A UNION JACKSON first-crop colt, Hip No. 1140, worked a furlong in an unsurpassed 9 4/5 seconds prior to the Ocala Breeders’ Sales (OBS) Company’s spring sale of 2-year-olds in training and sold for $140,000 to George Weaver, agent, on the final day of the four-day (April 20-23) auction. Average price for 723 juveniles sold at the OBS sale was $102,224, with a median (mid-point) price of $50,000. Only eight colts broke the 10-second mark (including a son of North America’s leading 2020 sire) at the six under tack shows preceding the sale, and only one of those colts had no black type representation through his first two dams – Union Jackson’s son, Hip No. 1140.

Bred by Larry F. Botting and consigned by Wavertree Stables, Inc. (Ciaran Dunne), Agent XII, the Union Jackson colt’s visually effortless, quick-striding workout on the final preview day (Saturday, April 17) clearly caused jaws to drop. He was one of only four colts that breezed a 9 4/5-second furlong at that showing and obviously had the most modest credentials on his dam’s side among the four. The muscular dark bay is the first foal out of 9-year-old Mochima, conceived about three months after that mare had made her final start in February of 2018 while running with a $4,000 tag at Mahoning Valley. Mochima won with claiming tags in six of her 37 starts, most of which were at the $4,000-$5,000 level. She is among two winners produced from her placed (in 10 starts) dam.

Another Union Jackson colt sold at the OBS auction, Hip No. 343 (foaled May 17, 2019), worked a 10-flat furlong 34 days prior to his chronological 2-year-old birthday.

Multiple stakes winner Union Jackson, arguably the fastest son at stud by two-time Horse of the Year and multiple Eclipse Champion sire Curlin, is out of Grade 1 winner and Churchill Downs track record-setter Hot Dixie Chick and a half-brother to recent graded Fantasy Stakes winner Pauline’s Pearl ($474,000). Hot Dixie Chick is a half-sister to two Grade 1-Grade 2 winners, including 2017 Kentucky Derby and Florida Derby winner Always Dreaming. Curlin, leading North American sire of 2021 graded winners (eight) and Grade 1 winners (three), was the leading sire by average price (four or more sold) at the OBS sale, represented by two colts and two fillies that brought bids ranging from $670,000 to $250,000 (averaging $486,250). All four of those Curlin 2-year-olds also worked impressive furlongs at the OBS under tack shows, but none broke the 10-second mark.

By Rab Hagin