By Michael Compton
A colt by Kitten's Joy topped the first open session of the Ocala Breeders' Sales Co.'s August Yearling Sale in Central Florida on Aug. 22, selling to Al Pike, agent, for $110,000.
Bred in Kentucky by Ken and Sarah Ramsey and consigned by Dapple Stud, agent, the colt hails from a strong female family. He is out of the Skywalker mare No Deadline and is a half-brother to multiple stakes winner Cannonball. Campaigned by the Ramseys, Cannonball earned $680,031 in a globe-trotting career that saw him place in graded stakes races at home in the U.S., England, and Australia.
"He is a lovely colt with a great pedigree," said Stuart Morris, Dapple Stud's director of sales. "He has a terrific perspective on life and he just thrived in the sales environment. He improved physically and mentally every day. He is really a well-made horse. He's by a prolific sire and his brother is a real runner."
The sale experienced across the board gains in key economic categories for the second straight day. All told, a total of 206 yearlings sold, grossing $2,890,100 compared to 213 head sold during last year's first open session for a gross of $2,636,400. The average price of $14,030 rose 13.3% from $12,377 a year ago. The median price increased 11.1% to $10,000; it was $9,000 last year.
The buy-back rate was 21.4% compared to 23.4% during the corresponding session in 2011. Eight horses sold for $50,000 or more compared to four a year ago.
"We're very pleased with the results of the first open session," said Tod Wojciechowski, director of sales at OBS. "The momentum from the first day definitely carried over. I hope we can keep it going one more day. I was happy to see a lot of the buyers here for the select session remained and were active."
The second-highest price of the open session was a $70,000 Songandaprayer colt signed for by John Stephens. Consigned by Beth Bayer, agent, the colt is produced from the Omega Code mare Viola Blew By. The colt was bred in Kentucky by Albert and Teresa Davis.
A pair of colts brought final bids of $60,000. Spring Action, by Spring at Last out of the Charlie Barley mare Miss Icicle, sold to Mark Casse, while a son of Offlee Wild--Perpetual Motion, by Kingmambo went to W.D. North Thoroughbreds.
Spring Action, bred in Florida by Renee Scucci, was consigned by I.C. Stables, agent. The colt sold at last year's OBS October Sale for $7,500. The Offlee Wild colt, consigned by Dapple Stud, agent, was bred in Kentucky by Kobak Thoroughbreds, Bramer Thoroughbreds, and Binwillaw Thoroughbreds. The colt, a half-brother to graded stakes-placed Royal F J, was bought back at $18,000 earlier this year at the Fasig-Tipton Kentucky Winter Mixed Sale in February.
A Keyed Entry colt consigned by Summerfield, agent, sold to W.D. North, agent for Bruno DeBerdt, for $55,000. The colt, bred in Florida by Linda Schroetlin, is out of the Favorite Trick mare My Favorite Rose, a half-sister to millionaire and Belmont Stakes (gr.I) winner Ruler on Ice and Champagne D'Oro.
Trainer Wesley Ward also went to $55,000 to secure the bid on a Teuflesberg filly named Acoma's Sky City. The filly, also bred by Schroetlin, was consigned by Pelican State Thoroughbreds, agent for Keith Dickey, who acquired the filly for $5,000 from the OBS Winter Mixed Sale.
The August Sale concludes its run on Aug. 23 beginning at 10:30 a.m. (EDT). The sale will be streamed live via the OBS website and also via The Blood-Horse and Daily Racing Form websites.
