OBS Spring Sale Posts All-Time Highs for Gross, Average

The Ocala Breeders' Sales Co. spring sale of 2-year-olds in training closed out its four-day run Friday in Central Florida with increases in its gross revenue and average price. Both figures were all-time highs for the auction.

The 756 horses sold brought $24,565,500, which was up 11.6% from last year's total of $22,017,800 for 775 horses. The average of $32,494 represented an increase of 14.4% from last year's comparable figure of $28,410. The former records for the gross of $23,183,000 and the average of $29,952 were set in 2004.

This year's median price of $17,000 the same as last year's session. The buy-back rate dropped from 28.6% last year to 22.5% this year. Fifty horses sold for individual prices of $100,000 or more compared to 36 in 2005.

The top-priced horse during the final session was a chestnut son of Broken Vow   that sold for $180,000. Consigned by Nick de Meric, agent, he was purchased by Tom McCrocklin, agent for Robert and Lawana Low. Last year, McCrocklin purchased the OBS spring sale topper, Steppenwolfer, for $375,000 for the Lows. Steppenwolfer is now at Churchill Downs preparing for the Kentucky Derby presented by Yum! Brands (gr. I) after finishing second in the Arkansas Derby (gr. II).

The Broken Vow colt is out of the 11-year-old winning Mountain Cat mare Puddy Cat, and is a half-brother to the winners Miss Rocket Jag and Frances Tormenta. His dam is a half-sister to stakes winners Last Vice and Afine Pastry.

Prior to the OBS spring sale, the Broken Vow colt worked an eighth of a mile in :10 3/5. He was a $19,000 buy-back at the 2005 OBS August yearling auction when consigned by Kelli Mitchell, agent. Loren D. Nichols and Dr. Joseph Tripi bred the colt in Florida.

The last session's most expensive female was a $160,000 daughter of Prime Timber named Prime Catch. Hal J. Earnhardt purchased the dark bay or brown filly from Indian Prairie Ranch, agent. Clyde Rice bought Prime Catch for $30,000 at last year's OBS August yearling auction from Oak Springs Farm, agent.

Prime Catch breezed an eighth of a mile in :10 2/5 prior to the OBS spring sale, and it was one of the fastest works at that distance on April 22. She is out of the 10-year-old winning Salt Lake mare Lucky Lady Lucy, who is a half-sister to stakes-placed Wink Road. Prime Catch is a half-sister to winners Mi Amigo and Salty Suzanne.

The figures for the OBS spring sale's last session were 178 horses sold for a gross of $4,623,600 and an average of $25,975. Last year, 167 horses were sold for a gross of $4,422,200 and an average of $26,480.