The Nyquist show continued at OBS, this time with a filly hammering for $2,000,000

The Godolphin stallion has established himself as the ultimate reference point throughout the Florida 2-year-olds in training sale

The Nyquist filly was the undisputed star of Tuesday’s session at OBS / OBS

OCALA, Florida—The market at the OBS March 2-Year-Olds in Training Sale caught fire once again this past Tuesday as a daughter of Nyquist reached a staggering $2,000,000, setting the high-water mark of the auction thus far and cementing the sensational commercial momentum of the Darley stallion.

Consigned by Wavertree Stables, the operation led by Ciaran and Amy Dunne, the filly identified as Hip 372 was hammered down to Killora/Linton, acting as agent for Boyd Racing. The bay did more than just command the ring; she had previously dazzled during the under-tack show, stopping the clock for an eighth in a blistering :9 3/5, one of the fastest works of the week.

Her impact was such that she became the second million-dollar juvenile by Nyquist sold by Wavertree at this single auction. She follows the son of the Argentine champion La Extraña Dama (Catcher In the Rye), who reached $1,200,000 during Monday’s opening session before being acquired by Morplay Racing and Marquee Bloodstock. Both prospects left extraordinary impressions on the track: while the filly went in :9 3/5, the colt breezed in :9 4/5, fueling buyer interest from the jump.

“This exceeds all expectations,” Ciaran Dunne admitted following the record-breaking sale. “You always have hope, but someone always tells me that hope isn't a good strategy.”

The consignor explained that the combination of her pedigree and physical presence made the market's frenzy almost inevitable. “She’s by probably one of the top five stallions in the country, if not the top three. She’s a beautiful filly, had an unbelievable work, and vetted perfectly. If you can’t sell a filly like that, you might as well find something else to do,” he joked.

For Wavertree, the connection with Nyquist has proven incredibly lucrative. In 2021, the farm topped the Fasig-Tipton Gulfstream sale with a son of the same stallion that Coolmore secured for $2,600,000. Three seasons later, another son of the Kentucky Derby champion fetched $1,000,000 at the 2024 Fasig-Tipton Midlantic auction.

The Nyquist effect isn't just limited to the sales ring; it translates directly to the winner's circle. Among the Wavertreegraduates by the sire who have reached the pinnacle are Tenma and Cavalieri, both of whom became Grade 1 winners in 2025.

“Nyquist has put a lot of food on our table,” Dunne acknowledged. “We’ve been very lucky to be linked with Paul Reddam, for whom he raced, and from day one we saw that he produced very good horses. For us, he’s the gift that keeps on giving.”

The million-dollar filly is out of Smooth and Savvy (Lucky Pulpit) and is a half-sister to the Grade 1 winner Smooth Like Strait (Midnight Lute). She had been a $300,000 yearling purchase by Forest Bloodstock at last year's Keeneland September Sale, nearly septupling her value in a matter of months.

Hannah Jennings signed the ticket on behalf of Boyd Racing, owned by Randy and Jenny Boyd, who are relatively new to the sport. “She was simply a queen,” Jennings said. “Throughout the week, she behaved like a total professional. Her stride on the track was fantastic, and physically, she’s everything we could want.”

While a trainer has yet to be finalized, Jennings quipped that many conditioners would likely be happy to find an open stall for her. The buyer admitted they expected a fight but didn't anticipate the price soaring to the two-million mark. “We knew we’d have to stretch to buy her, but we never thought it would be that much. But when the horse is the right one, everyone wants them,” she explained.

The hope now is that the filly follows in the footsteps of other stars from the same source. “Ciaran sold two Nyquistfillies at OBS that went on to win Grade 1s. Hopefully, we can be the third,” Jennings concluded.

Overall, the second session maintained the market's robust strength. A total of 143 horses changed hands for $28,012,000, a 20% increase over the same session last year. The average rose 24% to $195,888, while the median grew 36% to $95,000, confirming the solid footing of the 2-year-olds in training market.

The auction concludes this March 12, with Hips 545 to 816 entering the ring, closing out an edition that has already rewritten the record books.