A striking bay son of Yes It's True was purchased by Sheikh Mohammed's Darley for $900,000 to top the opening session of the Ocala Breeders' Sales Company's March selected 2-year-olds in training sale.
For the day, OBS reported 188 horses sold for $14,985,000, compared with 127 horses bringing $11,028,000 during the opening session last year. The average price was $79,707 compared with $86,835 in 2004, while the median price was $50,000, compared with $60,000 a year ago.
The buyback percentage was 23%, down from 32% in 2004. Fourteen horses sold for more than $200,000, compared with 11 a year ago.Jimmy Bell, acting on behalf of Sheikh Mohammed, purchased the colt from the consignment of Barry Eisaman's Eisaman Equine. "What can you say," Bell said after signing the ticket. "This horse says everything for us. He was our pick of the sale. The way he performed both times on the track was impressive. He is the type of horse that can do everything you ask. He looks like he got around two turns very easily."Bred in Florida by Peggy and Dean Johnson's Johnson Hollow Farm, the colt, who was produced from the Pentelicus mare Kit Kat Kitty, worked an eighth in :10.2 March 11 and went a quarter-mile in :21. 1 March 19.Eisaman, who consigned the colt on behalf of an undisclosed client, said the colt was purchased privately out of his breeders' field and had been on his farm since mid-July."I always felt he was an outstanding horse," said Eisaman. "He came here and had the opportunity to prove what a good horse he really was."Trainer Todd Pletcher, bidding on behalf of Green Hill Farm, was the immediate underbidder. "I went about one bid over my budget," Pletcher said. "I liked his work and everything about him."Bell said the colt would be shipped to Robert Scanlon's training center before a decision is made whether the colt would be remain in the U.S. or shipped to Europe.The second-highest price of the day belonged to a grey or roan son of Silver Charm who was purchased for $360,000 by Buzz Chace, agent for West Point Thoroughbreds, from the consignment of Hartley/DeRenzo Thoroughbreds.Bred in Kentucky by Keith Lancaster and Silver Charm Partners, the colt was produced from the Blue Ensign mare Ensign's Wine and is from the family of stakes winners Kate's Valentine and Talc's Coventry."It was a pretty fair price," Chace said. "He worked good both times and there was just something about him."The colt worked an eighth in :10.2 March 11 and went a quarter-mile in :21.3 March 19.The top-priced filly of the session was a $350,000 daughter of Siphon purchased by Gary Young from the consignment of Wavertree Stables, Ciaran Dunne, agent. "I was a little stressed, but a good horse will bring good money," Young said. "Her first work just blew my mind and I liked the fact that they didn't breeze her back. She's just a real nice filly and now hopefully she can go out there and prove it."Bred in Kentucky by HIO Stables, the filly, who was originally purchased for $85,000 by Alexander Thoroughbreds, is from the family of grade I winner Urbane and grade III winner Suave.The OBS sale concludes Tuesday, with the session beginning at 11 a.m.
