The Ocala Breeders’ Spring Sale of 2-Year-Olds in Training ended April 19 with new records for average and median prices, and a sales price $1.9 million led by first-crop sire Tiz the Law.
The OBS sale of the 2-year-old in training came to a close on April 19 after a four-day show with the $850,000 daughter of Nyquistist sold to Donato Lanni, agent for Baoma Corp. by Charles and Susan Chu, to close the final session.
The black-haired girl or the brown girl, who will be trained by Bob Baffert, is of the race-neutral type. faucet mare Amagansett. Consigned by Wavertree Stables, she comes from the family of Group 1 winners and European champions Fasliyev and was bred in Kentucky by Bobby Flay Thoroughbreds. A $200,000 purchase of Allstar Bloodstock at last year’s Keeneland September Yearling Sale, the film was a quick :09 4/5 in sub-tactical previews.
Hip 915, the daughter topped the Nyquist version on April 19 at OBS Spring Sale
Topping total revenue is Hip 365, the company’s debut product law who sold in the second session on April 17 for $1.9 million to Lanni, who represented Michael Lund Petersen. Commissioned by Tom McCrocklin, the popular youngster made a splash during a preview under scrutiny, covering the quarter mile in a track record: 20 1/5.
Bought by McCrocklin for $170,000 from the Highgate Sales consignment at last year’s Keeneland September sale, this filly is out of deposit. Sky Mesa mare Moonlit sky half-sister to the 2017 champion 3-year-old filly Abel Tasman and a full sister to rank the winner Sky girl . CHC bred the Spring Sale leader in Kentucky and she will be trained by Baffert.
“It’s rare that we are lucky enough to have a horse as special as her,” McCrocklin shared. “She has everything I want in a horse. She has the looks, pedigree, ability and is a natural athlete. She’s stuck in here. It’s hard for her to go unnoticed . Apparently they found her.”
After a pedestrian third session on April 18, a day that saw 114 horses start from 302 listed, business picked up noticeably in the final session. All told on the final day, 141 heads changed hands for a total of $19,701,500, or an average of $139,727. The average price was $65,000 and 37 horses did not meet the reserve. The number of exits once again reached more than 100 in Friday’s trading session.
During the entire sale, 633 yearlings were sold for a total of $82,086,500, compared to $90,405,000 last year. The average price of $129,679 set a Spring Sale record, surpassing the 2022 benchmark of $129,577 and last year’s average price of $129,335. This year’s average price was $70,000, also a record price for the spring sale; the average is $65,000 in 2023. A total of 149 horses went unsold this year, representing a buyback rate of 19%.
Tod Wojciechowski, director of sales at OBS, said of the record results, “We felt like it really picked up here at the end of the four-day period. It felt great. Disappointing, for sure.” in terms of (number of) outbounds. There were definitely a lot of mistakes in the four days. Something we’ll address in the future, but overall it was a good turnover record so we were very close to that.”
When dealing with large numbers of sellers, Wojciechowski said: “There are many factors that influence that decision by sellers. Sometimes, they feel like they don’t take any action or anything, But sometimes there’s just a disconnect.”
At the end of the final session, consignor Niall Brennan gave his observations on this week’s markets.
“I think the statistics speak for themselves,” Brennan said. “It’s been very hit and miss. It’s really the same old story. It’s a tough market. You have to have real goods and they have to be very fast on the track. There’s a lot of competition now.” But the reality is that buyers buy things very quickly.
“There were very few people around,” Brennan added. “For OBS April (Spring Sale), this is usually a brunch. It’s always very well attended and there are usually a lot of buyers everywhere. In fact, there are few people buying things for 2 years younger. And listen, it’s an election year, and historically, people slow down spending during election years. That might be a small factor, but we’re not having those conversations this during the September sale or the annual sale because people come from all over to buy horses. It seems like the buying bench has shrunk.
“Then again, the horses don’t show up, so to be fair, buyers don’t want to buy them. They don’t look like athletes without a good wind. This week, the horses that people like are selling very well.” There’s a market for them and we’re seeing that yesterday was a little weak, but today it’s a little better. Overall, the market is a bit weak.”
Dealers John Kimmel and Nick Sallusto, who signed a $725,000 McKinzie colt during Friday’s trading session, have put their offer on the market during the season sale. spring.
“Spots,” Kimmel noted. “But it seems like the companies we’re interested in aren’t having any trouble finding buyers.”
Sallusto added of the market, “Quality is very much pursued. And anything that’s not considered top quality is in trouble. It’s more of the same, maybe a little more than usual.”
Topping the consignor rankings for the spring sale was de Meric Sales, which sold 45 horses for $8,950,000. Next is Wavertree Stables, finding new homes for 36 animals with revenue of 6,359,500 USD.
Next on the OBS calendar is the Training and Racing Age 2-Year-Old Promotion scheduled for June 11-13. Previews are below will take place from June 3 to 8.
