The three-day March OBS Two-Year-Olds in Training Sale wrapped up on March 13 with a record-setting sale, a grey juvenile by leading sire Gun Runner. The colt, bred by PTK in Kentucky and sold by agent Eddie Woods, was purchased for $3 million by agent Donato Lanni for Zedan Racing. The previous record was $2.45 million set in 2017.
The colt, who is the first foal out of the winning Liam’s Map mare Tynan, a half-sister to graded stakes winners Pappacap and Boppy O, first turned heads when he breezed an eighth in :9 3/5 during the under-tack show, tying for the fastest time at the distance.
Gun Runner rarely has a grey offspring, but from about a dozen to race, one, Wicked Halo, has earned over $1 million.
“I mean, he wasn’t a secret. He’s a pretty cool horse and everyone loved him,” Lanni said after signing the ticket. “Just very lucky to get him for [owner] Amr Zedan. We always come here to look for nice horses and he was nice horse.
“He [Zedan] is pretty excited, and Gun Runner is a tremendous stallion. This colt worked really well, he galloped out good, he did everything you’d want one to do. Just excited about him.”
For Woods, the milestone achievement allowed him a moment of reflection as he prepares for his swansong at the OBS April Sale of Two-Year-Olds in Training auction, which runs from April 15-18 with the under-tack show taking place April 6-12.
“It’s like winning the Olympics,” an emotional Woods said. “My God, the only way to go out is on top. That’s the only way. It’s been 31 years in April that we started selling here. We’ve done well here. We’ve made a lot of money here; we’ve lost a lot of money here. It’s just the way it is.
“The three million I couldn’t see coming,” Woods continued. “I mean, there hasn’t been a two-year-old selling for $3 million in a long time. He’s just a special horse and that’s what it takes to get that thing done. Now I hope he’s lucky for them.”
The Gun Runner colt, reportedly already named Arabian Runner, was bought for $200,000 at the 2024 Keeneland September sale by an entity called St. Clair Stables. It was the only purchase by St. Clair Stables from any sale in 2024.
Breeder PTK is Paula, Tim and Kaitlin Haughey; however, Paulo passed away a few years ago. The Haugheys raced some 150 to 200 horses most years at tracks on the mid-Atlantic circuit and were top owners, but their racing stable is small these days.
There were almost no Canadian buyers at the sale. Manfred and Penny Conrad purchased a Classic Empire Kentucky-bred colt, a half-brother to Get Smokin, for $200,000. Anne Shaddock bought an Ontario-bred filly by Classic Empire – Red Rosette by Speightster for $30,000.
The OBS March Sale concluded with strong overall figures. The total gross of $65,815,500 from 432 sold surpassed the 2024 tally of $65,239,100 generated by 454 sold. The total average of $152,351 was up from $143,698 last year while the median of $70,000 was down slightly compared to $72,000 in 2024. The overall RNA was 17.6% as 92 horses failed to meet their reserve. The overall RNA rate in 2024 was 23.9%.
