As far as consignor Tom McCrocklin is concerned, if the dreams of buyers at this week's Ocala Breeders' Spring Sale of 2-Year-Olds in Training could manifest into a single horse, it just might be Hip 365.
The first-crop daughter of Tiz the Law tipped her hand at the under tack preview, zipping a quarter in a track record-tying :20 1/5. She sold with the expected fervor April 17, hammering to Donato Lanni, agent for Michael Lund Petersen, on a phone bid for $1.9 million, the highest price of the sale thus far. The filly will be trained by Bob Baffert.
Acquired by McCrocklin for $170,000 out of the Highgate Sales consignment at last year's Keeneland September Yearling Sale, the bay filly is out of the stakes-placed Sky Mesa mare Moonlight Sky, a half sister to 2017 champion 3-year-old filly and that year's Kentucky Oaks (G1) winner Abel Tasman and a full sister to graded stakes winner Sky Girl. CHC bred the seven-figure filly in Kentucky.
"Once in a blue moon we get blessed with a special horse like her," shared McCrocklin moments after the gavel fell. "She has everything I want in a horse. She has the physical conformation, pedigree, ability, and is a natural athlete. She just stands out from the crowd. She stuck out here. It was hard for her to go unnoticed. Obviously, they found her.
"The physical qualities and the pedigree were there (as a yearling)," McCrocklin added. "The one thing we never know is if they can run fast. She equaled a track record here at OBS and it was an effortless breeze. She had a fast gallop out and vetted clean. She still possesses all the physical beauty, but she showed the ability, too. The money is at the top of the market right now, and it showed up. They fought for her. We were blessed to have her. Hopefully, they win a grade 1 with her."
Lanni said of the filly, "She is very nice. She's beautiful. We're happy we got her. He (Petersen) is very lucky with fillies, and Bob loved her. We're happy to have her."
Petersen and Baffert have enjoyed enormous success with fillies exiting 2-year-olds in training sales—Gamine, Adare Manor, and Faiza to name a few. Gamine was a $1.8 million purchase by Petersen out of Bobby Dodd's consignment at the 2019 Fasig-Tipton Midlantic 2-Year-Olds in Training Sale. The daughter of Into Mischief became a multiple grade 1 winner for Petersen, banking more than $1.7 million during her stellar racing career.
Adare Manor, a $375,000 graduate of the 2021 OBS June Sale for consignor Julie Davies, won the April 13 Apple Blossom Handicap (G1) for Petersen and Baffert. The daughter of Uncle Mo has amassed earnings of more than $1.7 million and is a winner in eight of 16 starts. Petersen spent $725,000 on Faiza at the 2022 Fasig-Tipton Midlantic 2-Year-Olds sale where she was consigned by Paul Sharp. The grade 1-winning daughter of Girvin most recently sold to Godolphin at Fasig-Tipton's 2023 The November Sale for $4 million after winning five of six lifetime starts.
