Final Curtain Call For 2-Year-Olds at OBS June Sale

The final opportunity to snap up precocious juveniles for summer racing gets underway June 7 at the Ocala Breeders' Sales Company June Sale of 2-Year-Olds and Horses of Racing Age. The three-day sale, which concludes June 9, saw a catalog of 1,167 horses hit the polytrack last week, turning in favorable breezes during the under tack show.

The evolution of the June Sale, previously seen as a catch-all sale for leftovers from the earlier juvenile sales, has been on the rise. An upward swing in average and median prices commanded by the horses whose pedigree's bolster more black-type among the immediate female families.

"June has become its own sale and is no longer considered a 'clean-up sale.' The quality of horses that have come from the June Sale has grown in number and importance over the years. I think the majority of buyers now recognize June as a don't miss spot on the calendar," OBS director of sales Tod Wojciechowski commented.

During the 2021 sale, 575 horses changed hands of the 695 through the ring through three sessions to account for gross receipts of $24,741,650. Suitable for an average price of $43,029 and a median of $20,000. The 120 horses who failed to meet their reserve represent an RNA rate of 17.2%.

This year 859 horses will go under the hammer after 238 were withdrawn from the sale (as of Monday evening), with Hips 1-374 selling Tuesday, Hips 375-748 selling Wednesday, and Hips 749-1167 selling Thursday; all beginning at 10 a.m. ET.

"The size of the catalog is indicative of the confidence people have of bringing a horse here in June and getting it sold," Wojciechowski commented. "Sellers are comfortable with bringing a horse to June and feeling like they will get their horse sold well, which is a factor in the size of the catalog."

While the Florida summer is heating up, buyers eagerly spent two days after the under tack show viewing horses in the barns and making final shortlists ahead of the sale.

The 2021 leading sale consignor by gross, after selling 19 horses for receipts of $2,001,000 de Meric Sales brings forward a draft of 30 horses. 

Tristan de Meric commented: "It's June, but I think it will be the same story. Hopefully, we'll see a bit more bounce in the middle of the market and even in the lower end. I mean, it's good to see people here shopping the barns and doing their work. I'd like to see more activity in the middle because we have a lot of horses that will fall in that range. There are plenty of people here shopping the good horses, too. There is still a lot of unspent money out here. We'll see—fingers crossed."

Alistair Roden Bloodstock purchased eight head in 2021 for gross receipts of $852,000 to be the sale's leading buyer.

Florida-based consignor Omar Ramirez is excited to get the first day of selling underway, noting the 2022 sales season has been remarkable for him and his team.

"For me, this year has been amazing. I have had great sales all year. I had a dream April sale, and the Timonium sale was excellent," Ramirez said. "My help at the sale is so important to my success; the riders, grooms, and my family work together with me and are my biggest supporters.

"I have an Uncle Mo   filly that is the star of the show, Hip 525; she is a very nice filly and has been one of my favorite horses all year. The filly by Uncaptured , Hip 428, is also pretty nice, we got her from the OBS Winter Sale last year, and since we brought her in from the field, she has improved tremendously."

Last year was topped by a $425,000 juvenile filly by Practical Joke   offered by Top Line Sales; the now-named Zedana was purchased by Gary Young, agent. Young was also the leading buyer at the recent Maryland sale after spending a record $3,550,000 for a colt by the late Bernardini for client Zedan Racing.

"June is always a little bit hard. We've seen more action today (Monday) than yesterday, so I think some people are getting in a little bit later," White Lilac's Katie Miranda said. "I'm curious to see how it plays out, but I think the nice horses always sell well regardless of the time of year. We have a nice group here at this sale, so we hope the nice horses go to the right people."

The bullish market for 2-year-olds has been felt at every sale this year, leaving many buyers with orders to fill in all price ranges. Generally speaking, this sale is comprised of middle-market horses, driven by a median price increase that is currently hovering at $20,000. Last year 28 horses realized an over $199,999 price tag.

"I think a lot of people could show up (Tuesday) and get in there," Hal Hatch of Halcyon Hammock Farm said. "They (buyers) are still pretty game. There is money out there. It's been a great year—I've had a great year. The people who have wanted a good horse have been willing to pay for it."

Michael Compton helped contribute to this story.