Seeing Saturday Dreams through the ring on Day 1 of Ocala’s 2-year-olds training March Sale for $1,200,000 was almost amazing for Pure Hartley/DeRenzo strain, who sold the justification foal’s dam 11 years ago.
Randy Hartley, who runs the Ocala-based consignment with Dean DeRenzo, said: “We also sold his mother and paid her the right price ($250,000) and sold her for the same price. 700,000 dollars”. “We found (Saturday Dream) at Keeneland (September 2022 Annual Sale) and when the hammer dropped to $250,000 I thought, ‘We just bought that horse right? Are not?’ because I don’t think we can buy him.”
In addition to the 3rd ranked mare Zinzay, who made the 1st bet winner Moon over Miami , the best-selling pony consigned is Hip 215 that has belonged to a partnership of Maverick Racing (the racing branch of WinStar Farms) and Siena Ranch. Hartley says his price isn’t entirely surprising after seeing how potential buyers react to him in the days leading up to the sale.
“From day one, it was a special horse. It’s like our sleeping horse, you don’t notice it in the barn (when it’s trained at home before being sold). ‘OK. when do we go out.’ He was always serious and just a classy horse. He did everything right,” Hartley said.
“I felt like he was going to bring in a million dollars because everyone loved him at the warehouse and he walked out and stood like a statue. His check-in process was flawless and even. at the end of the day when he shows and walks a lot and gets eliminated all day, he just keeps driving the truck without slowing down.”
Along with his excellent ground manners, the black horse aka brown pony, bred in Kentucky by the Summer Wind Equine, achieved eighth place in: 10 flat and gallop. great in: 32 1/5 in performance under strength. Winstar’s President and CEO, Elliot Walden, says he’s the clear standout in the category.
“We felt he was the best horse in the sale. He’s Justify, I think the whole way he rides and his pedigree, he’s worth taking a chance. … He’s going back to WinStar and we’re going to figure it out from there,” Walden said.
Although Hartley will miss out on getting the talented pony on his ranch, he smiled when he talked about the bright future he hopes for the foal.
“He’s a super athlete and we couldn’t be happier that WinStar got him because we sell very few horses,” Hartley said. “For us, we have to try to get them into the hands of the best so they can continue to be the best they can be.
“We’re very excited and attached to them, (but) when they leave our farm and go to WinStar it’s like ‘Move on!’ I couldn’t be happier and I hope he does well.”
