Flatter Colt Brings $1.3 Million on Day 2 at OBS March

Agent Ramiro Restrepo returned to a familiar source in Sequel Bloodstock to purchase the $1.3 million son of Flatter, Hip 494, March 13 on Day 2 of the Ocala Breeders' March Sale of 2-Year-Olds in Training. Restrepo signed as Marquee Bloodstock, which also purchased 2023 Kentucky Derby (G1) winner Mage from Becky Thomas' draft at the Fasig-Tipton Midlantic 2-Year-Olds in Training Sale in 2022. The colt is the second foal out of the winning Midnight Lute mare Napier; his 3-year-old half sister Strong Play, by West Coast, sold last year during the OBS Spring Sale of 2-Year-Olds in Training for $140,000 and has been putting in works at Belmont Park. Gentry Stable bred the dark bay or brown colt in Kentucky; this was the first time the colt was offered in the sales ring. "It's hard to fathom," said an emotional Robert Chasanoff of Gentry Stable. "I'm a small breeder. I own three mares. If you raise your horses with Becky (Thomas) and my longtime bloodstock advisor, Tom Bozarth, good things will happen. I've had more than my share of success for a very small breeder, but nothing like this. It is the thrill of a lifetime." Last week during the under tack preview, the March-born colt threw down a furlong move in :09 4/5, where Restrepo and assistant trainer Gustavo Delgado Jr. fell in love with the horse. "The first thing we saw was the workout," Restrepo recalled. "It was extraordinary, and the gallop out was like something out of a movie in :32 flat. A lot of times, horses come out of that with a post-work malaise, but he was on the contrary and showed himself immaculately. He reminded us of the good Flatter colts Flat Out and Upstart. They are pictures of each other and look so much alike." The first dam is a half sibling to 2022 Derby City Distaff Stakes (G1) winner Obligatory, who earned over $1.3 million and won the 2021 Eight Belles Stakes (G2), 2021 Chilukki Stakes (G3), and 2022 Hurricane Bertie Stakes (G3). The tough mare by Curlin also placed in three other grade 1 events. "Gustavo Delgado will retain an interest in the horse and be the trainer. He had great luck with Paola Queen (also by Flatter) in the Test Stakes," Restrepo said. "Having the family of Obligatory on the page, you have to respect four generations of Juddmonte. If it goes on to be a potential sire, it's a horse that has the female family to support him." Carlos Manresa, Sequel's director of operations, echoed a similar opinion of the juvenile: "He's a beautiful, beautiful horse. He is a two-turn horse that displayed a lot of speed early on. We knew March would be a perfect spot for him. He has a great mind and is very mature both physically and mentally. Coming out here, he showed himself very well. Everyone who came by the barn liked him. He was very popular. I'd say that every trainer on the grounds liked what they saw." The ownership group Marquee Bloodstock is putting together will comprise several domestic and International partners. "It's a hodgepodge gumbo-type group; we all invest, race, and hopefully celebrate together," Restrepo said.