The Ocala Breeders Sales Co. (OBS) April sale of 2-year-olds training finished its four-day run in Central Florida Thursday with figures close to last year’s results. The gross revenue declined less than 1% while the average price rose 1.4%. The median enjoyed a 5.9% increase.
“I think the market was very consistent throughout,” said Tom Ventura, OBS general manager and director of sales. “It was a very good sale from the beginning to end. There was a good mix of buyers, and they were here to buy horses at all price levels.”
The 772 horses sold grossed $22,571,000 and averaged $29,275. The median was $18,000, and the no bid/buyback rate was 28.1%, with 301 of the 1,072 horses offered failing to find new homes.
Last year, 786 horses were sold for a gross of $22,698,400. Their average was $28,879, and their median was $17,000. The buy-back rate was 28.0%.
“The one thing that’s helping the 2-year-old market is the purse structure at some regional markets, which is allowing them to compete with premier racing centers,” Ventura said. “You don’t have to win in New York or California to make money. You’ve got places like Pennsylvania and Woodbine (in Canada) with significant purse increases because of slots. The buyer of the $30,000 or $40,000 horse has a better chance to make money now than they’ve had in previous years.
“But what counters that,” Ventura continued, “is the economy, with the oil prices at record highs and the stock market fluctuating. Coming off two exceptional (juvenile) sales in February and March, we would have hoped to carry on (the record-setting pace). But this was a large group of horses and a big test of the market, which held up in the face of economic uncertainty.”
Cruisinforabruisen was the most expensive horse sold Thursday, attracting a $370,000 final bid from Satish and Anne Sanan’s Padua Stables. A bay son of Harlan's Holiday, he is the first foal produced out of the 9-year-old unraced Wavering Monarch mare Act So Noble, who is a half-sister to winner and stakes producer Peaceful Waters (by Water Bank).
Another Episode Farm, agent, consigned Cruisinforabruisen, who worked an eighth of a mile in :10 1/5. Bred by Ronald McPeek and Shane Floyd in Kentucky, the colt was offered by Paramount Sales, as agent, at the 2007 Fasig-Tipton Kentucky July select yearling sale, but was bought back for $25,000.
The second-highest-priced horse was a Friends Lakefilly, which brought $300,000 from trainer Linda Rice, agent. The chestnut juvenile, which worked a quarter-mile in :21 1/5, is out of the 9-year-old winning Carson City mare Trix City. The filly's second dam, Always Nettie (by Vice Regent), captured the 1994 Spruce Fir Handicap at Monmouth Park.
Barry and Shari Eisaman’s Eisaman Equine, as agent, consigned the filly after purchasing her for $22,000 from Woodspring Farm, agent, at the 2007 Keeneland September yearling auction. Roasting Ear Ranch bred the filly, which is a member of her sire's first crop, in Kentucky.
The results for Thursday’s session were 188 horses sold, a gross of $5,100,400, an average of $27,130, and a median of $16,000. The no bid/buy-back rate was 28.0%, with 73 of the 261 horses offered failing to find new homes.
