OBS Sale Opens on Strong Note

Topped by an Into Mischief   colt bought by Spendthrift Farm for $335,000, the Ocala Breeders’ Sales Co.’s April sale of 2-year-olds in training began on a strong note April 19, with across-the-board increases in gross, average, and median prices, with fewer sold when compared with session one in 2015.

OBS reported the 154 sold grossed $11,180,500, up 8% over the $10,351,200 figure for 181 sold in 215. This year’s first session average was up 27% to $72,601 from $57,189, and the median rose 18% to $47,000 from $40,000. The buyback rate was 28%.

There were 11 horses that sold for more than $200,000 during the session, compared with four such transactions during last year’s comparable session.

“It was a good day, and while we’re certainly glad to be up during this first session, we we take it in stride realizing we have three more days,” said sales director Tod Wojciechowski.

Ned Toffey, general manager of Spendthrift where Into Mischief stands for $45,000, said farm owner B. Wayne Hughes is supportive of the stallion and ready to invest in his offspring that have similar attributes to their sire.

“Into Mischief stamps them very well and he was what you would be looking for in an Into Mischief,” Toffey said of the colt.

The colt was consigned as Hip 289 by Bridlewood Farm, which had purchased him for $100,000 at last year’s Keeneland September yearling sale. The colt who breezed an eighth of a mile in :10 during the pre-sale under tack workouts was bred in Kentucky by Richard  and Connie Snyder and was produced from grade III-placed mare Summer Song, a half sister to grade I winner Don’t Tell Sophia.

Sharing the session’s second-highest price of $310,000 were a Midnight Lute   colt and a Shackleford   filly.

Hip 33 consigned by agent Randy Miles, the Midnight Lute colt was purchased by Ruis Racing. The Kentucky-bred colt, whose second dam Annasan was outstanding broodmare in Canada and is the dam of Canadian Horse of the year A Bit O’Gold, was purchased for $28,000 at the 2015 Keeneland September yearling sale.

Bought by Narvick International from the SGV Thoroughbreds consignment, the Shackledford filly (Hip 128) was bred in New York by Kaz Hill Farm and was produced from the winning Vindication mare Royal Affection, a half sister to grade III winner Tiger Ride and stakes winner Ol Donyo.