Yaupon Colt Tops First Session at OBS Yearling Sale

Amid the impending threat of Hurricane Milton as it moves toward Florida, the Ocala Breeders' Sales October Yearling Sale saw a decrease in gross sales, average, and median Oct. 7 for the opening session of the two-day sale.

The sale had been scheduled to run Tuesday and Wednesday. 

"I think it was the best move to move it (the sale) forward," consignor Colin Brennan said. "Everyone I talked to agreed that with these storms, you never know what's going to happen. So, that was the best move. I commend OBS for that. Considering the horses, the staff, and the buyers' safety, that was the best thing to do. The market is going to be a little bit more tricky because the out-of-towners shied away from the sale for that reason."

A colt by Yaupon   topped the first session at $75,000. Pick View purchased the Florida-bred from the Colin Brennan Bloodstock consignment. Hip 78 was bred by Leroy McClurg and is out of the Street Cry mare Bride Street, who is a half sister to multiple graded stakes winner Conveyance . 

Yaupon stood the 2024 season at Spendthrift Farm for an advertised fee of $25,000. His first foals are yearlings of 2024. His offspring have been well received in the sales ring, with many of them bringing six figures, including a colt who went for $900,000 at the Keeneland September Yearling Sale. 

"The sire has been selling so well, they're so hot," said Brennan. "We thought this would be a good place for him. He's a good-looking, early type 2-year-old. He looks like he's also going to be versatile on top of that. The colt did his own thing. He showed himself well while he was here. The pinhookers seem to like him well enough. I think it was a good buy."

The highest-priced filly of the session was Hip 180, a daughter of Vekoma   from the Abbie Road consignment. Tom McCrocklin secured her for $72,000. She is out of the Flatter  mare Grin, and from the family of No Dozing . 

The gross sales were down, along with the average and median. Ninety-seven head were sold from the 161 offered for a total of $1,659,000. The average was $17,112, with a median of $10,000. The RNA rate was 39.8% representing the 64 horses who did not sell.

Last year's first session produced a gross of $3,655,500, and an average of $18,940 from the 193 horses who changed hands. The median was $12,000. A total of 107 horses failed to meet their reserves, resulting in an RNA rate of 35.7%. The session topper a year ago was Hip 353, a $135,000 filly by Bolt d'Oro   named Reputation, who was consigned by Kaizen Sales and bought by de Meric Sales. 

K.O.I.D. was the leading buyer of the day Monday with six purchases totaling $124,000. Kaizen Sales sold 14 yearlings for $274,200 to be the leading consignor of the first session. 

The sale continues Oct. 8 at 11:30 a.m. ET, with Hips 201-595 set to go through the ring.