On the second day of the Ocala Breeders' Sales March 2-Year-Olds in Training Sale March 12, trainer 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 on the second day of the under tack show for consignor Top Line Sales. He was bred in Kentucky by Clarkland Farm who sold him at the 2024 Keeneland September Yearling Sale for $275,000.
"Beautiful colt, obviously had a very fast work and he has some pedigree that suggests he'll stretch out. And we're hopeful he can in time," Cox said. "He's just a powerhouse. He's a very good-looking colt. I looked at him walk down the row for me a couple times and from what I could tell he has a pretty good mind.
"We're excited about marching forward with him. He obviously comes from a very good consignor that we've had luck with in the past with the likes of Saudi Crown and Key of Life, we hope we can continue with this horse."
Saudi Crown was a $240,000 purchase at the 2022 OBS Spring Sale of 2-Year-Olds in Training by Faisal Mohammed Alqahtani. Trained by Cox, the son of Always Dreaming won the 2023 Pennsylvania Derby (G1) and was third in the 2024 Saudi Cup (G1) behind Senor Buscador . He has career earnings of $3,212,885 for FMQ Stable.
“He’s just a man," said Torie Gladwell of Top Line Sales about Hip 343. "We have quite a few Charlatans on the farm and he stacks up right there with the best of them. He just does everything right. He’s so cool and laid back. Great horse, they’re going to love him in the barn. (The price) was higher than we thought. There were the right people on him but you never know when you get a horse like that who is going end up with them.”
Top Line Sales also sold a Charlatan filly (Hip 537) later in the sale for $525,000 to Carolyn Wilson, and a Charlatan colt (Hip 176) on Day 1 of the sale for $375,000 to JWS Racing. Both of those Charlatans breezed an eighth in :09 4/5.
Charlatan, a grade1-winning son of Speightstown, stands at Hill 'n' Dale Farms near Paris, Ky., for a 2025 fee of $50,000. Charlatan's first crop was well received at the yearling sales in 2024, as he led all first-crop sires with 102 sold for an average of $254,775 and median of $195,000.
Charlatan has had 11 2-year-olds go through the ring so far at OBS March, and nine have sold for an average price of $357,778.
