congrats mare Toasting, who is an OBS March graduate.

“AMO is looking for high end fillies that can go two turns on the dirt…and this filly fit the mold,” said Ben McElroy, who signed the ticket on behalf of AMO Racing. “She breezed very well, she’s by a top sire of fillies. She’s been on our hit list right from the get-go. We’ll take her back, assess her and make a decision on a trainer. She’s not a filly that is going to be running super early, so we have time.”

The final seven-figure offering of the sale came when Hip 725, a bay colt by Nyquist consigned by Scanlon Training & Sales, Agent, sold for $1 million to Shannon Potter on behalf of Epic Horses LLC.  The colt, who breezed in :10 flat, is out of Alottalute, an OBS graduate by OBS March graduate Midnight Lute, and is a half-brother to stakes winners Street Lute and Alottahope.

“He was just a great mover on the track, and I really liked him physically,” Potter said. “He’s just what (Epic Horses) is looking for as far as trying to buy a few decent colts. He’ll go to (trainer) Todd (Pletcher). He ticked all our boxes. We thought he was going to be expensive…but we’re tickled to death to have him.”

The other million-dollar horses sold during the March sale included Hip 486, a Good Magic filly consigned by Top Line Sales who sold to Kimmel and Sallusto on behalf of Flanagan Racing for $1.1 million on Wednesday, Hip 404, a bay colt by Independence Hall consigned by Woods who sold to JPM Bloodstock for $1 million, and Hip 119, a bay colt by freshman sire Maxfield consigned by Wavertree that brought $1 million from Japan-based trainer Mitsu Nakauchida.

READ MORE: Daughter of Good Magic Sells for $1.1M to Lead Day 2 of OBS March

Son of Maxfield Brings $1 Million to Top Opening Day of OBS March

Other top prices Thursday included:

Hip 798, a bay colt by OBS graduate Yaupon consigned by Pick View LLC, Agent and purchased by Spendthrift, West Point, Schurman, and CJ Stables for $875,000. The colt, who breezed in :20 3/5, is out of the Bluegrass Cat mare Blue Grass Mary, a half sister to graded stakes winner Sharp Impact.

Hip 765, a chestnut filly by Gun Runner consigned by Pick View LLC, Agent and purchased by Case Clay Thoroughbred Management for $750,000. The filly, who breezed in :21 1/5, is out of the Graydar mare Baffling, a half sister to Grade 1 winner and sire Constitution.

Hip 687, a dark bay or brown colt by Maclean’s Music consigned by Paul Sharp Agent and purchased by Legion Bloodstock, Agent for Icon Racing for $575,000. The colt, who breezed in :10 flat, is out the winning mare Wild at Midnight, a daughter of OBS March graduate Midnight Lute, who is a full sister to graded stakes winner Wild Bout Hilary.

Hip 718, a bay colt by Uncle Mo consigned by Top Line Sales LLC, Agent and purchased for $525,000 by Jones/Everett, Agent. The colt, who breezed in :10 1/5, is out of the winning, stakes-placed Bernardini mare Alberobello, a full sister to Grade 1 winner A Z Warrior.

For the first time, the OBS March Sale offered a new entry option of “Gallop Only” where sellers could enter their horses with the designation on the catalog page. Two of the top selling horses who galloped only included:

•  Hip 224, I Did I Did, a bay colt by Curlin out of the winning stakes placed Bluegrass Cat mare Ithinkisawapudycat. The colt is a half-brother to Grade 1 winner Sweet Loretta and sold to trainer Mike Maker for $300,000
• Hip 661, a chestnut colt by Munnings out of winning, stakes-placed Tapit mare Ursula who sold to D. J. Stable LLC & Robert Cotran for $210,000.

Both colts were consigned by Niall Brennan Stables, Agent, for Mt. Brilliant Farm.

Thursday’s session generated gross receipts of $25,316,500 from 152 sold, well ahead of last year’s third session that posted a gross of $19,404,100 from 131 sold. The session average of $166,556 was up from $148,123 while the median dipped from $75,000 in 2024 to $63,500 this year. The RNA rate for the session came in at 15.6% as 28 horses failed to meet their reserve. The RNA rate for the session was 26.4% in 2024

The OBS March Sale concluded with strong overall figures. The total gross of $65,815,500 from 432 sold surpassed the 2024 tally of $65,239,100 generated by 454 sold. The total average of $152,351 was up from $143,698 last year while the median of $70,000 was down slightly compared to $72,000 in 2024. The overall RNA was 17.6% as 92 horses failed to meet their reserve. The overall RNA rate in 2024 was 23.9%.

“It felt like it was going to be a great sale, and it came to pass,” said Wojciechowski. “There was strength all the way through, a number of the gallop-only horses sold well. Very happy with the international trade as well. It felt like it was strong throughout the whole three days.”

Top Line Sales led all consignors with 22 head sold for $6,954,000. Woods finished as the second-leading consignor with 19 sold for $6,448,500.

Lanni’s purchased of the sale-topping colt on behalf of Zedan made him the leading buyer by gross.

Full results can be found at obssales.com.