By Ryan Conley
A Yes It's True weanling filly named Truely Genuine sold for $200,000 to top all prices in the opening day of the Ocala Breeders' Sales Co. Fall Mixed Sale, asession which produced across the board increases over last year.
Truely Genuine, sold through the Janey Roper consignment for breeders Ron and Lybby Gay, was acquired by agent John Moynihan via a phone bid on behalf of winery magnate Jess Jackson.
"She's not been in the stall since she got here," said Lybby Gay, who, along with her husband and four children, operates L&R Farm near Ocala, Fla. "She was busy from the time she got here."
Truely Genuine is out of the 16-year-old Great Above mare Genuine Goer, who produced Trippi colts that sold in recent yearling sales for $135,000 and $155,000, respectively. The mare is not in foal this year, Lybby Gay said.
Two broodmares in the Summerfield Sales consignment sold for $125,000 each: A 5-year-old Holy Bull mare named Emptythetill, who was purchased by Jerry Bailey and Lance Robinson's Gulf Coast Farm LLC, and Mil Kilates, a grade III winner acquired by Matthews Stable, the new U.S. breeding operation of European horseman Ian Matthews.
The top-selling weanling colt, a Songandaprayer out of the With Approval mare Final Approval, was also sold out of the Summerfield consignment. Agent Tony Mattine signed the $110,000 ticket on behalf of Howie Walton.
A total of 191 horses grossed $4,764,300, which was up from the $4,401,000 yielded in last year's opening session. The average of $24,944 and the median of $16,500 were up 14.5% and 10%, respectively, over last year. The buy-back rate fell to 25.4% from last year's 29.3%.
"All the numbers went in the right direction," said Tom Ventura, OBS director of sales. "We just hope it continues for the next several days."
The five-day sale continues Tuesday at 11 a.m.