Salt Lake Tops Final Session of OBS Sale

An outstanding son of Salt Lake topped the second and final session of the Ocala Breeders' Sales Co.'s March selected 2-year-olds in training sale when David Clark's Iron Horse Racing purchased him for $320,000 from the consignment of Barry Eisaman's Eisaman Equine.

For the day, OBS reported 135 horses sold for a gross of $11,414,000, compared with 118 bringing $11,535,000 in 2004. The average was $84,548 compared with $97,754 last year while the median was $62,000, down from last year's figure of $65,000. A dozen horses brought more than $200,000, compared with 15 last year.

The buy back rate was 40.5% with 92 horses failing to find new homes, compared with 34.8% last year.

Overall, the two-day auction saw an increase in gross, with 323 horses selling for a March sale record $26,399,000, compared with 245 hips selling for $22,563,000 last year. The average was $81,731, a decline over last year's mark of $92,094, while the median decreased from $60,000 in 2004 to $55,000. Twenty-six horses brought more than $200,000, the same amount as last year. The buy-back rate decreased from 33.4% in 2004 to 31.5% this year.

"The 40% RNA mark today was a little disappointing, but overall I think it was a very good sale," said Tom Ventura, OBS general manager and director of sales. "There was a lot of action at all levels during the first day, but we just didn't sustain that today. This sale continues to roll along. It's just tough to compare with last year's numbers."

The session topping colt, who was bred in Kentucky by John T.L. Jones Jr. and Troy Seale, was purchased by Eisaman Equine for $155,000 at the 2004 Keeneland September yearling sale.

The colt, who was produced from the stakes winning What a Hoist mare Slinkylady and is a full brother to multiple stakes winner Lake Lady, worked a quarter-mile in :21 3/5 March 20.

Eisaman Equine also consigned the sale's top-priced horse, a son of Yes It's True, purchased by Jimmy Bell, acting on behalf of Sheikh Mohammed's Darley, for $900,000 on the sale's opening day.

Clark, a resident of Naples, Fla., said he believed going into the sale that the muscular son of Salt Lake would be the sale topper. "His work was really good and he is a chunky kind of horse," said Clark. "I really thought he would bring a lot more."

The colt is bound for Oaklawn Park where he will be trained by Bob Holthus, who assisted Clark in choosing the horse. Holthus conditions Rebel Stakes (gr. III) winner Greater Good for Lewis Lakin.

Results, Second Session, OBSC Selected 2-Year-Olds in Training Sale