Into Mischief Pair Highlight of Strong OBS March Opener

The first juvenile sale of the year kicked off March 15 at the Ocala Breeders' Sales March Sale of 2-Year-Olds in Training with a packed pavilion and key players in place to bid on fast 2-year-olds in hopes of securing future champions. The day was hallmarked by two sons of Spendthrift Farm's Into Mischief  , who sold for $1.1 million and $1 million, respectively.

"It was awesome to have two horses bring a million dollars plus, and it's always exciting to have that at the first sale of the year," OBS director of sales Tod Wojciechowski said. "It's a testament to what the consignors brought. It was a good day all around."

OBS reported 188 horses sold from 227 offered on Tuesday's opening session for receipts of $26,325,000. The average was $140,027 and the median was $77,500. All figures show a significant increase from 2021. The 39 horses that went unsold represent an RNA rate of 17.2%. 

"We had certainly hoped the strength in the market that we saw last year would carry through, and it looks like it certainly has," Wojciechowski commented. "We still have a lot of good horses to go tomorrow; I'm anxious and excited for it."

From the opening session of the 2021 renewal of the March sale, OBS reported 175 horses sold from 203 offered for gross receipts of $19,125,500, a $55,000 median, and an average of $109,289. A total of 32 horses went unsold during that session for an RNA rate of 15.7%. These adjusted numbers include post-sale transactions. 

Two juveniles by leading sire Into Mischief topped Day 1. The first, a bay colt out of the Not For Love  mare Zapara, was hammered down for $1.1 million by Japanese trainer Hideyuki Mori for owner Susumu Fujita. Consigned by Eddie Woods, agent, as Hip 257, the colt put in a quick work, going an eighth-mile in :09 4/5 on the second day of the under tack show.

Not long after that colt broke the seven-figure ceiling, another son by Into Mischief brought $1 million for consignor Sequel Bloodstock, agent for breeders Chester and Mary Broman. The colt was secured for a partnership in Spendthrift, BSW/Crow Colts Group, and his breeders. He was consigned as Hip 277 and put in a workman-like breeze of :10 1/5 over an eighth-mile. The New York-bred is out of the Roman Ruler  mare Artemis Agrotera , a grade 1 winner and producer of stakes winner Chestertown .

A total of six juveniles brought more than $500,000 and were secured by six distinct buyers, with nine different operations signing tickets for the top 10 sold.

"We had a good cross-section of buyers today, both internationally and domestic. Buyers from Japan, Europe—it was a deep buying bench today," Wojciechowski added. "We were hopeful of these results, given the activity we had on the grounds in the past days."

At the close of the first session, consignor Eddie Woods led with gross receipts of $3,042,000 for nine head sold. Japan's Hideyuki Mori secured the top-priced offering of the day and three others to be the day's leading buyer with a $1,650,000 total spend.

Francis Vanlangendonck of Summerfield Sales, newly elected chairman of the OBS board, noted: "When those horses that looked the part came down the track during the breeze show, it almost doesn't matter who they are by—they are selling really, really well today. The big thing for me is the horses selling for $75,000 and down. There is a developing market for that (segment), which we haven't had here in a while at this sale. I like that they are selling, too. That's huge."

"Good horses are bringing good money," bloodstock agent Jacob West commented. "What's perceived as good here is good, and these people are getting paid for it. The horses that are perceived as bad are being reflected (in the results) as bad. Overall, horses are getting traded, and that is the important thing.

"We haven't bought anything yet," West added. "We've been trying. It's been strong. We have a few we are interested in tomorrow, so we'll be here and ready to go."

The OBS March sale concludes Wednesday, with the final session beginning at 10:30 a.m. ET with Hips 317-635.