OBS March sale features deep catalog

After the Barretts March sale got the juvenile portion of the auction calendar started on a positive note, the industry’s focus now shifts to central Florida for the Ocala Breeders’ Sales Co.’s March selected sale of 2-year-olds in training.

The two-day sale will be held March 12-13, with each session beginning at 11 a.m. Eastern. This year’s catalog features 345 offerings, down four percent from the 362 in last year’s book.

OBS conducted two under-tack shows on March 6-7 in preparation for the select sale. Nine juveniles tied for the fastest furlong during the show at :09.60, three of those by freshman sires Colonel John, Pioneerof the Nile, and Old Fashioned. The fastest two-furlong time over both days came during Thursday’s first session, when a Henny Hughes colt completed his breeze in :20.60 seconds.

The OBS March sale is the only major select sale on the North American juvenile auction calendar to feature multiple sessions. OBS President Tom Ventura said the size of the catalog, combined with the quality of a select sale, gives buyers a solid depth of offerings and plenty of chances to land a quality horse.

“We have a good, solid group of horses with quality, but we also have quantity for a guy that is coming a long way to go to a sale,” Ventura said. “If he doesn’t get his first choice or second choice, there’s still a third choice that’s more than suitable for them. They feel like they at least have an opportunity to buy a horse.”

That depth was apparent at last year’s March sale, which tied the auction’s record median price of $100,000, rising 43 percent from the 2011 edition. In total, 180 horses were sold for revenues of $24,739,500, up one percent compared with the 2011 sale, while the average price of $137,442 was a 32 percent improvement.

The sale was topped last year by a colt eventually named Boss Man Rocket, who was purchased by Frank Fletcher Racing Operations for $800,000. The son of War Front is out of the Horse Chestnut mare Henna, who is a half-sister to multiple Grade 1 winner and sire Pomeroy.

To access an online catalog, click here.

To read Joe Nevills' six horses to watch on Day One, click here.

To read Joe Nevill's six horses to watch on Day Two, click here.