OBS June sale: Average, median up as $420,000 Nyquist filly tops Day 2

The Ocala Breeders' Sales Co.'s June sale of 2-year-olds in training and horses of racing age continued its momentum Thursday, with a $420,000 Nyquist filly leading as the second of three sessions posted major gains in average and median.

OBS reported that 191 horses sold during Thursday's session and grossed $8,149,600. In the corresponding second session of this sale last year – pushed back to July by the coronavirus pandemic – 173 sold for a total of $4,357,800.

Thursday's average price was $42,668, soaring 69 percent compared with $25,190 a year ago, while the median price was $17,000, jumping 39 percent from $13,000 in 2020. The sale is poised for a strong finish after the average and median prices for the opening session – which was topped by a $425,000 Practical Joke filly – soared 34 percent and 54 percent, respectively, compared to the 2020 opening-session figures.

Thursday's buyback rate was 22 percent, compared to 19 percent.

The session-topping Nyquist filly, from the second crop of last year’s leading freshman sire, was purchased by Sweetwater Trading Co., as agent for Rockingham Ranch. The filly, who was consigned by Eddie Woods, as agent, had breezed a furlong in 10 1/5 seconds during last week’s under-tack preview conducted on the Ocala Training Center’s all-weather Safetrack surface.

The filly is out of the stakes-winning Midnight Lute mare Midnight Ballet, dam of two winners from as many starters. The mare is out of stakes winner Buzz Song, making her a half-sister to Mexican champion Jala Jala. This is the extended family of Kentucky Derby winner and classic sire Grindstone.

The OBS June sale concludes with a Friday session, which includes the horses of racing age on offer in the catalog. For hip-by-hip results, click here.