It is no secret why Hip 503 would make the shortlist of any prospective buyer. The gray or roan colt by Curlin is out of the multiple grade 1 winner Hard Not to Like , and he provided an emphatic glimpse of what his future on the racetrack could look like with a sparkling eighth-mile breeze in :10 at the under tack preview. At the fall of the hammer on the second day of the Ocala Breeders’ Sales Spring Sale of 2-Year-Olds in Training April 20, the in-demand colt sold to Donato Lanni, who signed the $800,000 ticket on behalf of Michael Lund Petersen.
“He is a fast-looking Curlin,” said Lanni. “The mare could really run. He went fast and looks the part. We hope we get lucky. Michael is a very lucky guy.”As for the market during the sale’s first two days, Lanni remarked, “It’s a really good sale. I’m not surprised. It’s strong. There’s a horse here for all different types of buyers. Nothing falls through the cracks.”