Frank Fletcher added to his racing stable early in the second session of the Ocala Breeders' Spring Sale of 2-Year-Olds April 17, securing a pair of expensive colts.
Donato Lanni, agent for Frank Fletcher Racing Operations, went to $925,000 to purchase Hip 371, a colt by American Pharoah from the de Meric Sales consignment. Fletcher had also bought Hip 342, a Nyquist colt consigned by Wavertree Stables, for $675,000.
The two colts will be sent to Hall of Fame conditioner Bill Mott.
The American Pharoah colt is out of the winning Uncle Mo mare More Roses, a half sister to grade 2 winner Merneith (by American Pharoah). Bred in Kentucky by D.C. Goff, the colt was purchased under the banner of Piltown Bound for $115,000 out of the Four Star Sales consignment at last year's Fasig-Tipton Kentucky October Yearling Sale. He breezed an eighth in a snappy :10 at the under tack preview.
"He is a cool horse and he is by one of our favorite sires," shared Lanni. "And Mott liked him. I'm happy to be in this position to buy nice horses for really good people."
Tristan de Meric said of the colt: "He was a beautiful horse from day one. He never put a foot wrong. We can't take credit for buying him, but we were lucky to have the horse sent to us. He was very easy to get ready. He did everything right all year for us."
The Nyquist colt is out of the Congrats mare Miss Hetty, a half sister to graded stakes winner Glenville Gardens. The colt hails from the family of grade 1 winner Marley Vale, his third dam, and multiple graded stakes winner Indian Vale. Bred in Kentucky Springhouse Farm and John Goldthorpe, the colt sold to RT Racing out of the Paramount Sales consignment for $300,000 at the 2023 Keeneland September Yearling Sale. He breezed an eighth in :10 at the under tack preview.
"I just come down here and walk around with Donato. He's been my agent for many, many years," said Fletcher after signing the ticket on the colt. "I've been coming down here for 20 years. He just looks good to us.
"We like the sire. We're excited to get him."
Later in the session, Fletcher secured another 2-year-old from the de Meric consignment, a Curlin colt for $575,000. Bred in Kentucky by My Meadowview out of the stakes-winning Noble Causeway mare Noble and a Beauty, the colt's second dam, Overandabeauty, is a half sister to three-time leading sire Tapit . The chestnut, which also covered an eighth in :10 during the under tack show, was a $170,000 RNA at last year's Keeneland September Sale.
