Flatter Colt Tops OBS Select Yearling Session

Topped by a son of Flatter   that sold for $210,000, the Ocala Breeders' Sales Co.’s August select yearling sale session mirrored recent sales with declines in all key statistical categories and a high buy-back rate.

OBS reported 138 horses sold during the Aug. 23 auction for gross receipts of $5,612,000, compared with $6,774,500 total paid for 150 yearlings a year ago. This year's average dipped 9.9% to $40,667 from the $45,163 figure in 2015 and the median fell 28.6% from $35,000 to $25,000.

Of the 274 total cataloged, 223 went through the ring, with the 85 horses bought back representing an RNA rate of 38.1%.

The select sale will be followed by a two-day open sale, in which more than 700 horses are cataloged.

Consigned by Stuart Morris as Hip 24, the session-topping Flatter   colt was purchased by Sagamore Farm, with Stan Hough acting as agent. The colt had been purchased by Morris and his pinhooking partner, Willy North's W. D. North Thoroughbreds, for $80,000 at this year’s Keeneland January horses of all ages sale.

Produced from the winning Dixie Union mare Madoffwiththecash, a half sister to grade II winner and stakes producer B Shanny, the colt was bred in Kentucky by Timber Town Stable, which offered him at the January sale.

Morris and North passed up an opportunity to sell the Flatter colt at the Fasig-Tipton Saratoga sale, opting for OBS because of the possibility he would stand out—and they were rewarded for their judgment.

"He met our expectations and sold well beyond his reserve," Morris said. "I think it was a fair and honest market. There were a few we thought should have brought more but for the most part we had a great day. Our horses received a very good reception."

Morris was the sale's second-leading consignor, with 11 yearling selling for $795,000, surpassed only by Francis and Barbara Vanlangendonck's Summerfield, which grossed $928,200 for 16 sold.

Second-highest price of $200,000 was paid by Justin Casse for Hip 99, a bay daughter of Bernardini   from the Baccari Bloodstock consignment. The filly bred in Kentucky by Seclusive Farms, Chester Prince, Anne Prince, and James Murphy was produced from the stakes-winning Sea of Secrets mare Seacrettina, a half sister to grade II-placed Ramsgate.

Casse, the sale's third-leading buyer with two purchases for $272,000, plans to pinhook the filly into a 2-year-olds in training sale next spring.

"She is a fast-looking individual," Casse said. "Her mother was very quick and the consignor did a good job of finding the right sale for her. She looks very precocious. Consignors know what products sell well here because a lot of the buyers at this sale are looking for precocious individuals."

Casse said the sale was "an exaggerated version of what we’ve been seeing," with strength at the upper quarter of the market and tepid demand in the lower price ranges.

DeMeric Stables, which primarily buys yearlings to re-sell as 2-year-olds, was leading buyer with seven bought for $395,000.