Whether his race career matches that of his sire remains to be seen. But following the opening session of the 2026 Ocala Breeders’ Sales Company’s March Two-Year-Olds in Training Sales, it is safe to say a certain bay colt in the Pick View LLC consignment is well on his way to following in his father’s illustrious footsteps.
Just as his sire Corniche lit up the board when he took his turn in the OBS pavilion five years ago, Hip 95, a son of the first-crop Coolmore America stallion, produced a standout showing in his own right when he sold for $1.35 million to representatives of Legion Bloodstock to lead the opening day of action at the three-day sale.
the 2026 OBS March Sale. (OBS/VidHorse photo)
Before establishing himself as the winner of the 2021 Breeders’ Cup Juvenile (G1) and champion 2-year-old male of that season, Corniche was known as an OBS sale topper when he brought $1.5 million at that year’s OBS April auction. His first crop of foals are 2-year-olds of 2026 and, fittingly, they are commanding a similar level of respect in the public auction arena.
“I have two (Corniches) and they’re both awesome. They love to train, they’re sound and they seem to thrive off the work,” said Pick View’s Joe Pickerrell. “Everything we’ve thrown at (this colt), he’s taken it in stride. He’s never had a bad day. I feel like he’s a horse who is going to have some big things coming.”
Out of Canadian champion Leigh Court, a daughter of Grand Slam, the bay colt first caught the eye of the Legion Bloodstock team over the winter as he was being prepped by Pick View’s Pickerrell and Courtney Roberts. After watching the colt work in :21 flat during the under-tack show, Kristian Villante of Legion Bloodstock said they were determined to make the youngster part of their roster.
“He’s a beautiful colt, his dad was a champion. We’ve been following him since January when he was on the farm and…he’s been a standout all year,” Villante said. “Joe had to pay a lot for him as a yearling and we are fortunate that we have some clients that are willing to step up and try and buy a horse that might be a Derby kind of colt.
“We bought a couple Corniches as yearlings and…I think he stamps them. He’s just putting out a beautiful horse. He should make it.”
OBS March Sale. (OBS/VidHorse photo)
Villante said the colt would eventually head to the barn of trainer Whit Beckman as Beckman trains Kentucky Oaks (G1) runner-up Drexel Hill for the Legion Bloodstock team.
“Whit came and saw (Hip 95), he actually came down here last month and he fell in love with this colt just like we all have,” Villante said. “He was here again this morning to see him. We were trying to not leave here without him. We were hoping he wouldn’t cost quite that much but that’s what you have to pay for horses like that.”
The battle for quality offerings was a consistent theme during the opening session as three horses sold for seven-figures on the day.
Just prior to the Corniche colt stealing the show, Hip 88, a dark bay or brown colt by champion Nyquist, elicited a final bid for $1.2 million from the pairing of Marquee Bloodstock and Morplay Racing.
Consigned by Wavertree Stables (Ciaran Dunne), the colt is out of Argentine champion La Extrana Dama (ARG), by Catcher In The Rye, and breezed in :9 4/5 during the under-tack show.
“He stood out on paper, I love the Argentinian sturdiness,” said Ramiro Restrepo of Marquee Bloodstock, who added that a trainer for the Nyquist colt is still to be determined. “The racing down there is two-turns galore and obviously there are a couple champions in the pedigree which is impressive. And Nyquist, I mean, what a season he had last year and the year before that. He stands above a lot of horses in this catalog with that sire power and that’s what we were chasing.”
OBS March Sale. (OBS/VidHorse photo)
Both Morplay and Marquee Bloodstock know a thing or two about finding success on the OBS grounds. Morplay campaigns Breeders’ Cup Turf Sprint (G1) winner and reigning champion female sprinter Shisospicy, a graduate of the OBS April Sale, while Marquee purchased freshly minted Tampa Bay Derby (G3) winner The Puma at last year’s April auction.
