For Randy Hartley and Dean DeRenzo, the Ocala Breeders’ Sales Co. grounds are where they are most in their element, the venue where they have made their name and plied their trade to exceptional professional heights.

    With so much OBS history already part of their foundation, the noted consignors came to the 2026 edition of the OBS Spring Sale of Two-Year-Olds in Training quietly confident that some of their biggest career highlights would be on tap.

    The first round of fireworks expected from the Hartley/DeRenzo Thoroughbreds offerings this week went off during the second day of selling of the OBS April Sale. Hip 570, a dark bay or brown filly by Jackie’s Warrior that is part of the boutique Hartley/DeRenzo consignment, became the highest priced filly to sell at an OBS juvenile auction when she elicited a final bid of $2.3 million from Dermot Farrington on behalf of Mrs. Fitriani Hay.

    The price is the second highest ever for the OBS Spring auction, behind only the $2.45 million generated when Conquistador was purchased during the 2017 sale.

    “It means a lot, this is home,” DeRenzo said. “We sold the first million-dollar horse (at a 2-year-old auction) here at OBS and she is the highest priced filly. We are part of OBS. It feels good to do it at home.”

    The Hartley/DeRenzo shedrow has been a popular spot this week as they also consign Hip 1056, a well-regarded son of Flightline set to sell during Friday’s session. Like her barnmate, the Jackie’s Warrior filly generated her fair share of looks after she breezed in :9 3/5 during the under-tack show, tying for the fastest time at the distance.

    Out of the graded stakes winning Indian Charlie mare Brazen Persuasion, an OBS graduate, the filly is one of four horses offered by Hartley/DeRenzo this week. She is a half sister to stakes placed winner and OBS graduate Ruggs and is from the female family of graded stakes winner Godmother.

    “We thought she was the best filly in the sale, and we thought we had the best colt in the sale,” DeRenzo said. “We were pretty confident about it because those kind of horses don’t come around very often. They stand out like a sore thumb. We were confident she would do really well.”

    Alex Cole, racing manager for Hay, said the filly was headed to the barn of trainer Wesley Ward. “We wouldn’t spend that sort of money if there was any flaw,” Cole said.

    Moments after the Jackie’s Warrior filly earned her spot in OBS history, Hip 576, a chestnut colt by Cyberknife consigned by de Meric Sales, became the second horse to hit the seven-figure threshold during the session when he sold for $1.2 million to the partnership of West Point Thoroughbreds, Mike Talla, LEB, and John Sadler, agent.

    The colt is out of the winning Unbridled’s Song mare Broadway Show, a daughter of graded stakes winner and dual OBS graduate Richiegirlgonewild. “He was so stretchy. We’re looking for two-turn colts and we just liked him a lot,” Sadler said. “We thought his video was excellent. You would always like to buy everything for a little less, but he was a nice prospect.”

    The colt, who was bred by Machmer Hall, breezed in :9 4/5 during the under-tack show.

    “Beyond expectations. I am blown away, thrilled,” said Carrie Brogden of Machmer Hall. “This is a dream come true and it’s a long-time partnership. Not only are the de Merics our friend, but every time I come here and consign, I feel like I know exactly what I have with them.”

    Following on the heels of a strong opening session that featured a son of Epicenter selling for $1.95 million, the second day of action for the OBS Spring Sale generated its own stellar returns. The gross for the session came in at $25,522,000 from 148 head sold, down from the $27,462,500 generated from 183 head sold during the corresponding session one year ago. Last year’s second session was bolstered by the sale of six seven-figure horses that day alone.

    The session average of $172,446 was up compared to $150,068 posted in 2025 while the median improved to $77,500 over $60,000 during the session a year ago.

    The cumulative gross through the first two days is $50,805,000 from 317 head sold, up from the $47,918,500 generated by 348 sold through this point last year. The overall average is up to $160,268 from $137,697 in 2025 while the median has improved to $75,000 compared to $60,000 a year ago.

    The RNA rate came in at 27.8% compared to 11.6% a year ago.

    Wednesday’s session wasted no time getting off on the right foot when Hip 312, a bay colt by Life Is Good consigned by Britton Peak, sold to KP for $725,000. The colt, who breezed in :9 4/5, is out of the graded stakes winning Tiznow mare Tiz Breathtaking.

    “Tell you the truth, he was the whole package. He had all the right angles, the right size, the right mind,” said Nelson Arroyo of Arroyo Bloodstock, who consigned the Life Is Good colt through Britton Peak. “I loved him from the first second I saw him. He was a big horse but he is real light on his feet. He has all the right angles and he has that presence.”

    Other top prices on the day included:

    Hip 437, a chestnut filly by Omaha Beach that sold to Alex & JoAnn Lieblong for $650,000. Consigned by Harris Training Center LLC, the filly breezed in :10 during the under-tack show. She is out of the Distorted Humor mare Alma Llanera and is from the female family of champion Singspiel (IRE).

