Ghostzapper filly leads the way on Day 2 of OBS June

A Ghostzapper filly who was among the standouts of the under-tack preview show sold for $445,000 as the Ocala Breeders’ Sales Co.’s June sale of 2-year-olds in training and horses of racing age gained momentum on Thursday, with the gross and average both up heading into its finale.

Through two of three sessions, OBS reported 389 horses sold for total gross receipts of $13,472,200. That figure is up 18 percent from the 2018 sale to this point, when 347 horses had sold for $11,406,600. The cumulative average price is tracking at $34,651, tracking upward 5 percent from $32,872 a year ago. The strong second session helped the sale make gains after Wednesday's opener, when the average finished down 12 percent.

The buyback percentage in a highly selective market has been up both days, finishing at 26 percent on Thursday compared with 20 percent in the 2018 second session. The buyback rate was 29 percent in the opener, compared with 18 percent in 2018.

The session-topping Ghostzapper filly was purchased by Backstretch Farms, Inc, from the consignment of de Meric Sales, as agent. She had breezed a furlong in 9 4/5 seconds during last week’s under-tack preview show, making her one of 11 juveniles tied for the bullet work at the distance on the Ocala Training Center’s all-weather Safetrack surface.

The filly is out of Palanka City, who won the Grade 3 Miss Preakness Stakes and five other stakes. The Carson City mare is the dam of three winners from as many starters thus far.

Palanka City is a full sister to Grade 3-placed stakes winner Quick Action. Breeders’ Cup Mile winner Royal Academy appears on the catalog page.

For hip-by-hip results from the sale, click here. OBS June is set to conclude with its final session on Friday, beginning at 10 a.m., Eastern.