$95,000 Destin colt tops final day at OBS winter mixed sale

A yearling colt by Destin sold for $95,000 to lead a strong open session of the Ocala Breeders' Sales Co.'s winter mixed sale Wednesday, pushing the auction across the wire with overall gains.

OBS reported that a total of 417 horses sold in the two-day winter mixed sale for a total of $6,693,100, compared to 408 horses bringing $5,612,300 in the 2021 edition.

The sale's average price was $16,051, rising 17 percent from $13,756 in 2021. The median price rose 42 percent, to $8,500 from $6,000. The buyback rate also improved significantly, finishing at a stellar 10 percent compared to 21 percent.

The OBS January sale opened Tuesday with mixed stock designated as a preferred session, followed by a selection of horses of racing age. OBS reported figures for those two segments separately, and they came in with mixed results. The preferred session – which included the overall sale leader, a $275,000 Gun Runner yearling filly – finished with a 12 percent jump in the average, a steady median, and an improved buyback rate. However, the horses of racing age section followed with a 28 percent drop in the average and a 15 percent decrease in the median.

Wednesday's action, designated as an open session, fueled the overall gains in the final figures. OBS reported 186 horses sold for a total of $2,075,600, compared with 236 horses bringing $2,023,500 in 2021. The average price Wednesday was $11,159, jumping 30 percent compared with $8,574 in the open session last year. The median price spiked 75 percent, to $7,000 from $4,000 a year ago. The buyback percentage finished at an outstanding single-digit figure, checking in at 9 percent; it was 20 percent in 2021.

Wednesday's session-leading Destin colt, who is named Last Drink, was purchased by Rosewood Farm from the consignment of bloodstock agent Sue Vacek. The first of two U.S. crops for Destin, a classic-placed Grade 2 winner by Giant's Causeway, will race this season. The stallion began his career in New York, but moved to Saudi Arabia beginning with the 2021 season.

New York-bred Last Drink is out of the winning Intidab mare I Drink Alone, who is the dam of six winners from as many starters. Those include stakes winners Bust Another, Bustin It, and May Shares. The latter's sire is Stonesider, also a son of Giant's Causeway.

I Drink Alone is a half-sister to Grade 3-placed stakes winner Pavo, and graded stakes winner Upon My Soul also appears on this catalog page.

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