Ghostzapper Filly Dominates Day 2 of OBS June Sale

Largely confined to the sales pavilion and the back walking ring in an attempt to escape consistent rain showers, buyers were plenty and active during the June 13 second session of the Ocala Breeders' Sales June 2-Year-Olds and Horses of Racing Age Sale. 

Topping Thursday's session and taking the lead as the most expensive horses of the sale to date was Hip 653, a $445,000 Ghostzapper  filly purchased by Backstretch Farms from the consignment of de Meric Sales, agent. 

Bred in Kentucky by Meadowview, the filly is out of the Carson City mare Palanka City, winner of the Adena Stallions' Miss Preakness Stakes (G3) who earned just shy of $400,000 and won 11 races. The dam is a full sister to Quick Action, a stakes winner who also placed second in the Lafayette Stakes (G3). 

The de Merics purchased the filly for $190,000 as a yearling from Denali Stud's consignment to the Keeneland September Yearling Sale. 

"We were thrilled with the price," said Tristan de Meric, who had originally consigned the filly to The Gulfstream Sale, Fasig-Tipton's select sale of 2-year-olds in training. Withdrawn from that auction, the filly was pointed toward the June sale in the hopes that more time would allow her ample opportunity to blossom.

"We knew she was a top filly," said de Meric. "That's why we took her down to Miami in the first place. She just missed the boat down there. We always believed in her, and I'm glad we gave her another chance here and I'm glad they found her here. She's a very special filly, and we wish the best of luck to David (Davila) and we are thankful to everybody who was involved." 

The filly was one of 11 juveniles to work a bullet eighth-mile in :09 4/5 during the five-day under tack show, where she impressed Davila, an Ocala, Fla., native and attorney who owns and operates Backstretch Farms. 

"She's the perfect specimen for a filly—balanced all over," Davila said. "(The price) was a little bit higher than we wanted to go. This is close (to our highest-priced purchase). She just looks very balanced and very fast." 

Davila said the plan will be to ship the filly to Saratoga Race Course to the barn of Jorge Abreu. 

A total of 202 of the 272 juveniles on offer were purchased Thursday for gross receipts of $7,359,700 for an average of $36,434. The median was $17,500. The 70 that went unsold represented an RNA rate of 25.7%. Comparatively, 168 individuals were sold during last year's session for gross receipts of $4,765,500 at an average of $28,366 and a median of $13,000. The 42 that went unsold represented a buyback rate of 20%. 

Cumulatively, OBS has reported 399 sold through the sale's first two sessions, for gross receipts of $13,635,200. The cumulative average is $34,173, and the cumulative median is $18,000. At this point last year, OBS had sold 347 horses for gross receipts of $11,406,500 with a $32,872 average and a $15,000 median. The sale concludes June 14.

The second-highest price Thursday was Hip 672, a gray/roan Graydar  colt consigned by Costanzo Sales. Bred in Kentucky by Woods Edge Farm, the colt is out of the stakes-placed Mineshaft  mare Pink Diamond, who has also produced grade 3-placed Zulfikhar. 

The colt went through the Keeneland September sale ring last year, where he was purchased by South Paw for $57,000 from the Woods Edge consignment. On Thursday, he was bought by Nick Hines, agent, on a final bid of $260,000.  

"At this point in time, (the client) is undisclosed," Hines said. "He was probably the most athletic horse, pound for pound, by an underrated stallion. His work was effortless, his balance is indisputable, and his soundness goes without saying. I think he is a class individual. He is correct, he is very forward, but he obviously knows how talented he is. I think this is just the tip of the iceberg for him. I think the fact that West Point had a horse by Graydar on the Derby trail, I think that is positive." 

The colt was one of six purchases, and the most expensive, by Hines over the first two days of the sale. On Wednesday, he purchased Hip 157, a Shakin It Up  filly from the consignment of Hemingway Racing and Training Stables, and Hip 293, a Danza  filly offered by Medallion Farms. Both were picked up for $20,000. 

Along with the Graydar, Hines purchased a Palace  filly named Miz Palace Queen, consigned as Hip 567 by Coastal Equine, for $18,000; a Soldat  colt consigned as Hip 592 by Sugar Hill for $17,000; and Hip 594, a Factum colt consigned by Las Palmas Farm for $10,000. 

"It's been difficult (to buy) on the higher end," Hines said. "I think in the six-figure range, it's very difficult. This is that type of sale. It's June. I am buying horses for $10,000, and I'm signing tickets for $260,000, so that's a pretty broad range. As a scout and a bloodstock consultant, I think you have to be very open-minded. There is a horse here for everybody." 

"This is typical June," said Jesse Hoppel of Coastal Equine, which has sold six 2-year-olds for gross receipts of $294,000. "There are a lot of horses here. I think there aren't a lot of buyers around, but I think that's the biggest mistake.

"If you do your homework, the best value for horseflesh for your money is right here. Every sale there is a horse that always falls through the cracks, and if you're a buyer, you have to hope that's the one you got a hold of. "