By Bloodhorse.com
OCALA, FLA. — The TIP Thoroughbred Investment Opportunities consignment of John Brocklebank and Luis Mendez is an outlier among the multitude of consignors with horses entered in the Ocala Breeders’ Sales Spring 2-Year-Olds in Training Sale.
The partners have 15 cataloged in the April 23-26 sale in Ocala, Fla., and train both their sale horses and horses that compete on the California circuit at a training center in Utah, rather than the mainstay locales of Florida and South Carolina where a majority of juvenile sale consignors are based.
Brocklebank has been a fixture in 2-year-olds in training sale circles for decades and Mendez first began working with the Utahan at age 14.
Included among the 15 TIP juveniles cataloged is a colt that posted the under tack show’s fastest eighth-mile workout time of :09 3/5. Named Speedy Justice, the bay Dominus colt consigned as Hip 706 is out of the Came Home mare Super Seller, a half sister to graded stakes winner T. D. Vance. Bred in Kentucky by Justice Farm and Greg Justice, Speedy Justice was acquired for $45,000 from Eaton Sales, agent, at last year’s Keeneland September Yearling Sale.
Brocklebank, known for his trademark flowing hair that he keeps tucked under a cap, operates the buying and selling end of TIP, while Mendez handles the training at the five-eighths of a mile training facility located near St. George, Utah, some 1 1/2 hours east of Las Vegas.
Brocklebank transitioned to Thoroughbreds about 20 years ago after a successful career training Quarter Horses.
Among Brocklebank’s previous sale pinhook successes was Santa Anita Derby (G1) winner Brother Derek, purchased for $150,000 as a yearling and sold to Cecil Peacock, with trainer Dan Hendricks, agent, for $275,000.
Under the TIP business model, now in its second year, horses that do not meet their reserve prices at auction are put in training with Munez in California, with the intent to find willing buyers once the horses have shown their ability in competition.
“Horses we can’t sell here, we go to the races with,” Brocklebank said, adding that some quality individuals are not at their best when put through the juvenile workout and sale regimen. “We only sell horses. We have won 17 2-year-old races in the last two years and have sold 70% of our 2-year-olds the last couple of years. A lot of horses are excellent horses but they can’t do this.”
“Wherever we are, we look for what is best for the horses,” Mendez said.
TIP’s OBS consignment is unique from most other sellers in that it offers a solid group of California-breds, reflecting Brocklebank’s belief in the rewards program in the Bear State.,
Brocklebank said in the past he has found a willing buyer base from California in attendance in Ocala.
“I love Cal-breds,” he said. “I think it’s a great program. I think a lot of these guys (California agents and trainers) pack enough underwear for two weeks and come here.”