The catalog for the Inglis Digital USA Curlin Florida Derby Sale was released March 18, offering buyers a chance to get in on one of the marquee cards of Gulfstream Park's Championship Meet.
Bidding on the boutique catalog is open through March 23, with the first lot closing at 3 p.m. ET and subsequent lots hammering in three-minute increments.
Though bidding is underway, there is still plenty of time for potential sellers to turn their entries on the Florida Derby (G1) card into liquidity, with rolling supplemental entries for full sales or percentages of horses being accepted upon approval until the day of the sale.
The auction marks a first-time partnership between Inglis Digital USA and 1/ST, putting a focus on horses in South Florida ahead of Gulfstream Park's showcase Kentucky Derby (G1) prep. The Florida Derby (G1) is scheduled for March 28, with the sale offering buyers a chance to join the action on the high-level card just days before the event.
Among the entries in the Curlin Florida Derby Sale is Lightning Tones, who is being pointed for the Ghostzapper Stakes (G3) on the Florida Derby undercard.
Two starts ago, the Florida-bred Tonalist gelding impressed with a 3 1/4-length victory in the Sunshine Classic Stakes at Gulfstream Park, earning a 90 Beyer Speed Figure in the process. It was his second consecutive year entering the winner's circle in the Sunshine Classic, after winning last year's renewal with a 91 Beyer.
Lightning Tones has been a durable, consistent runner in the year between those Sunshine Classic wins, earning a Beyer Speed Figure lower than 87 in just one of those six starts. Among those efforts was a third-place finish in last year's Gulfstream Park Mile Stakes (G2), where he finished just 2 lengths behind winner Mindframe and earned a 93 Beyer.
Lightning Tones is consigned by Paramount Sales, and he is available for inspection out of the barn of owner/trainer Jose Castro at Palm Meadows Training Center.
Also on offer is a 49% stake in allowance winner Ababajoni, who is aimed at the Cutler Bay Stakes on the Florida Derby undercard after a front-running victory in a Gulfstream Park turf allowance March 6. It was the second win in four career starts for the 3-year-old Florida-bred colt by Neolithic .
Ababajoni is offered by owner/trainer Rohan Crichton, and he is available for inspection in Crichton's barn at Gulfstream Park.
Fulmine comes into the sale with a hot hand and a lot of promise in the 3-year-old sprint division, with the most recent of his two straight wins being a 2 3/4-length triumph in the Hutcheson Stakes March 14 at Gulfstream Park. The Spun to Run colt has won four of eight starts at Gulfstream, Tampa Bay Downs, and Churchill Downs, and the Hutcheson was his first stakes try, suggesting he has plenty more ladder to climb.
Fulmine is consigned by owner Starry Night Racing, and he may be inspected at the Palm Meadows barn of trainer J. Kent Sweezey.
Buyers aiming to ride the momentum of recent form will also notice Quereme Pass, who finished second by a nose in the San Simeon Stakes (G3T) March 14 at Santa Anita Park. The turf sprint was the first United States stakes try for the Argentine-born son of Distinctiv Passion, who is offered by trainer Jose D'Angelo, agent, and is available for inspection at Palm Meadows.
Rounding out the racing prospects is La Chismosa, a 3-year-old filly by fast-rising Floirida sire Win Win Win who has won three of her past four starts. The most recent victory in that run came in a 6-furlong race at Tampa Bay Downs, which she won by 2 1/4 lengths. Offered by owner Paula Capestro Bloodstock, La Chismosa may be inspected at Tampa Bay Downs.
Breeders looking to make a late addition to their broodmare band will take note of stakes winner Whatintheliteral, who is offered as a broodmare prospect by co-owner horseOlogy.
The 4-year-old daughter of Lord Nelson graduated in high fashion during her 2-year-old campaign, earning her first win in the 2024 Astoria Stakes at Saratoga Race Course over a field that included eventual grade 2 winner The Queens M G and stakes winner West Memorial. Later that year, Whatintheliteral earned more black type when she ran second in the Hallandale Beach Stakes at Gulfstream Park.
Whatintheliteral is available for inspection at Gulfstream Park.
"This boutique sale offers quality with every horse," Inglis Digital USA CEO Kyle Wilson said. "You have the potential opportunity to be an owner on Florida Derby day. How special is that?"
The catalog can be view online at inglisdigitalusa.com.
This press release has been edited for content and style by BloodHorse Staff.
