Times were faster than ever before during the under tack show for the Ocala Breeders’ Sales Co.'s February select sale of 2-year-olds in training Feb. 13 in Central Florida.
Three horses each worked an eighth of a mile in :9 3/5, establishing an OBS juvenile auction record. They were a Dehere–Paris Rose filly, consigned by Becky Thomas’ Sequel Bloodstock, agent; a Consolidator– Sutter Sutter filly, consigned by Ciaran and Amy Dunne’s Wavertree Stables, agent; and a Consolidator– Aray filly, consigned by Mike and Britt Mulligan’s Leprechaun Racing, agent.
According to Tom Ventura, the OBS general manager and director of sales, the blazing times weren’t too surprising. The OBS track has a synthetic Safetrack surface that was used for the first time for the company’s juvenile auctions last year.
“The track recently has been on the quick side,” Ventura said. “Maybe it’s because we’ve had such an extended cold period, which has to have some effect on it. We saw these horses prepping during the week, and while we didn’t have an official clock on them then, there were some horses that went down there pretty quickly.”
At a quarter mile, three horses set the pace, each completing the distance in :20 2/5, believed by OBS officials to be another mark for their juvenile sales. Members of the fast trio were a Roman Ruler–Showmetothevilla colt, consigned by Hoby and Layna Kight, agents; a Yes It's True –Silverlado colt, consigned by Shari and Dr. Barry Eisaman’s Eisaman Equine, agent; and a Forestry–Uaintseennothinyet colt, consigned by Timber Creek, agent.
OBS reduced the number of under tack shows for the February auction this year from two to one.
“I think it went well,” Ventura said. “It was good at the beginning, and it was a good at the end. The horses went well; it was a very good day. The weather was beautiful; it was probably 50 degrees when we started and it’s probably 70 degrees now (in the middle of the afternoon). The show was very well attended. There were quite a few people here watching. The major players were here, and we’ve had good activity in the barns. Hopefully, all that will translate into a good sale.”
The OBS auction will be held Feb. 17, with selling beginning at noon.
