Joe Bellino could not personally attend the second edition of the Buckeye Classic Sale conducted in Springfield, Ohio, on Tuesday (Sept. 27), but that did not impede him from purchasing the most sought-after yearling at the event.

“I was watching it on Facebook Live and I kept thinking, ‘When is the gavel going to drop?” he said. “It was like he said ‘$90,000’ for each $1,000 that was bid on him, but we were bringing him home no matter what the price was. My wife is very excited and so I am about this colt. His videos are fantastic and we cannot wait to get him to the farm and see him.”

Raised and consigned by Cornerstone Stock Farm, Brangus is by Bellino’s world champion stallion Pet Rock and out of the Grinfromeartoear mare Cant Quit Smiling. No other yearling that stepped through the ring commanded that type of attention or price tag, bringing $90,000. The second-highest-priced individual was Bounding Dragon, a bay colt by Dragon Again out of Bound To Rock, consigned by Emerald Highlands Farm and purchased by Mike Roth of Anderson, Ind., for $50,000.

Brangus is the fourth foal out of his dam and is a half-sibling to the Rockin Image filly Cant Touch Her. She has collected $147,934 from her time on the track and was very competitive on the lucrative Indiana Sire Stakes circuit.

His granddam, Day After, by No Nukes and out of Beckys Love by Albatross produced Crisis Situation (Walton Hanover, $235,704), Keep Your Pans Off (Abercrombie, $298,411) and Lookinforasign (Life Sign, $159,849).

“The people from Cornerstone starting sending me pictures and videos of him when he was very young,” Bellino said. “They said he was always the one that led the rest of the horses from the time he first left his mother. He was always the one to eat first and lead the rest of them. They also said he was very intelligent and one of the best horses they had raised. I have to give them credit because even in the sales ring with everything going on around him, nothing seemed to bother him.

“He will go to Tony O’Sullivan; he won this Metro this year, and does a great job with two-year-olds. He did not know about him at first and now that he saw his videos he is really excited as well. I’ve received numerous messages about this colt because people were so impressed with him. We all are really looking forward to his future.”

This year’s sale posted an increase over last year’s results with yearling prices checking in 11.4 percent higher than in 2015. With 242 horses being sold versus 179 last year for an average of $7,055, those involved with the event were pleased with the results.

“It was definitely a team effort from everyone that participated and their efforts are much appreciated,” said Steve Cross, sales manager. “This is an exceptional facility that is well laid out and with the Ohio program exploding in recent years, that addition, as well as the blend of horses from Indiana, Pennsylvania and Illinois, certainly made the sale very attractive for our buyers and consignors.

“I would like to thank those buyers and consignors that made this sale such a success. The entire team is very happy with the quality of horses that were allowed to be sold and look forward to the future.”

For more information on the Buckeye Classic Sale as well as comprehensive sale results please click the following link: 2016 Buckeye Classic Sale Results.

(with files from USTA)