Florida stallions help create record trends at OBS

By now most in the thoroughbred business are aware that the folks at the Ocala Breeders’ Sales Company are off to a darn good year in 2013 with their 2-year-old in training sales.

After experiencing double digit increases and smashing records during their March sale of Selected 2-Year-Olds, the Ocala-based sales company continued that trend during their April sale of juveniles in training as they saw their average go from $43,458 in 2012 to $60,535 this year, an increase of 39.3%. They also set a new standard for the median price at the four-day auction as that measure went from $27,000 last year to $35,000 at this year’s April sale, an increase of 29.6%.

What many may not know however, is how much Florida stallions and breeders contributed to the success experienced so far this year at OBS – especially during the April sale.

Leading the pack in April was Two Step Salsa, a first crop stallion that stands at Manuel Andrade’s Get Away Farm located in Reddick, Fla.

During the April sale, 12 two-year-olds by Two Step Salsa sold for an average of $74,542 and median price of $55,000—well above the averages for the sale. His top seller was Hip Number 483, a dark bay or brown colt out of the stakes-placed Pioneering mare Homesteader who brought a final bid of $420,000 from Conquest Stables LLC. Consigned by Dr. Barry Eisaman’s Eisaman Equine of Williston, Fla., the dark bay or brown colt was one of two juveniles by Two Step Salsa to bring six figures during the sale. The other colt was Hip Number 376, another Florida-bred that dropped the gavel at $120,000.

Also having a banner sale among Florida sires was Wildcat Heir, who stands at Journeyman Stud in Ocala. Twelve juveniles by Wildcat Heir went through the ring during the April sale, bringing $797,000 while averaging $66,417 with a median price of $63,500—both figures also a good bit above the general averages for the auction.

Three 2-year-olds by Wildcat Heir brought six figures including Hip Number 4, who helped kick-off the sale by going for $180,000 from the consignment of de Meric Sales, Agent. A Florida-bred colt out of the stakes winning mare Additional Prayer, by Songandaprayer, the bay colt was purchased by New Farm.

Last year Put it Back just edged Wildcat Heir as the leading Florida sire and the two kept the rivalry going during the April Sale. Standing at Bridlewood Farm in Ocala, Put it Back saw four of his get bring $206,000 during the April sale for an average of $51,500 and a median of $44,500. His top seller was Hip Number 519, a Florida-bred colt out of the winning mare I See Gold, by Sejm that brought $80,000 on a final bid by Mersad Metanovic Bloodstock. He was consigned by Blue River Bloodstock, Agent.

Another first crop sire from Florida turned heads as In Summation, who stands at Ocala Stud, had 16 offspring bring $1,022,500 for an average of $63,906 and a median of $42,500. His top seller was Hip Number 613, a Florida-bred colt that went for $250,000 to Steven W. Young, Agent. Out of the winning Dove Hunt mare Load Up, the dark bay or brown colt is a half-brother to stakes-placed St. Joe and was consigned by Azpurua Stables, Agent.

Ocala Stud also had success at the April sale with their popular stallion High Cotton, who sold 16 2-year-olds for $966,500 for an average of $60,406 and a median of $20,000. His top seller was the second highest-priced juvenile of the entire sale, Hip Number 548 that went for $600,000 to St. Elias and West Point Thoroughbreds, Inc. Consigned by Ocala Stud, this Florida-bred colt is out of the Aloha Prospector mare Keikik, making him a half-brother to stakes winner St. Louis City.

Other Florida stallions of note during the sale where Graeme Hall, who stands at Winding Oaks Farm in Ocala and had ten 2-year-olds go for $590,000 for an average of $59,000; Journeyman Stud stallion Circular Quay, who had ten get bring $526,000 for an average of $52,600; Journeyman Stud stallion Hear No Evil, who had but two offspring in the sale but one brought $370,000; and Cowtown Cat, another Journeyman Stud stallion, whose nine get had an average of $52,000 and a median selling price of $41,500.

So as the breeding season winds down, and if by chance your mare is still not in foal, Florida stallions once again give you a few thousand more reasons for you to breed your future thoroughbred star in the Sunshine State.

