Euro Exchange, an unraced 3-year-old colt by Exchange Rate out of the Rahy mare Merciful, fetched $90,000 from Justin Casse, agent for Jim Stackpoole, to pace the second and final day of Ocala Breeders' Sales Co.'s winter mixed sale Jan. 29 in Ocala, Fla.
Consigned by Linda Sims' Cutting Edge Equine, agent, the session topper sold in the horses of racing age portion of the sale.
Bred in Kentucky by Three Chimneys Farm and J.V. Shields Jr., the gray or roan colt, who breezed three-eighths in a co-bullet :33 2/5 at the Jan. 26 under tack preview, is out of a half sister to Chilean stakes winner El Facha and stakes-placed Quail Run.
"He's a beautiful animal," said Casse. "I know that the late Ricky Leppala had him as a yearling and he thought highly of him then. Linda has had him since, and she also has a high opinion of him. She's an excellent horsewoman, and her opinion means a lot."
All of the day's top prices came toward the end of the session in the horses of racing age segment.
Machmer Hall bought Amazing Littlelady, a 4-year-old daughter of Unbridled's Song for $87,000. Sold as Hip 508, the Kentucky-bred filly was produced from the stakes-winning High Yield mare Amazing Buy, a half sister to Sovereign Award-winning graded stakes winner Alpha Bettor. The filly's full sister, Just Like Pop, sold the previous day for $70,000.
All Day Alice, an unraced 3-year-old Posse filly consigned by Wes Carter, agent, was purchased by Ragnar H. Korthase Equine for $75,000. The chestnut filly, whose three-eighths in :33 2/5 was co-fastest at the under tack show, is out of stakes-placed Hay Allison, by Hay Halo. She was bred in New York by Pegasus Farm.
Carter also sold Hip 494, Edisto Bay, a 3-year-old son of Bullsbay , to Louis Linder for $72,000. The chestnut colt is out of the stakes-placed Citidancer mare Immune to Gloom, a half sister to stakes-placed Dirge.
Also bringing $72,000 were Foxy Posse (Hip 498), an unraced 3-year-old Posse filly who sold to Mersad Metanovic Bloodstock out of the Top Line Sales consignment; and Hip 504 (supplemental catalog), an unraced 3-year-old son of Lemon Drop Kid consigned by Eddie Woods, agent, who sold to Patrice Miller, EQB Inc., agent for Edward McAlvain.
A total of 70 head generated gross receipts of $1,200,700 in the horses of racing age section, compared with 98 head selling for $1,608,900 in the corresponding session a year ago. Average rose slightly to $17,153 compared to $16,417 last year, and median price was $7,350; it was $10,000 in 2014. Buy-back percentage was 16.7% compared to 21.65% last year.
"October marked the first time we offered horses of racing age in that sale," said Tom Ventura, OBS president. "So that pulled some quality horses out of this sale. The horses of racing age having a chance to go over the track at the breeze show certainly helps market those types of horses that have some ability and can go to the racetrack relatively soon."
Mike Recio went to $50,000 to secure the bid on Hip 341, a Tiz Wonderful yearling colt, the top-priced horse in the sale's open session. Consigned by Select Sales, agent, the Kentucky-bred colt, a full brother to stakes winner Bourbonize, was produced from the Halo's Image mare Brown Eyes, a half sister to stakes winner Captain Video.
All told in the open session, 141 horses sold for a total of $1,088,100 compared with 209 horses sold for $1,754,900 last year. The average price was $7,717, compared with $8,397 in 2014, while the median came in at $4,000; it was $5,000 last year. The buy-back percentage fell to 16.6% from 25.9% a year ago.
For the entire sale, which had 223 fewer horses on offer than last year’s auction, 337 head changed hands for gross sales of $4,798,800, down 24% from last year’s total sales of $6,326,500 on 461 head sold. Sale average was $14,240, up 3.7% from $13,723 in 2014. Median price was $7,200 compared to $8,500 a year ago.
"Overall, I believe the sale held its own," said Ventura. "The quality horses commanded top dollar. The horses that drew the most attention were difficult to buy. The market held steady, and the quality horses were in demand."
The winter mixed sale was topped by a Louisiana-bred yearling filly by The Factor (Hip 105), who sold for $190,000 to George Bolton and Peter Leidel in the consignor preferred session Jan. 28. Kim Harrison (Top Speed Farm) consigned the sale topper.
Next on the OBS agenda is the March sale of 2-year-olds in training. With its new expanded format, it is scheduled for March 17-18, with the under tack show set for March 11-13, beginning each morning at 8 a.m.
