Progression of Quality at the OBS October Sale Improves

The yearling sales scene comes to a close in October, and one of the final stops is the Oct. 10-11 Ocala Breeders Sales Company October Yearling Sale. The sale offers 755 yearlings this year, which will head through the ring beginning at 10 a.m. (ET) Tuesday.

"The sale has evolved, and the consignors are the main ones to thank because they continually bring better horses each year," OBS director of sales Tod Wojciechowski commented. "Consignors experience success in the sales ring, and then we get to see success with those horses on the racetrack, which begets interest. The continuing improvement of the horses the consignors bring is certainly, first and foremost, what helps us."

Graduates of the fall sale include the globetrotting juvenile Crimson Advocate , who scored during Royal Ascot week in the Queen Mary Stakes (G2) after an impressive maiden win in the Royal Palm Juvenile Fillies Stakes at Gulfstream Park in May. Consignor Beth Bayer sold the Nyquist   filly last year to Dewsweepers II for $100,000.

KP Sales consigned Key of Life  to the 2021 sale, seeing Bishop Bloodstock scoop up the Beaumont Stakes (G2) winner for $42,000. Dual graded winner Elm Drive , winner of this year's Monrovia Stakes (G3) and the 2021 Sorrento Stakes (G2) at 2, was initially sourced by Sweet Gum Farm for $40,000 from the Summerfield consignment in 2020.

Other notable graduates include 2022 Hollywood Derby (G1T) victor Speaking Scout , which Pedro Hernandez purchased for $3,000 in 2020 from Bobby Jones Equine; Santa Anita Sprint Championship Stakes (G2) second Speed Boat Beach ; and, 2022 Jessamine Stakes (G2T) winner Delight , sold for $90,000 two years ago to Whetstone Farm from the Stuart Morris banner. 

"We have several quality updates through the catalog," Wojciechowski said. "Yesterday was a very busy day on the sales grounds, and today is picking up gradually as the day goes on. In the mornings, a lot of the people here looking are also training horses. Once training is over for the morning, they're able to get back into the barns and continue to shop. We have seen some trainers here from South Florida, which is good, and from all around the country. We've seen a Korean representative here, which might be the first time we've seen them here in a while. I think all of those people are attracted by the results of our graduates on the racetrack."

The two-day sale saw 389 yearlings sold from the 554 to go under the hammer last year, accounting for gross receipts of $10,571,900. An average price of $27,177 and a $18,000 median was recorded. An RNA rate of 29.8% represents the 165 yearlings who failed to sell.

A Mitole   colt consigned as Hip 122 by Bobby Jones Equine topped last year's edition after D.J. Stable signed at $210,000 to acquire the now-named Catch a Tiger . The juvenile has made four starts this year, hitting the board in three efforts.

The Green's D.J. Stable made six purchases for gross receipts of $700,000 to be the leading buyer last year. Consignor Abbie Road Farm sold 36 of their 45-head draft for a gross of $1,104,500, at an average of $30,681, to be the leading consignor.

This year, the sale will see Hips 1-359 head through the ring Tuesday, followed by Hips 401-755 Wednesday. Both days start selling at 10 a.m. As of Monday afternoon, 88 yearlings had been withdrawn from the sale.

"I think we will probably see a similar market to what we've seen at the other sales," said Wojciechowski. "The perceived good horses are not going to have a problem. It may get thin in some spots in the second or third tier, but ultimately, we'll see what we've seen at the other sales this year."

The weather couldn't be any better as buyers shop the barns, with temps starting around 60 degrees in the morning and warming to just in the 80s.

Wojciechowski added: "We've got beautiful weather for the first time since we've had the October sale. We actually have October weather."