Big-ticket colts help propel OBS March to gain in gross

The Ocala Breeders' Sales Co.'s March sale of 2-year-olds in training, opening that market's calendar in North America, concluded its two-day run on Wednesday with a gain in gross, with solid activity at the top of the market led by a pair of seven-figure colts by classic sires, and an improved buyback rate. However, the auction also posted double-digit declines in its average and median sale figures.

The auction company reported 309 horses sold for gross receipts of $44,422,500, a gain of 5 percent from 257 horses for $42,275,000 a year ago. The cumulative average price was $143,762, dropping 13 percent from $164,494 in 2018. Meanwhile, the median dropped 24 percent, to $80,000 from $105,000.

The overall buyback percentage finished at 23 percent, compared with 29 percent last year.

Three horses fetched prices in excess of the $875,000 sale-topping price last year. This renewal's sale topper, a $2 million colt by perennial leading sire Tapit, was purchased during the opening session 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 2006 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 Triple Crown sire Pioneerof the Nile sold for $1.2 million to Larry Best's OXO Equine . 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 addition, consigned by Hoby and Layna Knight, had breezed a quarter-mile in 21 1/5 seconds during the under-tack preview show.

The sale's third-highest price was a Medaglia d'Oro colt sold for $900,000 to top Wednesday's session. The colt, who breezed a furlong in 10 seconds flat in his preview, went to D. J. Stable and Cash Is King Stable from the consignment of Kings Equine, as agent.

The colt is out of the Grade 3-placed Tapit mare Rashnaa, a half-sister to stakes winner Mistda and stakes placed Beckyboy. Their dam is a half-sister to Grade 3 winner Mz. Zill Bear.

Rounding out the top five prices at OBS March were a pair of $850,000 juveniles by young stallions who are among this year's highly-anticipated freshman sire class. A filly by The Big Beast went to West Point and partners from the consignment of Ocala Stud, while a colt by Palace Malice sold to bloodstock agent Mike Ryan from the consignment of Pick View LLC, as agent.

The Big Beast won the Grade 1 King's Bishop Stakes as a 3-year-old and placed in a pair of Grade 1 sprints the following season. His high-ticket filly is out of the winning Trippi mare Lucky Trip, dam of seven winners from as many starters. The mare is a full sister to Grade 1-placed stakes winner Candrea and stakes winner Dream of Angels.

Palace Malice won the 2013 Belmont Stakes and went on to capture the 2014 Metropolitan Handicap, considered a stallion-making race. This colt's dam, the winning More Than Ready mare Miss Always Real, is a full sister to stakes winner and producer More Than Real, whose biggest win came in the Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies Turf.

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