OBS June Sale to Finish Out Strong 2-Year-Old Season

When the Ocala Breeder's Sales June Sale of 2-Year-Olds and Horses of Racing Age Sale concludes June 14, the final hammer with officially will mark the end of one of the strongest 2-year-old sales seasons in recent memory. 

A total of 1014 horses were originally cataloged to the three-day sale, which begins June 12 at 10 a.m. EST. A supplemental catalog of 44 horses was eventually added, bringing the total on offer to 1059. In the horses of racing age category, 17 entries were initially cataloged. 

As of Tuesday, 224 of those initial entries had been withdrawn. 

"Obviously we have a pretty good-sized catalog," said OBS sales director Todd Wojciechowski. "It's always a little tricky with the Belmont Stakes being so close. We usually have to wait for people to get here, but people did start trickling in on Monday. They'll continue to look and I think they'll be ready for the start of the sale on Wednesday."

OBS will look to build on the momentum of last year's sales results, when it was reported that 520 of 936 juveniles cataloged changed hands for gross receipts of $17,125,500 for an average price of $32,934. While last year's median fell 18.9% from $18,500 in 2017 to $15,000, the 145 horses that did not sell represented an RNA rate of just 21.8%. 

Highlighting last year's sale was $650,000 sale-topping son of the late Ashford Stud stallion Scat Daddy, sire of more than 100 black-type winners including 2018 Triple Crown victor Justify . Consigned by Top Line Sales, the colt was purchased by Carlo Vaccarezza.

With only three days left for buyers to take home a race-ready prospect for the current season, Wojciechowski is hopeful the June sale will continue to post strong gains.  

"We look for a good sale," said Wojciechowski. "I don't know if we will start any new trends. I think we will see a lot of the same things that we have seen at sales all year long." 

Among some of the most successful workers to showcase their talents during the OBS under tack show, which took place June 5-9 at the Central Florida auction house were two juveniles from the consignment of Gayle Woods, who sent out a Ghostzapper  filly (Hip 914) and a Flat Out  colt (Hip 882). The two breezed three-eighths of a mile in :32 3/5 and :32 4/5, respectively.  

"I went three-eighths with nearly all of my horses and the slowest was :33 3/5," said Woods, who has six 2-year-olds consigned to the June sale. "They've all been looked at and I'm very optimistic for the Ghostzapper filly in particular. I think she could be my sale topper for sure." 

Consigned on behalf of Eric A. Delvalle, Hip 914's work was the fastest of the final under tack session and co-fastest at the distance over the entire five-day show. The filly was purchased by Delvalle for $67,000 from Lane's End, agent, at last year's Keeneland September Yearling Sale. Bred in Kentucky by Blue Devil Racing Stable out of the grade 2 winning Tiznow  mare Tizahit, she is a half sister to Come Dancing, winner of the Ruffian Stakes (G2), who finished second to Midnight Bisou in the June 8 Ogden Phipps Stakes (G1) at Belmont Park.

Sharing the co-fastest three-eighths time was Hip 657, a More Than Ready  colt consigned by C & J Stable. Out of the Street Cry mare Passionate Diva, the dark bay was bred in New York by Steve Schuster and is from the family of multiple graded stakes winner Roshani. He was purchased for $10,000 by Carlos Rivers from Hidden Brook's consignment to the Fasig-Tipton Kentucky Fall Yearling Sale. 

Three colts shared the fastest quarter-mile time of :20 3/5, all of whom share impressive pages. 

Hip 100, a son of Daredevil  consigned by Wavertree Stables as agent, is out of the U S Ranger mare Bible and from the family of grade 1 winner Corinthian. Hip 701, a son of Dialed In  consigned by Parrish Farms, agent, is out of the In Excess mare Pure Refinement, who is a half sister to grade 1 winner Pure as Gold. Lastly, Hip 706, a son of Race Day  consigned by Hawks Nest is out of the Unbridled's Song mare Queen Brianna, a full sister to stakes winner Rockport Harbor. 

A total of 11 juveniles shared the fastest eighth-mile breeze time of :9 4/5.

Another interesting prospect on offer who can now boast a winning record is Hip 759. Named Travelin Gambler, the 2-year-old gelded son of Itsmyluckyday  broke his maiden on debut June 5 at Gulfstream Park by 3 3/4 lengths, defeating five other juveniles in a 4 1/2-furlong dirt test. Bred in Florida by Summerfield, Travelin Gambler is the out of the In Summation mare Sadie and is from the extended female family of champion 2-year-old filly Storm Song. 

"June is where I do best of all," said Woods. "It's nearly always my best sale. I've done really well going three-eighths with horses and having them pretty much ready to run. I tend to always do well in June. I've got a really nice bunch of horses and they all breezed good, so I'm keeping my fingers crossed.

"I think the big hitters are here looking. There are always smaller trainers that come in closer to the start of the sale who like to buy Florida-breds, but I've had plenty of good people come through to look at horses and they seem to like them, so I'm optimistic."