    Hip 375, a chestnut filly by Jackie’s Warrior that sold for $625,000 to Flanagan Racing, LLC. Consigned by Six K's Training & Sales, the filly is out of the Nyquist mare Well Remembered, a half sister to stakes winner and graded stakes placed Audrey’s Time. She worked in :10 flat during the under-tack show.

    Hip 596, a gray or roan colt by Roadster consigned by Ocala Stud that sold for $625,000 to Shunsuke Kubota. The colt is out of the Group 3 winning Lope de Vega mare Candy Store (IRE) and is a half brother to stakes winner and graded stakes placed Vive Veuve. He worked in :20 3/5 during the under-tack show, co-fastest time at the distance on the day.

    Hip 499, a gray or roan colt by Essential Quality consigned by Five Point Thoroughbreds that sold for $550,000 to Breeze Easy LLC / Jethorse LLC. The colt is out of the Tiznow mare Back Up the Brinks and is from the female family of champions Forte and Folklore. He worked in :9 4/5 during the under-tack show.

    Hip 517, a bay colt by Tapit consigned by Paul Sharp that sold for $550,000 to KSI. The colt is out of graded stakes winner and Grade 1 placed Be Fair, an OBS April graduate who is by Exchange Rate, and is a half brother to Grade 1 winner and OBS April graduate And Tell Me Nolies.

    Spendthrift Farm’s Further Ado (Gun Runner- Sky Dreamer, by Sky Mesa), who scored his maiden victory at Keeneland by 20 lengths last October, continued to show his affinity for the Lexington track when he captured the $1,250,000, Gr. I Blue Gass Stakes by 11 lengths, cementing his status as one of the favorites for the first leg of the Triple Crown and leading the slate of stakes-winning OBS graduates for the week.

    With the Blue Grass victory, Further Ado earned 100 qualifying points on the Road to the Kentucky Derby leaderboard for a total of 135 points and guaranteed a spot in the starting gate for the 152nd running of the $5 million Kentucky Derby.

    Trained by Brad Cox, Further Ado is now a two-time graded stakes-winner and boosted his earnings to $1,146,328. 

    “I felt he had moved forward since Tampa (when he finished second in the Tampa Bay Derby (G3) March 7), so I expected him to run well,” Cox said. “I thought he got a great trip. We kind of put a plan together with him last fall after he won here, to run him at Churchill and have two races leading up to what we hoped would get him to the (Kentucky) Derby, and it worked out. It’s always nice when a plan works out because most of the time it doesn’t. He’s a good colt, full of quality, athletic, a great mover.”

    Further Ado was purchased by Spendthrift at the 2025 OBS April Sale for $550,000 from the Six K’s Training & Sales consignment after breezing in :21 1/5. 

    About an hour after Further Ado’s victory, So Happy (Runhappy-So Cunning, by Blame) joined him as a top Kentucky Derby contender when he prevailed in the $500,000, Gr. I Santa Anita Derby. Trained by Mark Glatt, So Happy is owned by Norman Stables and Saints or Sinners. He previously captured the Gr. II, $200,000 San Vicente Stakes at Santa Anita Park Jan. 10.

    “He kept on going today,” winning jockey Mike Smith said. “Today he really felt fit and ready to race. I can’t say enough of what a great and wonderful man Mark Glatt. The Kentucky Derby is America’s race. Anyone in the world would want to be in that race. There’s more there in the tank for sure.”

    Bred by former Ocalan Leverett Miller, So Happy was purchased by Glatt, agent, for $150,000 at the 2025 OBS March Sale out of the First Call consignment after breezing in :10 flat.

    The undercard of the Blue Grass Stakes saw Gr. 1 winner Saudi Crown (Always Dreaming – New Narration, by Tapit) pounce at the top of the stretch and coast to a 2¾-length victory in the Gr. III Commonwealth Stakes. Trained by Brad Cox, Saudi Crown is now a three-time graded stakes - winner and increased his earnings to $3,686,508. Consigned by Top Line Sales, Agent, to the 2022 OBS Spring Sale, Saudi Crown was sold for $240,000 after breezing in :10 flat. 

    At Aqueduct, Winning Move Stable’s Yo Daddy (Yoshida (JPN)-Elle Stormin’, by Tale of the Cat) earned his first stakes score in the $150,000 Excelsior. Trained by Linda Rice, Yo Daddy was offered at the 2023 OBS June Sale by Britton Peak where he failed to meet his reserve after breezing in :21 4/5.

    At Evangeline Downs, Michael H. Rotstein and Olof’s Tiz Mary’s Comet (Good Samaritan - Suzie's Dream, by Tiz the One) prevailed in the $60,000 Lafayette Stakes. Trained by Rylee Magnon, the gelding was purchased by his owners at the 2025 OBS June Sale from the Omar Ramirez Bloodstock consignment after breezing in :10 flat.