Take a Picture and Cruisen Mizzy, both sired by Mizzen Mast and bred in Pennsylvania, brought the top two prices April 19 during the second session of the Ocala Breeders Sales Co. spring sale of 2-year-olds in training, which continued to perform strongly in Central Florida on April 19. Take a Picture went for $240,000 and Cruisen Mizzy commanded $210,000.
Patrice Miller of the Pennsylvania-based consulting firm EQB, as agent, purchased Take a Picture from Paul Sharp, agent. The bay juvenile is a half brother to the winners Hard Lemon (by Lemon Drop Kid ) and Robust Wish (by Strong Hope ). Their dam, the unraced Unbridled mare Copper Rose, is a half sister to Namaqualand (by Mr. Prospector), who scored in the 1993 Lamplighter Handicap (gr. IIIT). Namaqualand also finished third in the 1992 Prix de Cabourg (Fr-III) and second in the 1994 Daryl’s Joy Handicap (gr. IIIT).
Bred by Pink Star Equine and Stable, Take a Picture worked a quarter mile in:21 prior to the OBS spring sale.
Machmer Hall and partners acquired Take a Picture, when he was a weanling, for $60,000 from Flying High Farm, agent, at the 2009 Keeneland November breeding stock sale. Take a Picture was a $75,000 buy-back the following year, when he was offered by Select Sales, agent, at the Keeneland September yearling auction.
“OMG!! Hope he wins the (Kentucky) Derby (gr. I)!” wrote Carrie Brogden of Kentucky-based Machmer Hall in a message on Facebook after Take a Picture went through the sale ring at OBS.
California-based Narvick International purchased Cruisen Mizzy. Bred by Brian O’Rourke and Derry Meeting Farm, the gray or roan juvenile is a half sister to the winner Quick Ride (by Afleet Alex ), who finished third in the 2009 Dover Stakes at Delaware Park. Their dam, the winning Tale of the Cat mare Baby Lets Cruise, is half sister to Jade Hunter (by Mr. Prospector), who captured the Donn (gr. I) and Gulfstream Park (gr. I) Handicaps in 1988.
Costanzo Sales, agent, consigned Cruisen Mizzy, who worked an eighth of a mile in :10. Anthony Costanzo bought the filly for $42,000 from Castle Park Farm, agent, at the 2010 Keeneland September sale.
The OBS spring auction’s second session results included a gross of $7,161,600 for the 214 horses that were sold. The average price was $33,465 and the median price was $20,000.
Compared to the same session in 2010, the number sold and gross rose 2.4% and 11.2%, respectively. The average increased 8.6% while the median equaled last year’s result.
The buy-back rate of 23.6% was up from 16.7% in 2010.
During the first session April 18, the gross, average, and median all enjoyed upswings.
The OBS auction runs through April 21, with each session beginning at 10:30 a.m. (EDT).
