Count consignor Tom McCrocklin among those having a good week ahead of the Ocala Breeders' Sales Spring Sale of 2-Year-Olds in Training.
After sending out juveniles to clock the fastest or co-fastest quarter-miles through the first four days of the under-tack show, McCrocklin's consignment was again responsible for the fastest quarter-mile works on the fifth day as Hip 851, a bay filly by Oscar Performance, and Hip 915, a gray or roan filly by Liam's Map , each worked in :20 2/5 April 10.
The Oscar Performance filly is out of the winning, stakes-placed Daylami mare Going Day, a half sister to dual champion Covfefe. The Liam's Map filly is out of the Honor Code mare Honor Hop, a half sister to stakes winner Ex Pirate.
Joining McCrocklin in the good-mood club was former jockey Nelson Arroyo of Arroyo Bloodstock.
Each time Arroyo looked up to watch one of his juveniles breeze over the OBS track this week, he couldn't help but let a wide grin stretch across his face, and a groundswell of pride overtake his being.
In his third year of pinhooking under his own banner, Arroyo and his team are poised to have one of their most successful outings yet in the public auction arena. When Hip 822, a dark bay or brown colt by Jack Christopher owned by Arroyo Bloodstock, worked an eighth in :09 4/5 Friday to tie for the fastest time at the distance, it capped off a week that went above and beyond in terms of the expectations the former jockey held for his crew.
Of the seven horses Arroyo has entered in the OBS Spring sale, five of them worked in :09 4/5 with the two others going in :10. This year marks the first time Arroyo has consigned with Greg Martin's Britton Peak, a pairing that is already off to a flying start following a strong outing together in March.
"It's still hitting me. It feels real good," Arroyo said of his week. "We put in a lot of work, and it feels so good to see it pay off. I want to thank the whole team, without them it wouldn't be possible. Greg Martin did a great job training. This is the first year we've worked with him and he's doing a great job. My (sons), Elijah and Brandon, have done a great job. And I want to thank Dean DeRenzo (of Hartley/DeRenzo Thoroughbreds) for sure because that's the man who is making this all possible. He's the one who taught me all this stuff."
A focus on conformation and physical presence is what Arroyo zeros in on when purchasing pinhook prospects, and the Jack Christopher colt ticked those boxes in addition to having an accomplished pedigree page. The colt is out of the Uncle Mo mare Forced Family Fun, a half sister to stakes winner and multiple graded stakes-placed Cat Burglar , and is a half brother to the stakes-placed Walley World. Arroyo purchased the colt for $270,000 out of the Taylor Made Sales Agency consignment to the 2025 Fasig-Tipton Kentucky October Yearlings Sale.
Like his fellow barnmates, the Jack Christopher colt backed up the ability he teased in his prep and ensured his connections head into next week's sale overflowing with confidence.
"For the five of them to go in :09 4/5 and have two on :10 flat, and great gallop outs ... I'm in awe," Arroyo said.
Arroyo's Jack Christopher colt was one of 12 horses to work in :09 4/5 Friday.
The final day of the under-tack show begins at 8 a.m. ET April 11, with hips 1017-1224 set to work. The OBS Spring sale takes place April 14-17, with sessions beginning at 10:30 a.m. ET each day.
For full results of the under-tack show, visit obssales.com.
This press release has been edited for content and style by BloodHorse Staff.
