'Reborn' OBS June Sets Record Gross and Median

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Photo: Judit Seipert
The Curlin colt consigned as Hip 1087 in the ring at the OBS June Sale

The final day of selling at the Ocala Breeders' Sales June Sale of 2-Year-Olds and Horses of Racing Age June 9 closed with a record gross and median, showing the sale has gained its own place in the market and shed the stigma of being a hold-over sale.

"Reborn, June continues to show it is a standalone sale; it has its own legs," Tod Wojciechowski, OBS director of sales, said. "Plenty of quality horses have come out of this sale."

Saving the best for last, Hip 1087 from the supplemental catalog, the Curlin   colt summoned a final bid of $370,000 from trainer Ron Moquett on behalf of owner Gus King.

Produced from the stakes-placed, winning Distorted Humor mare Distracting , a half sister to grade 1 winner Streaming  and to stakes winners Treasuring  and Cascading , the filly's extended female family includes the likes of champion Rags to Riches Jazil , winner of the 2006 Belmont Stakes (G1), and multiple graded stakes winner Cezanne .

"Obviously, his pedigree is excellent," said Moquett. "He's a powerful, athletic-looking horse. We know he comes from good people, from the breeder up. Hopefully, we can carry on the care they have given him.

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"We've been getting outrun for the better horses," Moquett added, "so I'm happy to get him. It's been a lot of work, but I'm comfortable with what we got."

Bred in Kentucky by Hill 'n' Dale Equine Holdings and Stretch Run Ventures, the colt breezed a quarter-mile in :21 3/5 at the under tack preview. He was a $135,000 RNA at last year's Keeneland September Yearling Sale, where he was consigned by Hill 'n' Dale Sales Agency and was an out at last month's Fasig-Tipton Midlantic 2-Year-Olds in Training Sale.

"He is a really good individual," noted co-breeder John Sikura. "He went to Maryland. I guess he didn't like the track; he didn't work great. He worked well here. It's a world-class pedigree. (He is) the kind of horse that if he has success on the racetrack—(being) by Curlin and that female family of his—unlimited value. Happy to get him sold. It validates our earlier opinion of him that he was a nice horse. The horse looks great on a shank. He should have made more as a yearling, but he sold well here. It's great."

The third session concluded with 211 horses changing hands of the 264 offered for gross receipts of $9,679,900 to show a 13.7% increase year-over-year, good for an average price of $45,876 and a median of $25,000. The 53 horses who failed to meet their reserves represent a 20% RNA rate.

"It felt good. Many horses got traded at different levels, which is always a good thing—particularly as the last (juvenile) sale of the year," Wojciechowski commented. "Having a record high median is a tell-tale of the strength of the sale, more than the record gross."

Tod Wojciechowski
Photo: Judit Seipert
Tod Wojciechowski

In 2021 Day 3 saw 174 horses sold out of 210 through the ring for final figures of $8,512,650, creating an average price of $48,923 and a median of $22,000. Thirty-six horses failed to meet their reserve to record an RNA rate of 17.1%.

Buyer Gus King closed out the final session as the leading buyer, purchasing two individuals Thursday for a total of $465,000. Perennial leading juvenile consignor de Meric Sales was the session three and cumulative top seller after selling 16 horses for a gross of $1,181,000 during the final session and concluding with final receipts of $1,889,000 for 28 head sold.

"All in all, it's been very positive for the buyers looking for the mid-level individuals," Nick Hines commented after purchasing four individuals over the three days. "At the top end, you are paying a premium, which isn't uncommon in June. People still had the budget to spend, but it had to be for the right horse."

Cumulatively for the last three days of selling, 663 horses sold of the 810 through the ring for gross receipts of $27,167,500 to show an increase of 9.8%, partially attributed to the growth in the catalog. An average price of $40,977 was established, and the median increased 20% to $24,000. A total of 147 juveniles failed to meet their reserve price to represent an RNA rate of 18.1%.

At the conclusion of the 2021 edition, 575 horses sold of the 695 on offer for final figures of $24,741,650. Suitable for an average price of $43,029 and a median of $20,000. A total of 120 horses failed to meet their reserve to represent an RNA rate of 17.2%.

Donato Lanni acting as agent closed out the June Sale as the leading cumulative buyer after his two purchases for final receipts of $1,350,000.

Wojciechowski added: "You can't hide a good horse. Ultimately buyers will find it."