$2 million Tapit colt tops Day 1 at OBS March sale

The Ocala Breeders' Sales Co.'s March sale of 2-year-olds in training opened its two-day renewal, and the juvenile sale season in North America, with solid activity from a diverse buying bench at the top of the market, led by a sale record-priced $2 million Tapit colt. The session concluded with a gain in gross receipts and a steady buyback rate, but declines in average and median.

The auction company reported 144 horses sold during Tuesday's first of two sessions for gross receipts of $22,134,000, a 9 percent increase compared to the 129 sold for $20,327,000 in the 2018 opener. The average sale price was $153,708, falling 3 percent compared to $157,574 in the similar session last year. The median price also dropped 12 percent, to $83,500 from $95,000. The buyback rate remained unchanged at 30 percent.

The session-topper, by perennial leading sire Tapit, was purchased by West Point Thoroughbreds, its associate Robert Masiello, and partner Siena Farm. His price eclipsed the previous OBS March record of $1.8 million set by the Belong to Me colt Garifine in 2008 and matched by the Smart Strike colt Pacific in 2013.

The colt, named Chestertown, breezed a furlong in 10 1/5 seconds on the Ocala Training Center's all-weather Safetrack surface during last week's pre-sale under-tack show. The New York-bred was consigned by Sequel Bloodstock on behalf of breeders Chester and Mary Broman.

The Bromans bred and raced both this colt's dam, multiple Grade 1 winner Artemis Agrotera, and granddam, Grade 2-placed stakes winner Indy Glory, after purchasing great-granddam Immerse in 1997. Artemis Agrotera, by Roman Ruler, won the Grade 1 Frizette Stakes as a juvenile and the following season defeated older foes in the Grade 1 Ballerina Stakes. This is the first foal for the mare, who is a half-sister to stakes-placed runners Submerge and Time Squared, both by Roman Ruler's sire, Fusaichi Pegasus.

Indy Glory is a full sister to Grade 1 winner Stephen Got Even and to stakes winner Grand Merger. It is the extended family of champion and sire Lord Avie and of multiple Group 1 winner Harry Angel.

Later in the day, a colt by Pioneerof the Nile sold for $1.2 million to Larry Best's OXO Equine to further fuel the session. The colt is out of the stakes-placed Malibu Moon mare Golden Artemis, making him a half-brother to Grade 1-winning juvenile My Conquestadory. She, in turn, is the dam of this month's Grade 2 Fountain of Youth runner-up Bourbon War. It is the extended family of millionaire Kelly Kip.

Best's new purchase, consigned by Hoby and Layna Knight, had breezed a quarter-mile in 21 1/5 seconds during the under-tack preview show.

The day's other top prices were an $852,000 Bernardini colt out of Canadian champion Inish Glora, sold to Phoenix Thoroughbreds; a $675,000 Candy Ride half-sister to champion sprinter Drefong, sold to Katsumi Yoshida; and a $650,000 Speightstown filly, sold to Narvick International for Prince Sultan Bin Mishal Al Saud.

For hip-by-hip results from the opening session, click here.