in the books

Just wrapped up the Adena Springs and OBS 2yo-in-training sales down in Florida and can report that the T Street roster remains unchanged (it's a very select bunch). Both sales offer pros and cons and are worth putting in the time. The staff at Adena Springs knows its stock really well (after all, they've raised the full lot of 'em), so the reserves are typically spot on. It's one of those sales where you have to go in knowing what kind of conformation/x-ray issues that you're willing to deal with on a case by case basis. Joe Orseno buys a lot of stock at Adena because he knows the families really well (used to be Stronach's private trainer) and is probably more familiar with some of the issues that run through the generations. I like that each horse gets his or her own program on the breeze days. Stress levels are kept to a minimum and you're less likely to deal with injuries coming out of this sale than you would be with some of those consigned to OBS. I looked at two, fillies by Olmodavor and Milwaukee Brew (hips 43 and 104, respectively). They worked quite nicely, particularly the Olmodavor filly, but physical issues were their undoing. You can have a look at their works here, if you're so inclined. Both demonstrate great balance and efficiency of motion and neither are really pushed on for much run - just the kind of works I like to see. Too bad all parts weren't pointing in the right direction.

OBS, which just finished today, was interesting. All the horses really love the new artificial surface, as most horses do, so it's trickier to project how some of the stock might act on dirt. Pedigrees usually help, of course, but it's an added layer of speculation in an already highly speculative endeavor. Horses worked really fast over the fake stuff, which is no big surprise. The trend that got me was just how big some of the bodies were on these 2yos. Muscle mass was off the charts through the body, but, in the main, there was very little bone underneath to carry the load. It's well known that there are all sorts of supplements, steroids and witch's brews involved with a lot of the stock, but I found it more striking than in previous years. Some of these horses were laughingly large for their frames and you just know that physical stuff will surface before a red nickel is earned on the track. Key at this sale is knowing the consignors. I looked at one, a Wiseman's Ferry filly (hip 177; video here). She was nice - great body and balance - but I couldn't get past her lugging in during both breezes. Something must be cooking in that left side, I figure, so I didn't even bother going further into due diligence work. Sure enough, she went unsold at a final bid of $60,000 (quite light given her works), so she must have had something up. Maybe she'll be able to cope and do well on the track, I don't know. Just won't be on my dime.