Hip No. 160, a bay filly by Medaglia d'Oro, topped the opening session of the Ocala Breeders' Sales Co.'s April Spring Sale of 2-year-olds in Training on Monday, April 23, selling to Hannah Smith’s Southwind Stables for $400,000.
Consigned by Niall Brennan Stables, agent, the filly who was bred in Kentucky by Peter Van Andel and Stonewall Farm, breezed a quarter at last week’s under tack preview in :21. She was produced from the stakes-winning Capote mare Bashful Charmer and is a half sister to stakes winner Saturday’s Child.
“We’re very happy, very pleased with the sale,” said Niall Brennan. “We expected her to sell well. She’s been popular. She has a great page and she had an excellent breeze. She ticked all the proverbial boxes.”
James Herbener Jr., agent, consigned the filly to the 2011 Keeneland September Sale, where she sold to K.A.B. Stable for $50,000.
All told, 179 head changed hands during the sale’s opening session for a gross of $7,403,000, up substantially from last year’s gross of $5,663,400 on 199 head sold. Monday’s average rose 45.3% to $41,358, compared to $28,459 a year ago. The median price increased 25% to $25,000 from $20,000 a year ago. The buyback percentage was 23.2%; it was 27.1% last year.
“The sale is off to a great start,” said Tom Ventura, OBS general manager. “All of the numbers are headed in the right direction. We’re certainly very pleased. I remain optimistic that it is going to be a solid sale throughout.”
Hip No. 50, a dark bay or brown colt by Harlan's Holiday—West Indian, by Indian Charlie, brought the second-highest price of the day, selling for $285,000. Deborah Easter, agent for Jon and Sarah Kelly, signed the ticket on the colt, who worked an eighth in :10 at the under tack preview. Bred in Kentucky by Highclere, the colt was consigned by Wavertree Stables (Ciaran Dunne), agent.
Hip No. 233, a filly by Henny Hughes, brought $225,000. Signing the ticket was Korean owner Oh, Ho Kuck, who was accompanied by his agent, Oh, Jong Hwan. Oh, Ho Kuck is no stranger to OBS sales. He has acquired horses out of the OBS Fall Mixed Sale in the past. Consigned by Best A Luck Farm, the filly worked a co-bullet eighth in :9 4/5 at the under tack preview. Produced from the winning Cape Town mare Cape Discovery, the filly was consigned by her breeder, Brandywine Farm, to the 2011 Fasig-Tipton October Sale where she was haltered by Best A Luck Farm for $30,000.
Two youngsters sold for $220,000 on Monday. Hip No. 92, a Kentucky-bred Street Boss filly consigned by Niall Brennan Stables, agent, sold to Tommy Hutton’s Dream Stable. The filly, produced from the stakes-placed Boston Harbor mare Airizon, was a $32,000 yearling at the 2011 Keeneland September Sale. Hip No. 267, a Kentucky-bred Harlan's Holiday colt consigned by Hoppel’s Horse and Cattle Co., agent, was purchased by Jim and Susan Hill. Patrick Hoppel bought the colt out of the Kris S. mare Cita My Dear from Claiborne Farm, agent, for $20,000 at last year’s Keeneland September Sale.
Hip No. 105, an Unbridled's Song colt, sold to Bloom Racing Stable for $210,000. Consigned by Crupi’s New Castle Farm, agent, the gray or roan Kentucky-bred colt worked an eighth in :10 at the under tack show. He is out of the stakes-winning High Yield mare Amazing Buy.
The second session of the four-day OBS April Sale begins on Tuesday, April 24, at 10:30 a.m.