Ocelli: The $12K Maiden Seeking Preakness Glory

This year's $2 million Preakness Stakes (G1) is full of bargain-priced horses, with seven of the 14 entrants costing less than $200,000 at auction. Despite being the least expensive horse in the field, selling for $12,000 as a yearling, Ocelli boasts the highest earnings ($609,800) following his impressive third-place Kentucky Derby (G1) finish.

Ocelli, a 3-year-old son of Connect , was purchased at the 2024 Fasig-Tipton Kentucky October Yearlings Sale by Legion Bloodstock for $12,000, a significantly lower price than the sale's average of $52,392. 

Kristian Villante of Legion Bloodstock said he felt like a lot of people overlooked the colt, noting progeny of Connect were not super fashionable in October.

"A lot of people are looking to pinhook horses, and (Connect) is not really a sire that a lot of 2-year-old people are looking to pinhook," Villante said.

"They are very much like Ocelli; they need a little more distance to come around as 3-year-olds. So, it's not something that pinhookers are really looking for. He just slipped through the cracks."

Villante knows Connect better than most—he worked for Chris Brothers at Xavier International Bloodstock, who purchased Connect as a yearling at the 2014 Fasig-Tipton's The July Sale for $150,000.

"It's all coming full circle now with me at Legion, and Ocelli being by Connect," he said. 

"They were similar horses. They were both a bit narrow, but useful. They had the frame they were going to grow into but, at that time, as a yearling, they just weren't quite there yet."

Villante said he did not expect they would secure Ocelli for just $12,000, but was very happy they did. 

"He was a very, very athletic horse," Villante said. "He has a beautiful neck, beautiful head. He's always been straightforward.

"We must've been in the right spot at the right time."

Another bargain-priced horse entered in the field is Gold Square's 2025 Champagne Stakes (G1) winner Napoleon Solo. Trainer Chad Summers purchased the Liam's Map  colt for $40,000 at the 2024 Keeneland September Yearling Sale. He was bred by John Gunther and Eurowest Bloodstock.

At the other end, multiple graded stakes-placed Talkin is the highest price in the field, having brought $600,000 as a yearling at Keeneland September from Jones/Everett/Reeves/Vekoma/Belmar/Pine/Legendary. The son of Good Magic  was second behind Napoleon Solo in the Champagne Stakes, and was most recently third to Further Ado in the Blue Grass Stakes (G1) at Keeneland.

Local hero Taj Mahal, a colt by Nyquist , comes in second at $525,000. The Florida-bred colt was purchased by Donato Lanni, agent for SF Bloodstock/Starlight Racing/Madaket Stable, at the Keeneland September sale.