On time alone, the bay colt known as Hip 289 in Ciaran Dunne’s Wavertree Stables consignment for the Ocala Breeders’ Sales Co. Spring Sale of Two-Year-Olds in Training signaled during his under-tack breeze he had the kind of ability that is most desirable amongst those seeking on-track success.
Impressive as the final clocking was, it was how the son of Epicenter completed his solo showcase that made him the most sought-after offering during the first day of the bellwether auction.
An already solid day of results for the OBS Spring Sale ended with a loud and proud exclamation point April 14 as a bay son of Epicenter elicited a final bid of $1.95 million from agent Justin Casse and Ben McElroy of Amo Racing, topping an opening session of the four-day sale that featured across-the-board gains.
Sale. (OBS/VidHorse photo)
Out of the winning Animal Kingdom mare Spanx Legacy, who is a full sister to graded stakes placed winner Delta’s Kingdom, the Epicenter colt breezed in :9 4/5 during the under-tack show, a benchmark time that was made all the more impressive by the easy way in which the youngster handled the task. The impression was such that Casse, who said the colt was purchased on behalf of Amo Racing and partners, repeatedly stretched during a protracted bidding war to secure the colt by the first-crop Ashford Stud stallion.
“His performance was exceptional. I would say that we’ll look back through the years of being here and you’d say ‘Remember that Epicenter when he breezed?’. It was that kind of a move,” Casse said. “I have great respect for Ciaran Dunne and he has been very fond of this horse since January when he was first on his farm. He’s just beautiful.”
The price for the Epicenter colt ranks as the fourth highest in the history of the OBS April Sale and the most since Collmus went for $2.2 million during the 2023 edition of the auction.
“I didn’t know what to expect for ones like that,” Casse said. “I’m happy for OBS. It’s a family connection. My dad (Norman Casse) started the place. All that we’ve been able to accomplish here, it’s really exciting. I’m very proud for the sales company to get a horse of that caliber and fetch a price like that.”
The Epicenter colt was the lone seven-figure horse on Tuesday, backstopping the sale to gains in gross, average, and median compared to 2025. The overall gross of $24,578,000 from 159 head sold is up over the $20,456,000 generated by 165 head sold a year ago. The average jumped from $123,976 in 2025 to $154,579 this year with the median increasing from $60,000 to $80,000 this year.
A total of 47 horses failed to meet their reserve. The RNA rate before post-sales on Tuesday was 22.8% compared to 17.1% after post sales in 2025.
Prior to the Epicenter colt stealing the show, the Spendthrift Farm team made their own presence felt in an attempt to add to the operation’s run of success inside the Ocala pavilion.
Having purchased Grade 1 winner and leading Kentucky Derby (G1) contender Further Ado at last year’s edition of the OBS Spring Sale, Spendthrift owner Eric Gustavson and general manager Ned Toffey were back shopping the scene that has been ground zero for a plethora of Spendthrift highlights as they signed the ticket for Hip 74, a dark bay or brown filly by the farm’s young sire Omaha Beach that brought the day’s second highest price at $900,000.
Sale. (OBS/VidHorse photo)
Consigned by Tom McCrocklin, the Omaha Beach filly turned heads when she worked a quarter mile in :20 4/5 during the under-tack show April 6, the fastest time at the distance on the day. She is out of the More Than Ready mare Ready for Charm, who is a half sister to stakes winners Praetereo and OBS April graduate Simply Spiteful. The filly’s granddam Deb’s Charm was also a graded stakes placed winner and is a daughter of Hall of Famer and OBS April graduate Silver Charm.
“She’s just a really nice filly. We’ve had a lot of luck with Tom and she did things the right way,” Toffey said after signing the ticket. “Really nothing not to like about her.
“I can’t say she looks like (Spendthrift’s Grade 1 winner) Kopion but I did keep thinking about Kopion when we were looking at her. I think she has more of that More Than Ready hind leg on her but she’s a big, impressive filly. The way she breezed, she did it pretty effortlessly. She’s got a good mind on her and just a big, strong classy filly.”
The filly’s already impressive page was further bolstered in recent weeks as Ready for Charm is also a half sister to the mare Honestly Deb, the dam of Ashland Stakes (G1) winner and leading Kentucky Oaks (G1) contender Percy’s Bar.
“We’ve had our run ins with Percy’s Bar,” Toffey laughed. “But that is a wonderful pedigree. She’ll be a nice addition to the broodmare band no matter what she does.”
Spendthrift also helped get the sale off to a fast start when they partnered with Josh Isner’s Delta Squad Racing to land Hip 11, a bay colt by Curlin, for $850,000. Consigned by Top Line Sales, the colt breezed in :10 1/5 during the under-tack show and is out of the Violence mare Peace Corps, a half sister to Grade 1 winner and graded producer Her Smile.
“Spendthrift liked him individually and then we liked him, so we decided to partner up,” said Liz Crow of BSW/Crow Bloodstock, who signed the ticket on behalf of the pairing. “(Isner) is kind of a newer owner but he’s excited about the game.
“He wants two-turn dirt colts, and this horse obviously had that profile and pedigree. Spendthrift has the (colt’s) half brother, Tapit’s Legacy, and they like him quite a bit. I thought his breeze was very good, he moved well and galloped out well. We just thought he had the profile of that two-turn dirt colt that everyone is looking for.”
The day’s fourth highest price was generated by Hip 133, a dark bay or brown colt by Honor A. P. who went to Three Amigos for $725,000. Consigned by Bryan Ford Training Stable, the colt breezed in :9 4/5 and is out of the Nyquist mare Seeking Mo Jewel, a half sister to multiple Grade 1 winner Deterministic.
Other top prices during the session include:
- Hip 261, a gray or roan colt by Uncle Mo who sold for $650,000 to Deuce Greathouse, Agent for 30 A Thoroughbreds. Consigned by Randy Miles, the colt – who hails from the female family of champion Rags to Riches – breezed in :9 4/5 and is out of winning, stakes placed Tapit mare Sweet as Pie.
- Hip 75, a dark bay or brown filly by OBS graduate Yaupon who sold for $625,000 to White House Stables. Consigned by Julie Davies, the filly worked in :9 4/5 during the under-tack show. She is out of the winning More Than Ready mare Ready to Unleash and is a half sister to multiple stakes winner and graded stakes placed Joe Shiesty.
- Hip 202, a bay ridgling by Maxfield that sold to Pedro Lanz, Agt for FMQ Stables for $600,000. Consigned by Kinsman Farm, the ridgling worked in :10 1/5 and is out of the Broken Vow mare Spoken Not Broken, a half sister to stakes winners Stormy Novel and Bridgehampton.
The OBS April Sale continues April 15 at 10:30 a.m. with Hips 307-610 slated to sell. Full results can be found at obssales.com.