“We dipped our toe into the racing space a few years back..,and we got hooked,” said Cam Dulgar of Morplay Racing. “With the success we’ve seen with Shisospicy, we’re extremely excited to be able to pick up this colt. The way he worked, hopefully it carries over and we’re excited to partner with Marquee.”
The unquestioned king of the under-tack shows this year was Gainesway’s first-crop stallion Drain the Clock, who saw his offspring post the fastest times at their respective distances for three straight days. Those strong showings on the track are translating into top results in the ring as Hip 132, a chestnut colt by Drain the Clock who worked in :9 4/5, sold to Pedro Lanz, agent for KAS Stables for $1.1 million.
Consigned by de Meric Sales, the colt is out of the Freud mare Making a Point and showcased the same fluid movement during his breeze that is quickly becoming a trademark of the sire.
“I’ve been here since the prep and I’ve noticed (the Drain the Clocks) are fast and can sustain speed,” Lanz said. “They are athletes, they are incredible athletes. When you see them, they look sharp. And I think they can go the distance. These horses’ strides are very long and they sustain their speed. I have 3-4 that I like in this sale.”
Lanz added the colt would head to the barn of trainer Brad Cox.
“This colt is a beautiful physical,” Lanz said. “If we wanted this horse, we knew we were going to have to fight for him.”
The competitive landscape backstopped the opening day of the OBS March Sale to year-over-year gains over the corresponding session from 2025. The overall gross of $23,149,500 from 144 sold was up over the $17,235,500 generated by 133 head sold in 2025. The average of $160,760 represented an increase over the $129,590 posted a year ago while the median jumped from $75,000 to $90,000 this year.
“It was certainly an excellent day,” said Tom Ventura, president of OBS. “We had a lot of activity in the barns during the week expecting that to translate in the auction ring, and it did. Hopefully we can keep that going for the next two days. Everybody here is working hard trying to find a good horse and the sales results have shown that. You don’t want to predict too much moving forward, we’ve got one day down and two to go. But very happy so far.”
A total of 60 horses failed to meet their reserve, resulting in an RNA rate of 29.4% this year compared to 21.8% last year.
Other top prices during the opening session included Hip 139, a bay colt by Army Mule who sold to Katsumi Yoshida for $750,000. Consigned by Cesar Loya Training & Sales, the colt topped the opening day of under-tack shows when he breezed an eighth in :9 3/5 to lead all workers at the distance.
The colt is out of the winning mare Marching Fire, who is by champion OBS March graduate Midnight Lute and is a half sister to graded-stakes winner Sharp Sensation.
A total of eight horses sold for $500,000 or more including:
Hip 71, a chestnut filly by Nashville who sold for $550,000 to William K Werner. Consigned by RM Stables LLC, the filly, who breezed in :9 4/5, is out of the winning Fusaichi Pegasus mare Kencho, a half sister to multiple graded stakes winner and OBS March graduate Special Reserve.
Hip 57, a dark bay or brown colt by Army Mule consigned by Thorostock LLC that brought $500,000 from IEE Racing Stable LLC / Winning Move / Poe Racing. The colt, who breezed in :9 4/5, is out of the Speightstown mare Jeanne’s Speight, a full sister to stakes-winner Going to Kukaro.
Hip 135, a chestnut colt by Jackie’s Warrior consigned by Sequel Bloodstock, agent for Chester Broman, that sold to Bill Childs for $500,000. The colt, who breezed in :9 4/5, is out of the stakes-winning Carpe Diem mare Makin My Move, an OBS March graduate who is a daughter of multiple stakes winner Hard to Stay Notgo.
Hip 227, a chestnut filly by Not This Time consigned by de Meric Sales who sold to Brandon and Sara Bray, Kelsey Danner Agent for $500,000. The filly, who breezed in :10 flat, is out of the Street Sense mare Onslaught, a full sister to Grade 1 winner Callback.
The sale continues March 11 beginning at 11 a.m. with Hips 273-544 set to sell. Full results can be found at obssales.com.