Considering horseman Frank O'Reilly prepped Delphic ($335,206 earner) and Cumin First ($285,700) for the last two editions of Standardbred Canada's Twos In Training Sale, people should take notice that he is proclaiming his entrant this year is just as good -- and maybe
better.
The filly that O'Reilly has consigned to the Sunday, June 14 sale at Flamboro Downs is trotting filly Northern Gem, a daughter of Ontario sire Striking Sahbra out of the Pine Chip mare Pine Nut 4,1:56.3s ($118,298). Northern Gem has been assigned Hip #53
"I trained her in [2:05] Saturday. She came a back half in 1:01 and home in 30 [seconds]," O'Reilly told Trot Insider. "She's a good filly from a good family. She's small, very fast, and tough. She was good training down and has just been good all along.
"At this point, this filly (Northern Gem) is further ahead of where the other two fillies were at this point. I've sold good fillies, and this is a good filly. I'm not passing up junk here."
O'Reilly didn't need to, but he explained to Trot Insider why the previous fillies were such good purchases.
"They (anyone at the sale) would've had Cumin First last year for $80,000. I even told guys at the sale that I was looking for $80,000. If there was one more bid on her they would've got her.
"In 2007, Delphic went on to make over $200,000 ($235,556 to be exact) and won her division of the Ontario Sires Stakes Super Finals."
As O'Reilly puts it, he brings the goods to the Twos In Training Sale. In his opinion, it beats taking a crap shoot at a yearling sale.
"I've said it a million times to as many people that will listen: people will go to yearling sales and spend between $50,000 and $100,000 on a baby and not even know if they will ever get a harness on it. I've been coming to the Twos In Training Sales with the real deal, recent history has shown that."
O'Reilly gives a convincing argument for those in the game to attend the Twos In Training Sale, but he also shined the light on an 'opportunity of instant return.'
"This filly is very good on a small track. I've trained her on the half-mile track at my farm. Conveniently enough, the first [OSS] Gold is in Elora (Grand River Raceway on July 13) on a half-mile track."
Given O'Reilly's reasoning for why Northern Gem is the filly people are looking for, the obvious question arises: Why is the horse being sold?
"I need, want and love money, that's why I'm selling her. Ask anybody that has owned a farm and they will know why I am selling her," he said. "When I bought her I had it in the back of my mind that I would be looking at [putting her in] this sale. I'm a horseman and I want to buy more good horses.
"I'd much rather eat steak and lobster than bologna and bullheads, if you know what I mean."
The Twos In Training Sale is being held alongside the Spring Fling Mixed Sale, both of which are taking place in the SC Sales Pavilion in the Flamboro Downs backstretch.
Click here for complete information regarding both the Twos In Training Sale and Spring Fling Mixed Sale.
Click here to view the sale catalogue.
Related Story