OBS June sale: Korean buyers make impact

A number of international outfits have been quite active at the Ocala Breeders’ Sales Co. June sale that wraps up the 2-year-old auction season in the U.S., led by representatives from Korea.

Through the third of four sessions at the auction, the K.O.I.D. had signed for 15 horses, led by a $43,000 son of champion sprinter Midnight Lute with a strong female family. Consigned by Ends Well as agent, the colt is out of the winning Dixieland Band mare Dixie Holiday, the dam of 11 winners from 12 starters, including stakes winner Holiday Runner and Grade 2-placed Smash.

Holiday Runner is the dam of Grade 1 winner Seventh Street and Group 1 winner Reynaldothewizard.

Dixie Holiday is a full sister to stakes-placed Saints Go Marching and a half-sister to Grade 3-placed Real Fancy Runner and stakes-placed Stately Warrior.

The majority of the K.O.I.D.’s other purchases were by young stallions, including two offerings by well-regarded freshman sire The Factor.

Cella adds to stable

Oaklawn Park owner Charles J. Cella added to his racing stable at OBS June with a pair of purchases, led by a $260,000 colt from the first crop of Shackleford.

Shackleford has been among the leaders of his freshman class, with three winners to date. Consigned by RiceHorse Stables as agent for Emerald Sales, the colt Cella purchased is a half-brother to stakes-placed Fancy and Flashy, from the family of Grade 2 winner Sedurie and Grade 1-placed stakes winner Lacquaria.

Cella’s other purchase, a $75,000 Midshipman colt from the Woodford Thoroughbreds consignment, is a half-brother to stakes-placed Sizzling Quatorze.

Cella, 79, is a member of the third generation to lead his family’s Oaklawn Jockey Club Inc., which operates Oaklawn Park in Hot Springs, Ark. In 2005, the Cella family and Oaklawn received the Eclipse Award of Merit following the track’s centennial anniversary, in which Smarty Jones earned Cella’s $5 million bonus for sweeping the Rebel Stakes, Arkansas Derby, and Kentucky Derby.

Other classic winners to prep at Oaklawn Park in the ensuing years include two-time Horse of the Year Curlin, Triple Crown winner American Pharoah, and this year’s Belmont Stakes winner, Creator.

Prominent horses campaigned by Cella include champion turf horse Northern Spur. More recently, his Cyber Secret won the Grade 2 Oaklawn Handicap and Grade 3 Razorback Handicap in the spring of 2013 at his home track.

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