OBS_Recap.qxp_Florida Horse_template 3/30/20 1:24 PM Page 24
American Pharoah Filly Tops A
mid the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic and with several precautions taken to protect attendees, the Ocala Breeders’ Sales Company conducted their prestigious March Sale of 2-Year-Olds in Training before a solid group of attendees Mar. 17-18. Hips 1 – 340 were featured Mar. 17 with Hips 341 – 681 selling Mar. 18. After careful consideration of the coronavirus situation and consultation with consignors and prospective buyers, the OBS board of directors determined holding the sale as scheduled was the proper course of action. “We are mindful of the nature of the situation,” OBS president Tom Ventura said before the sale began. “Certainly there is heightened awareness of the importance of proper hygiene and we are taking steps to follow recommended sanitary protocols.” Steps taken by OBS to assure the wellbeing of all March Sale patrons included increased cleaning schedules and protocols, doors not required to be locked for security remained open to eliminate the need for patrons to use the handles, and all OBS employees were instructed to follow sanitary procedures, to stay home if sick and help patrons have as safe and healthy visit to the sale as possible. For prospective buyers unable to attend the March Sale or unsure about traveling at this time, OBS increased phone bid capacity. During the two-day sale, 291 horses sold for $27,902,500 compared with 306 bringing $44,248,500 a year ago. The average price was $95,885 compared with $144,603 in 2019 while the median price was $50,000 compared with $80,000 a year ago. The buyback percentage was 39.6%; it was 23.9% in 2019. The sale’s top seller was a bay filly cataloged as Hip 237, who generated a bid of $650,000 from new owner Katsumi Yoshida of Japan. A daughter of American Pharoah out of the stakes-producing mare Megalicious, by Songandaprayer, she is a half-sister 24 THE FLORIDA HORSE • APRIL/MAY 2020
to stakes-placed My Sweet Stella and stakesproducer Bangle Girls. She worked a quartermile in :20.40 from the consignment of Ciaran Dunne’s Wavertree Stable Inc., as an agent. Hip 598, a son of Upstart consigned by Woodford Thoroughbreds as an agent, went to Mike Ryan as an agent for $600,000 to top the second and final session of the Ocala Breeders’ Sales Company’s 2020 March Sale of 2-Year-Olds in Training. The bay colt, who breezed a quarter-mile in :21 flat at Saturday’s session of the under tack show, is out of Blue Beryl, by Bernstein, a half-sister to graded stakes placed stakes winning OBS March graduate Brigand. Hip 424, a daughter of Bernardini consigned by Eddie Woods as an agent, sold to Stonestreet Stables LLC for $575,000. The dark bay or brown filly, who breezed a quarter-mile in :21 flat at Friday’s under tack session, is out of Song Collection, by Unbridled’s Song, a full-sister to graded stakes winner Old Fashioned. Hip 386, a son of Constitution consigned by Ciaran Dunne’s Wavertree Stables, Inc., as an agent, went to Dennis O’Neill for $550,000. The bay colt, who turned in a quarter-mile in :20.80 on Friday, is out of Screwgie, by Smart Strike, a daughter of graded stakes-winner Roshani. Myracehorse.com and Spendthrift purchased Hip 258 for $500,000 from the consignment of de Meric Sales as an agent. The bay colt is by Into Mischief out of the stakesplaced mare Montessa G., by Montbrook, a half-sister to stakes-placed, stakes-producer Gator Brew. He was clocked in :21 flat for a quarter-mile at the under tack session. Hip 550, a son of Tapizar consigned by Brick City Thoroughbreds as an agent, was SERITA HULT PHOTOS
By BROCK SHERIDAN
purchased by Narvick International for $500,000. The bay colt, who worked an eighth-mile on Saturday in :10 flat, is a halfbrother to stakes-winner Miss Frost out of Allencat, by Storm Cat. Tom Durant put in a final bid of $475,000 to purchase Hip 320, Brother Lob, from the consignment of Pick View LLC as an agent. The dark bay or brown colt is by first crop sire Runhappy out of the stakes-placed Chatain mare Pledge Pin, a half-sister to graded stakes-placed, stakes-winner Great Millis. The colt worked a quarter-mile in :20.60 at the under tack show.
