A Storm Catcolt sold for $400,000 Wednesday to top the third session of the Ocala Breeders’ Sales Co. (OBS) spring sale of 2-year-olds in training. But even though the price was the highest for a horse, so far, during the Central Florida auction, buyer John Fort of Peachtree Racing Stable thought he got a bargain.
“He’s a very nice horse in every way,” Fort said. “He has a million-dollar pedigree, and he’s a million-dollar individual, but this isn’t a million-dollar sale. It was an unusual spot for this kind of horse. I’ve been in the horse business for 30 years and I’ve lived in the shadow of a great stallion who had horses that only a handful of people could afford. This is something that I could only dream about in the past. I’m very pleased.”
The dark bay or brown colt is out of the 12-year-old End Sweep mare Nany’s Sweep, who captured the 2001 Santa Monica Handicap (gr. I) at Santa Anita Park and the 2000 Orinda Handicap at Golden Gate Fields. He is a half-brother to She’s Indy Money (by A.P. Indy), who scored in the 2007 Seaway (Can-III) and Ontario Matron Stakes at Woodbine.
Soon after Fort purchased the colt, he arranged to have the 2-year-old shipped to the Vinery’s nearby Florida operation.
“He’ll probably be at the Vinery for the next six weeks,” Fort said. “We’ll see how he lets down and comes out of the process, and they’ll put some foundation in him.”
Stephens Thoroughbreds, as agent for Vision Sales, consigned the colt to the OBS spring sale, and he worked an eighth of a mile in :10 1/5. He had been scratched from the Barretts March select juvenile auction.
Vision Sales purchased the colt for $200,000 from Four Star Sales, agent, at the 2007 Keeneland September yearling sale. Bill Casner and Kenny Troutt’s WinStar Farm bred the colt in Kentucky.
The 193 horses sold during the spring sale’s third session grossed $6,407,000 and averaged $33,197. The median price was $17,000, and the buy-back rate was 28.3%, with of 76 of the 269 horses offered failing to find new homes. In a change from the first two sessions, there weren't any "no bids." Compared to a year ago, the number sold was down 2.5% from 198, but the gross rose 21.0% from $5,293,800. The average increased 24.2% from $26,736, and the median grew 6.3% from $16,000.
Wednesday’s second-highest-priced horse was a Posse—Real Crafty Belle filly that sold for $275,000. Spring Valley Farm purchased her for $275,000 from Terry Oliver and Bo Hunt’s O & H Bloodstock, agent.
The third-highest-priced horse was a $260,000 Langfuhr—Race to Glory filly. Journeyman Bloodstock, agent, bought her from Niall Brennan Stables, agent.
For the spring auction’s first three sessions combined, the results were 583 horses sold, a gross of $17,470,600, and an average of $29,967. The buy-back/no bid rate was 28.1%, with 228 of the 811 horses offered failing to find new homes. Compared to 2007, the number sold was down 4.6% from 611, but the gross was up 2.8% from $16,997,500. The average increased 6.8% from $29,819.
The sale’s final session is scheduled for Thursday. It will start at 10:30 a.m. (EDT).
