Blood-Horse

Day 2 of the Ocala Breeders' Sales March 2-Year-Olds in Training Sale saw 143 horses change hands for a total of $22,998,500. That number is just below last year's second session where 156 head sold for $23,976,000.

Andre Lynch most recently worked for Doug and Felicia Branham's Hurricane Hills Farm. He moved to Kentucky from his native Ireland in 1995.

On the second day of the Ocala Breeders' Sales March 2-Year-Olds in Training Sale, Brad Cox signed the ticket for Hip 343, a son of freshman sire Charlatan, for $660,000 on behalf of Prime Bloodstock. The bay colt breezed an eighth of a mile in :10.

Mrs. Astor, perfect in her last two California starts for trainer Jonathan Thomas, faces a formidable challenger in Kathynmarissa in the March 15 Santa Ana Stakes (G3T) at Santa Anita Park.

Near the end of the March 12 second session of the Ocala Breeders' Sales March 2-Year-Olds in Training Sale, Kimmel and Sallusto went to $1.1 million on behalf of Flanagan Racing for Hip 486, a daughter of Good Magic.

A bidding war ensued for Hip 404, a colt by freshman sire Independence Hall on Day 2 of the Ocala Breeders' Sale March 2-Year-Olds in Training Sale March 12. The hammer fell at $1 million for the Eddie Woods-consigned colt to JPM Bloodstock.

Fasig-Tipton is raising the upset price, or minimum bid, for all the company's live and digital auctions going forward, the auction house announced March 12.

Equine Guelph is excited to announce the launch of a new online course designed specifically for youth aged 13-17 who are passionate about horses and interested in exploring careers in the horse industry.

According to the initial data analysis from the 16th year of reporting to the Equine Injury Database, the fatal injury rate in 2024 was 1.11 per 1,000 starts, the lowest rate since the EID began in 2009.

Irad Ortiz Jr. won a total of eight races, including the Tampa Bay Derby (G3), leading the panel of racing experts to vote the five-time Eclipse Award winner Jockey of the Week for March 3-9.

Racing March 15 in the Virginia Derby at Colonial Downs, Render Judgment very likely could produce an effort more in line with the talent he displayed as a 2-year-old than his most recent result when eighth in the Feb. 15 Risen Star Stakes (G2).

Day 1 saw a decrease in gross sales from last year's first session, producing $15,902,000 from 117 horses to change hands. The average and median were both up, with an average of $135,915 and a median of $85,000.

Frank Stronach, who purchased Gulfstream Park in 1999 and co-founded The Stronach Group with his daughter Belinda, has written an opinion piece against her intention to decouple Gulfstream's casino business from live horse racing. 

A colt by Army Mule commanded $950,000 from St. Elias Stable on the first day of Ocala Breeders' Sales March 2-Year-Olds in Training Sale March 11. Army Mule raced in the colors of St. Elias Stable before retiring to stud in 2018.

Trainer Mike Maker said he has discovered a hot walker is taking the medication for arthritis.

Meanwhile, Rattle N Roll shipped to Dubai March 7 from Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, to prepare for the Dubai World Cup (G1). The 6-year-old is scheduled to work this weekend at Meydan Racecourse.

Breeders' Cup has released ticket information for the two-day event at Del Mar before tickets go on sale April 23 at noon ET.

To Mike Gillum, the reigning National Horseplayers Championship winner, family always comes first, but after that horse racing is his No. 1 passion.  

Maiden Watch: Week of March 3-9

Midway into the first day of the Ocala Breeders' Sales March 2-Year-Olds in Training Sale, Hip 119, a colt by first-crop sire Maxfield, commanded a price of $1 million from Mitsu Nakauchida.