OBS YEARLING BENEFITS UNIQUE HIGH SCHOOL EQUINE EDUCATION PROGRAM

LOCAL BREEDERS TOP OBS OCTOBER YEARLING SALE

D. J. Stable Buys Top Selling Florida-bred Pair

BY BROCK SHERIDAN

Leonard Green’s D. J. Stable LLC went to $210,000 each for a pair of Florida-breds, a colt and a filly, during the preferred session of the Ocala Breeders’ Sales October Yearling Sale to top a record-breaking day.

During the preferred session on Oct. 11, the first day of the two-day auction that continued with an open session the following day on Oct. 12, 134 yearlings generated gross sales of $6,211,000 compared to last year’s preferred session when 104 yearling thoroughbreds sold for $4,539,000.

The gross sales figure is a 36.9% increase compared to the preferred session numbers last year. The average price during the preferred session was $46,352, a 6.2% jump compared to last year’s average of $43,644 during the corresponding session. The median was $35,000 compared to $32,000 during the preferred session a year ago.

The gross sales, average and median were all records for the preferred session during the October Yearling Sale since OBS officials moved their yearling sale from August to October in 2017. This year’s figures eclipsed the $5,689,200 gross sales set during the 2019 October preferred session and the average eclipsed the $43,763 mark, also set during the preferred session of the 2019 October Yearling Sale. The previous median record was $32,000 last year.

“We were very happy,” OBS director of sales Tod Wojciehowski said. “It was interesting to see the average so close to the median, which means that a lot of horses sold well. We were also very happy to see a number of horses that sold for $100,000 and up.”

Thirteen yearlings sold for six figures on Tuesday.

Wojciehowski also said officials were pleased to see Florida breeders do well.

“The top two sellers were bred locally,” he said. “They stayed here and sold here and they were rewarded for it. Those quality horses that continue to be produced in Florida help bring top national and international buyers here for this sale.”

Hip 122 a Florida-bred colt, sold for $210,000 to D.J. Stable LLC from the consignment of Bobby Jones Equine LLC as agent. The bay colt is by first crop sire Mitole out of the Uncle Mo mare Eenie Meenie Miney, a half-sister to Tableaux, a multiple Group 2 winner in France; Giant Gizmo, winner of the Grade 3 Lone Star Park Handicap and Grade 3 Alysheba; Grade 3 Kent-winner Eons, stakes-placed Slick Pardoned Me and graded stakes-producer Kuhlu. The colt was bred in Florida by Angela Ingenito.

“He is the first foal out of a very nice Uncle Mo mare who comes from a very strong family,” said Ingenito, who runs a boutique breeding operation in Reddick with seven broodmares. “[Eenie Meenie Miney] is a half-sister to four stakes horses and has a half-sister who produced Cheermeiser, a multiple graded stakes-winner who ran here in Florida.

“He fit the criteria and was accepted into the [preferred] session. He was by a first-year sire that is popular and was a little slow to mature. It’s a great sale if you are here in Florida. There is no sense in going all the way to Kentucky.

“There’s nothing like raising a horse here in Florida. The quality of individuals you get is wonderful. Very superior. I think a boutique operation is the way to go because you have to look at quality over quantity.”

The other Florida-bred that went to D. J. Stable LLC for $210,000 was Hip 150, a filly by The Factor out of Honey Trap, by Medaglia d’Oro that is a half-sister to recent Grade 2 JP Morgan Chase Jessamine winning Florida-bred Delight. (see story on page 16.) Honey Trap is also a half-sister to Little Nick V., winner of the Juvenile Turf at Gulfstream Park West; Meydan Classic-winner Now Spun and stakes-placed Winging It. Like her half-sister Delight, the filly was bred in Florida by Melodee and Dr. Bryan Hicks in the name of their Hickstead Farm.

“We have a very small breeding farm, seven mares, and I do all of the work with my son Davis,” Melodee Hicks said. “[Having a sale topper] was a first for our farm, so that was very exciting because we had not hit that mark yet.

“The Factor filly hit the ground as a beautiful individual and was always full of peace and showed her class. She’s gorgeous and at this point in her life, she is prettier than Delight was at the same age.

“I had planned to keep her and take her to an in-training sale,

Hip No. 122, a Florida-bred colt by Mitole n Judit Seipert Photo

but because Delight did what she did, we decided to put her in the October Sale. We sold Delight at this sale too.”

Hip 201 took the excitement into the supplemental session as the chestnut colt sold for $160,000 to DILLIGAF. Bobby Jones Equine LLC as agent consigned the son of Good Magic out of Emerald Gal, by Gilded Time that is a half-brother to multiple Grade 2-winner Sarah Sis. Emerald Gal is also a half-sister to stakesplace Markum.

Hip 203 sold for $155,000 to CSV. Consigned by K P Sales as agent for breeder Westbury Stables, the Florida-bred colt is by Ghostzapper out of Hannahanna, by Malibu Moon. Hannahanna is a half-sister to Grade 3-winner Silent Bird, stakes-winner A Brilliant Idea, multiple graded stakes-placed Morgan’s Guerrilla and stakes-placed performers Titochip and Silent Power.

Hip 100, a Florida-bred colt by Ocala Stud freshman sire Awesome Slew, generated a final bid of $150,000 from Champion Equine LLC. Consigned by Sue Vacek as agent, the colt is out of Cash Reserve, by Distorted Humor and is a half-brother to stakesplaced runners Reckling and Campy Cash. Cash Reserve is also a half-sister to stakes-winners Sam Lord’s Castle and Golden Locket and stakes-placed Rosiano. The bay colt was bred by John B. Penn.

Hip 4, a Florida-bred colt from the first crop by Sharp Azteca, started the day with enthusiasm, selling for $130,000 to Mathis Stable LLC. Consigned by Sweet River Thoroughbreds, the dark bay or brown colt is out of Peppermint Fire, by Sidney’s Candy and was bred by Karen J. Silva.

Lisa McGreevy’s Abbie Road Farm as agent consigned Hip 30 and saw the filly generate a final bid of $125,000 from Denzel Brendemuehl in the name of her Classic Bloodstock. Purchased for Gary Anderson, the filly is by first crop sire Mitole and is out of the Empire Maker mare Sinister Siren, a half-sister to stakesplaced Unanimously.

The Open Session saw 253 yearling generate gross sales of $4,331,400 for an average of $17,120. Those figures were down slightly from the Open Session last year when 281 head sold for $5,224,500 for an average price of $18,593. The median price was $13,000 compared to $15,000 a year ago.

Two Florida-breds also topped the open session.

Hip 418 went to Champion Equine LLC for $110,000 from the Boutte Sales as agent consignment. The Florida-bred colt is by Girvin out of the stakes-placed mare Absoulute Heaven, by Not for Love. Absoulute Heaven is also a half-sister to stakes-producers Paulette Caveat, Caveat Apt, Positively Stompin and Princess Maura. The colt was bred in Florida by Tim Ahearn.

Hip 610 also sold for $110,000 when D. J. Stable put in the final bid. Consigned by Camelot Acres Racing and Sales, the Florida-bred filly is by Girvin out of Liberty Flag, by Kingmambo and is a half-sister to stakes-winner Little Chesney and stakes-placed runners Don’t Tell Marge and Forever Thing. The filly was bred in the Sunshine State by Janet Irwin. TFH