OBS Spring Sale to Test Depth of Juvenile Market

There has been strong demand for 2-year-olds in training through the first four auctions of 2017, but the juvenile marketplace will undergo its stiffest test of depth April 25-28 when Ocala Breeders' Sales conducts its spring sale in Ocala, Fla.

With more than 1,200 head cataloged—274 have subsequently been withdrawn and others are likely to come out before the sale begins—the OBS sale offers a larger number and more diverse group of 2-year-olds than the four previous juvenile sales this year.

"April is a little bit different than some of the other sales," OBS sales director Tod Wojciechowski said. "Because of its size, it attracts all sorts of different players."

With $90.4 million generated through the first four sales, the juvenile market is up more than 12% in gross receipts this year, driven primarily by demand for the best-bred and best-conformed individuals.

So far, 47 horses sold for $500,000 or above this year, with only three RNAs in that price range. By comparison, there were 28 such transactions during the first four juvenile sales of 2016, with three buy-backs at that level. The $36.7 million grossed by the juveniles sold at the top of the market represents 40.5% of gross receipts for the four auctions, compared with $21.4 million, or 27.3% of the total, at the same juncture a year ago.

"Hopefully, there will be depth in the market we have not seen lately," Wojciechowski said.

The six-day under tack show workouts went smoothly, with only one incident in which a rider fell and injured an ankle after his mount ducked, according to Wojciechowski.

"We were very pleased with the breeze show," the OBS executive said. "Over the entire six days we had excellent weather. The conditions were good and the track was in great shape. There was a lot of traffic in the barn area each day after the workouts."

The fastest eighth-mile workout time of :09 3/5 was shared by Hip 778, a More Than Ready  —Miss Mary Apples filly consigned by Ciaran Dunne's Wavertree Stables, agent, and Hip 793, a Tiznow  —Moonbow colt from agent Bobby Dodd. One juvenile, Hip 200, a colt by Wildcat Heir—Business Decision from the Blue River Bloodstock offerings as agent, breezed the fastest quarter-mile in :20 2/5.

Led by a $1.2 million son of Broken Vow  , the 2016 spring sale saw 853 head change hands for gross receipts in excess of $52 million. The sale-topper, named Glacier, has one victory and three thirds in five starts for owner Breeze Easy and Hall of Fame trainer Bob Baffert.

This year's auction comes on the heels of a 2016 edition that has thus far yielded seven graded stakes winners, including eventual 2-year-old filly champion Champagne Room and grade 1 winner Union Strike.

Consigned by de Meric Sales, Champagne Room was purchased by Larry Zap of behalf of Joseph Ciaglia Jr. for $310,000. Winner of the grade 2 Sorrento Stakes, the filly secured her Eclipse Award by taking the 14 Hands Winery Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies (G1) for Ciglia Racing, Exline-Border, Gulliver Racing, Sharon Alesia, R. Christensen, and D. Legan.

Union Strike was a $375,000 purchase by Ruis Racing from the Old South Farm consignment and went on to win the Del Mar Debutante (G1).

Other graded stakes winners that went through the ring at last year's OBS spring auction are Fast and Accurate, Wellabled, La Coronel, Theory, and Multiplier, winner of the April 22 Illinois Derby (G3).

Previous graduates of the spring sale include classic winners Lil E. Tee, Silver Charm, and I'll Have Another  , and the sale has accounted for 25 millionaires and 10 champions. Since the beginning of 2016, 192 April graduates have won or placed in 342 stakes races, including 127 stakes victories. During that time, 27 April graduates have won 33 graded stakes.

The catalog is available via the OBS website. A sortable master index provides searchable pedigree and consignor information as well as access to pedigree updates occurring since the catalog was printed.

The iPad version of the catalog can be accessed via the Equineline Sales Catalog app. The app allows users to download and view the catalog, receive updates and results, record notes, watch under tack videos, and also provides innovative search, sort, and rating capability features. For more information and downloads go to: http://www.equineline.com/SalesCatalogApp/.