Day two of mixed sale topped by $100,000 Omaha Beach filly

The Ocala Breeders' Sales Co.'s winter mixed sale was topped by a $100,000 Omaha Beach filly as it concluded its two-day run with a relatively steady overall average, and gains in some segments of the marketplace, but overall declines.

OBS reported that a total of 280 horses changed hands during the two-day sale for a total of $4,484,300, compared to 380 horses grossing $6,346,200 last year. The cumulative average price was $16,105 compared to $16,701 in 2023 - with those few hundred dollars representing a change of 4 percent. The median dropped 16 percent, to $8,000 from $9,500. The buyback rate was up sharply throughout the sale in what has been a selective marketplace since this season began in November. The cumulative buyback rate finished at 21 percent, compared to 11 percent.

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The catalog for the winter mixed sale is divided into preferred mixed, open mixed, and horses of racing age sections, with OBS reporting each section separately. The preferred section, led by a $95,000 colt by leading freshman sire Mitole, posted a 15 percent decrease in average and 20 percent drop in median on Tuesday. That evening, an unraced daughter of top-10 freshman Enticed sold for $70,000 as the horses of racing age section posted gains, despite far fewer horses sold, with a 17 percent rise in average and 10 percent jump in median.

On Wednesday, the open mixed section saw 166 horses sold for gross receipts of $2,025,900, compared with 186 horses bringing $2,065,700 in the corresponding session last year. The average price was $12,204, a jump of 10 percent compared with $11,106 last year. The median did drop 32 percent, finishing at $5,100 compared with $7,500 a year ago. The buyback rate was 20 percent, after it was an outstanding 8 percent last year.

The overall sale topper emerged from the open session, with the $100,000 Omaha Beach filly purchased by Discovery Bay Bloodstock from the consignment of Fly By. The Florida-bred yearling filly, a February foal, is from the third crop of her sire, who finished fourth on the 2023 freshman sire earnings list.

The filly is the second foal out of the winning Curlin mare Gardenista, who is out of multiple graded stakes winner Valbenny.

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