OBS August yearling sale: two tie for top price during a successful select session

The Ocala Breeders’ Sales Company opened its August yearling auction Tuesday with a pair of $250,000 toppers and hefty increases across the board at its select session.

The Ocala, Fla., auction’s select session sold 137 yearlings for $7,543,000 on Tuesday, up 30 percent from last year’s select session, when 132 horses sold. Average price jumped 26 percent, from $43,803 last year to $55,058, and the $45,000 median leaped 29 percent from last year’s $35,000.

Buybacks, meanwhile, dropped sharply, from 26 percent last season to 17 percent in 2013.

Barbara and Francis Vanlangendonck’s Summerfield sales agency had a banner day, selling the select session’s three most expensive yearlings. That group included two yearlings that brought the session’s highest price of $250,000. The first was a colt from Concord Point’s first crop and out of the Tomorrows Cat winner Better Than Swiss. Nick de Meric, agent, made that purchase.

The next to bring $250,000 was a Scat Daddy colt out of the unraced Unbridled’s Song matron Great Venue, who is herself a half-sister to Grade 2 winner Too Much Bling. EQB, agent, bought the gray or roan colt on behalf of Ahmed Zayat.

The day’s third-highest priced yearling also belonged to the Summerfield consignment, this one a $220,000 Unbridled’s Song colt out of the unraced Storm Cat mare Zehoorr, from the family of Grade 1 winner Nany’s Sweep and Grade 3 winner She’s Indy Money. Passion Stables was the buyer.

Summerfield led all sellers with 12 horses sold for a combined $1,201,000. De Meric led all buyers Tuesday with 10 purchases totaling $777,000.

The session’s most expensive filly was a $145,000 Pioneerof the Nile-Extra Holy daughter that Dapple Stud, agent, sold to Bruno de Berdt and David Scanlon, as agents. The filly is from the family of champion and Horse of the Year Holy Bull.

Dapple also enjoyed a good afternoon. They also consigned a $180,000 Kitten’s Joy colt out of winner Love Runs Deep (from the family of champion Storm Song) that Northwest Stud purchased, and a $165,000 Scat Daddy colt that Hartley/DeRenzo Thoroughbreds bought. The latter is out of Grade 1-placed and Grade 3 winner Maddalena, by Good and Tough, and is a half-brother to Grade 2 winner Bern Identity.

The OBS August yearling sale continues with two open sessions on Aug. 21-22. Sessions begin each day at 10:30 a.m. Eastern in the OBS sale complex in Ocala.

For hip-by-hip results, click here.

Ocala Breeders' Sales Co. August yearling sale, select session:

Year	Sold	Gross	Average	Median	Buyback
2013	137	$7,543,000 (+30%)	$55,058 (+26%)	$45,000 (29%)	17%
2012	132	$5,782,000	$43,803	$35,000	26%