Vekoma Filly Breezes Fastest Quarter in :20 2/5 at OBS

Having enjoyed a career milestone at the start of the juvenile sales season, consignor Jesse Hoppel is heading into the last major 2-year-old auction of the year with reason to believe there is more momentum in his corner. On June 13, the final day of under-tack shows for the Ocala Breeders' Sales June 2-Year-Olds in Training and Horses of Racing Age Sale, Hoppel's consignment proved to be well represented, highlighted by Hip 876, a dark bay/brown filly by Vekoma who breezed a quarter-mile in :20 2/5 to post the fastest time at the distance on the day and tie for the fastest quarter-mile clocking during the five days of works. Hoppel considers OBS his home base. Hence, it was fitting he sold his first career seven-figure horse on the grounds in March when a son of Mo Town from his consignment went for $1.05 million. He brings another well-regarded bunch to the June auction, including a Hip 428, a gray or roan filly by Justify, who tied for the fastest quarter during the third day of under-tack shows when she breezed in :20 4/5. "We've had a good year. There are a lot of people involved. And I aim horses for this sale every year," Hoppel said. "Some people come here because it was Plan B. I've got a lot of horses here where it was Plan A all along. The fact that they're standing up doesn't surprise me either. They were meant to come here and do well." The Vekoma filly did her part Saturday to separate herself from the pack with her on-track performance. She is out of the winning Discreetly Mine mare Sonora, who is a daughter of stakes winner Road to Mandalay and a half sister to stakes winner and OBS graduate La Concerto. The second-fastest quarter on the day came when Hip 925, a dark bay/brown filly by Highly Motivated consigned by Omar Ramirez Bloodstock, worked in :20 3/5. The filly is out of the Lemon Drop Kid mare Sweetnsour Kitty and is a half sister to graded stakes winner Crude Velocity, who was sold out of the Ramirez consignment at last year's OBS June sale. Crude Velocity captured the Pat Day Mile Stakes (G2) May 2 at Churchill Downs and was most recently second in the June 6 Woody Stephens Stakes (G1) at Saratoga Race Course. The fastest eighth of a mile Saturday came when Hip 1019, a dark bay/brown colt by Army Mule consigned by SGV Thoroughbreds (Steven Venosa), breezed in :09 4/5. The colt is out of the Ghostzapper mare Signadora, a full sister to multiple graded stakes winner Proctor's Ledge, who has produced a graded stakes-placed filly in Proctor Street. The OBS June sale takes place at 10:30 a.m. ET June 16-18. For full results of the under-tack show, visit obssales.com.