Topping the fourth day of workouts at the Ocala Breeders' Sales Spring 2-Year-Olds in Training Sale under tack show April 15 was a speedy of Hill 'n' Dale Farms' Violence who breezed an eighth-mile in :09 4/5.
The only eighth-mile worker to clock that while battling a steady headwind, the colt, consigned as Hip 641 by Kings Equine, agent for Aaron and Marie Jones, was bred in Kentucky by the Jones' out of the Successful Appeal mare C'Mon Sister. The colt's second dam is Concinnous, who produced multiple grade 1 winner Iotapa.
Raul Reyes of Kings Equine said he sent the colt out from six horses out of his consignment slated to breeze on Thursday hoping that the early morning conditions would give him every opportunity to execute his best performance.
"We knew he was very fast; that's why we let him be the first horse to breeze for us this morning when he would have the best weather and the best of everything," said Reyes. "I had six horses going, and I gave him the privilege of being first because we knew he had talent. We didn't know he would go in :09 4/5, but we knew he would go fast. He's bred very well—he's bred by the Jones' and they have such good horses.
"He's been great and he prepped really fast here. I think he really liked the racetrack."
Reyes said he has been pleased with the performance of his horses overall and is hopeful that the market at the Spring Sale will show the same consistency in strength that has helped boost prices during early juvenile sales in the first half of 2021.
"I can see from my experience coming to this sale, there are a lot of people wanting to buy a horse," said Reyes. "Sometimes people are looking for an excuse to not buy a horse, but right now people are looking for excuses to buy one. I hope they stay that way, and we will be in good shape."
The fastest quarter-mile breeze of the day was Hip 786, a son of Pioneerof the Nile out of Fancy Day (by Shamardal) who worked in :20 4/5. Consigned by Eddie Woods, agent, the colt was bred in Kentucky by WinStar Farm and is from the family of grade 1 winner and stallion Tiznow.
Offered to the Keeneland September Yearling Sale by James B. Keogh, the colt was a $145,000 RNA.
Two days of breezes remain ahead of the Spring Sale which runs April 20-23. The fifth session will resume April 16 at 8 a.m. EST. As of Thursday afternoon, 219 horses had been withdrawn from the four-day sale.