Keyed Entry filly, Wildcat Heir colt quickest at April Under Tack show’s second session

Press Release, Joe DiOrio Photo


Hip No. 363, a filly by the Bridlewood Farm stallion Keyed Entry, and Hip No. 488, a colt by the Journeyman Stud stallion Wildcat Heir, worked quarters in :20 4/5 to post the fastest works at the distance at the second session of the Under Tack Show for the Ocala Breeders’ Sales Company’s 2012 Spring Sale of Two-Year-Olds in Training. The bay filly by Keyed Entry, consigned by H.J. Parra Racing Stables, is out of Dixie Image, by Halo’s Image, a full sister to millionaire OBS graduate Southern Image. The chestnut colt by Wildcat Heir, named Spare No Expense and consigned by Journeyman Bloodstock (Brent and Crystal Fernung), Agent, is out of Golden Horseshoe, by Belong to Me, a daughter of stakes winner Striking Profile.

Three horses worked quarters in :21 flat. Hip No. 316, consigned by Nickajack/Rey de Oros, is a dark bay or brown colt by Bob and John out of Credential, by Valid Appeal, a half sister to stakes winner Table the Motion. Hip No. 352, a gray or roan Concorde’s Tune colt consigned by Ocala Stud, is out of Delta Silks, by the Ocala Stud stallion Montbrook, a half sister to stakes winner Rocky River. Hip No. 379, Dubai Bob, consigned by Eddie Woods, Agent, is a chestnut colt by Forestry out of Dreamworld, by Unbridled’s Song, a half sister to graded stakes placed Womble.

Six youngsters shared honors for the session’s fastest eighth, each stopping the timer in :10 flat. Hip No. 469, consigned by Ricky Leppala, Agent, is a bay filly by Tiznow out of Gdanska, by Danzig. Hip No. 518, Foundthecandy, is a chestnut filly by Candy Ride (ARG) consigned by Old South Farm, Agent, out of Harlow Gold, by Orientate, a half sister to graded stakes winning OBS graduate Sea of Tranquility. Hip No. 529, Shawtown, consigned by Costanzo Sales, is a chestnut colt by Cowtown Cat out of grade one stakes placed Her She Shawklit, by Air Forbes Won, and is a half brother to graded stakes winning millionaire Crafty Shaw. Hip No. 566, a bay colt by Sky Mesa consigned by Wavertree Stables, Inc. (Ciaran Dunne), Agent, is out of graded stakes winner Ing Ing (FR), by Bering (GB), a half sister to grade one winner Execute. Hip No. 567, consigned by McKathan Bros., Agent, is a chestnut filly by Candy Ride (ARG) out of stakes winner Into Reality, by Untuttable. Hip No. 584, Indian Splendor, a dark bay or brown filly by Indian Ocean consigned by Ravensway (Rick and Christine Lopez), Agent, is out of Jeet, by Tactical Advantage, a half sister to stakes winner Rich Pearl.

Two horses worked three eighths in :33 3/5. Hip No. 489, a bay colt by Wild Desert consigned by Blue River Bloodstock, Agent, is out of Golden Park, by Touch Gold, and is a half brother to stakes placed Artie Luvsto Party. Hip No. 502, La Thali, a chestnut filly by Ecclesiastic consigned by Tres Potrillos, is out of Gratorious, by Honor Grades, a half sister to stakes placed Voluptuous.
The Under Tack Show resumes Thursday morning at 8:00 a.m. with Hip No’s 599 – 898 scheduled to breeze.

The workouts were recorded and videos will be available on the OBS website at obssales.com, in their entirety or by individual hip number. They will also be available for viewing in the video room adjacent to the Horsemen’s Lounge in the sales pavilion as well as several kiosks in the lobby and the covered walking ring. In-room viewing is available at Holiday Inn, The Courtyard by Marriott, Homewood Suites, Residence Inn and the Ocala Hilton, plus lounge viewing is available at the Hilton. Under Tack Show results are posted on the OBS website.

In addition to catalogs for upcoming sales, the OBS website includes sales results, the latest news regarding OBS graduates, sales schedules, nominations, credit requests, travel information and other news relevant to OBS consignors and customers. E-Mail should be addressed to obs@obssales.com This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it . For catalogs or more information regarding the OBS Spring Sale or OBS website, please call (352) 237-2154.