It is little wonder why Hip 915, a filly by Nyquist consigned by Wavertree Stables, agent, ticked the proverbial boxes for buyers at this week's Ocala Breeders' Spring 2-Year-Olds in Training Sale.
The dark bay or brown filly fueled early results during the fourth and final session of the auction April 19, selling to Donato Lanni, agent for Charles and Susan Chu's Baoma Corp., for $850,000. She will be trained in Southern California by Bob Baffert.
Bred in Kentucky by Bobby Flay Thoroughbreds, the filly is out of the unraced Tapit mare Amagansett. Hailing from the family of group 1 winner and European champion Fasliyev, the filly was a $200,000 acquisition for Allstar Bloodstock out of the Stone Farm consignment at least year's Keeneland September Yearling Sale. The filly breezed an eighth in :09 4/5, the co-fastest time of her under tack preview day.
"She's a lovely filly," shared Lanni. "She worked well, came back good. She has class and a good mind. She (Susan Chu) loves the sire. She loves the filly and loves her breeding program."
The Chus are no strangers to the progeny of Nyquist. The Chus bought leading 3-year-old Nysos at the OBS Spring Sale a year ago, paying $550,000 for that son of Nyquist. Trained by Bob Baffert, Nysos is undefeated in three career starts with a combined winning margin of a whopping 26 3/4 lengths. A romping 7 1/2-length winner of the Robert B. Lewis Stakes (G3) at Santa Anita Park in February, Nysos was also an uncontested winner of the Bob Hope Stakes (G3) at Del Mar last year at 2. A minor setback this spring has forced him temporarily to the sidelines.
Juveniles by Nyquist, a champion son of Uncle Mo , have proved popular at the Spring Sale. He has been represented this week by a $675,000 colt (Hip 342) bought by Frank Fletcher in the April 17 second session; a $550,000 colt (Hip 125) acquired by Spendthrift Farm/MKW Racing and Breeding in the sale's April 16 opening session; and he boasts a session topper in Hip 891, a colt out of the grade 1-winning Empire Maker mare Acoma who sold to Zedan Racing Stable for $550,000 in the April 18 third session.
Nyquist stands at Darley for $85,000. In addition to Nysos, Nyquist is represented on the racetrack this season by Lexington Stakes (G3) winner Encino and graded stakes winner Johannes.
