The first of two open sessions of Ocala Breeders' Sales Co.'s August yearling sale Aug. 27 experienced across-the-board declines when compared to last year's record-setting open sale.
For the session, 258 horses brought a total of $3,411,000, a 26.5% decrease in gross receipts compared to $4,638,600 on 269 yearlings sold at last year's first open session. The average price dropped 23.3% to $13,221, from $17,244 a year ago, while the median price was $8,750 compared with $15,000 in the corresponding session in 2013. The buy-back percentage was 28.3%; it was 10.9%% last year.
"Last year was a phenomenal sale," said Tod Wojciechowski, OBS director of sales, "and of course we would have loved to have matched those numbers. We still have a lot of good horses to go through the ring tomorrow, so we'll see how it all shakes out."
Yearlings by first-crop sires showed the way in the marathon session. A colt from the initial crop of Trappe Shot sold to Ciaran Dunne, agent, for $140,000 to top proceedings.
Consigned by Stuart Morris, agent, the colt, who sold as Hip No. 593, is out of the winning Unbridled's Song mare Good Witch Glenda. From the family of graded stakes winner End Sweep, the bay colt was bred in Kentucky by Dapple Bloodstock.
Hip No. 478, a bay daughter of Haynesfield consigned by Sue Vacek, agent, sold to Joe Arboritanza's Arboritanza Racing for $80,000 and was the second-highest priced yearling of the day.
Produced from the winning Cat Thief mare Darjeeling, the filly was bred in Florida by Sue's Farm and Richard Nancarrow.
"I think she is supremely athletic looking," said Arboritanza. "She checked all the boxes. I knew just looking at her that she was exactly what we wanted. She was definitely on our short list."
Danzel Brendemuehl, agent for Zweifach Clocker Z, went to $70,000 to secure the bid on Hip No. 501, a colt by Gone Astray consigned by Northwest Stud.
The colt, a half brother to stakes-placed Major Hope, is out of the stakes-placed Bertrando mare Double Major, a half sister to last year's Eclipse champion juvenile and undefeated TVG Pacific Classic (gr. I) winner Shared Belief.
Northwest Stud stands Gone Astray and bred the colt in the Sunshine State.
"Pedigrees speak for themselves," said Alfredo Lichoa of Northwest Stud, "and this is a nice colt.
"We stand behind the Gone Astrays," Lichoa added. "We believe he will be a top sire. His yearlings look great, and we're pleased with the reception they are receiving at the sale."
Northwest Stud also consigned Hip No. 300, a son of the farm's resident stallion Flashstorm , who sold to Doble Jak Investments and Gelfenstein Farm for $55,000. The Florida-bred colt is out of the winning Yes It's True mare You Know It's True, a half sister to stakes-placed This Side Up.
Also selling for $55,000 was Hip No. 482, a daughter of Posse consigned by Beth Bayer, agent. Patrice Miller, EQB Inc., signed the ticket as agent for Zayat Stables. The chestnut filly is out of stakes-placed D'Country, by D'wildcat, and was bred in New York by Grapestock and George Reeb.
The open yearling sale concludes Thursday, Aug. 28. The sale will be streamed live at www.bloodhorse.com/OBS beginning at 10:30 a.m. EDT.