Blame colt sells for $485,000 to top second day at OBS June sale

A colt by Blame sold for $485,000 to lead the way as the Ocala Breeders' Sales Co.'s June sale of 2-year-olds in training and horses of racing age continued Wednesday.

OBS reported that 200 horses sold for $7,207,700 during Wednesday's session, the second of three overall at the penultimate sale of the North American breeze-up season. During last year's corresponding second session, 234 horses sold for a gross of $9,831,600.

After Tuesday's opening session posted a gain in the average price, Wednesday's average dropped 14 percent, to $36,039 compared with $42,015 in 2022. The median dropped for the second day in a row, with the figure of $20,000 down 20 percent from $25,000.

The buyback rate was 22 percent in what has been a selective marketplace, compared to a notably low 14 percent last year.

The session-topping Blame colt was purchased by Clay Scherer, acting as agent, from the consignment of Ciaran Dunne's Wavertree Stables, as agent. The colt had breezed a quarter-mile in 20 3/5 seconds on the Ocala Training Center's all-weather Safetrack during last week's under-tack preview show.

The colt is out of the winning Quality Road mare Soul Spirit, who in turn is out of Grade 1-placed Soul Search. That makes Soul Spirit a half-sister to graded stakes winner Journey Home, dam of Fury Stakes winner Ticker Tape Home. Champion Pleasant Stage appears on the catalog page.

For hip-by-hip results, click here.

:: Want to learn more about handicapping and wagering? Check out DRF's Handicapping 101 and Wagering 101 pages.