OBS March: Smart Strike colt sells for $1.8 million as sale posts big gains

A $1.8-million Smart Strike colt paced Wednesday’s activity as the Ocala Breeders’ Sales Co. selected sale of 2-year-olds in training concluded with double-digit gains in total sales, average, and median.

OBS reported 182 hips sold for the two-day session totaling $28,871,000, a 17 percent increase compared with the 2012 March sale, when 180 hips sold for $24,739,500. The average price of $158,632 rose 15 percent from $137,442 in 2012, and median spiked 23 percent to $127,500 from $100,000 last year. Both average and median prices set records for the OBS March sale; the buyback rate also dropped from 25 percent last year to 23 percent.

Stonestreet Stables was the winning bidder on the session and sale-topping colt, who is the first foal out of the Grade 2-winning Pulpit mare Mini Sermon. He was a $115,000 purchase by consignor Kings Equine at the 2012 Fasig-Tipton Kentucky fall yearling sale and he tied the fastest time for a one-furlong breeze during the pre-sale under-tack show, covering the distance in :9.80 seconds. The colt's price tied for the highest ever at an OBS March sale with Garifine, a Belong to Me colt, who sold to Coolmore's Demi O'Byrne in 2006.

The gray or roan Smart Strike colt is from the family of Irish champion Minstrella and Grade 2 winners A Little Warm and Colonial Minstrel.

A War Front out of the unraced Horse Chestnut mare Henna sold to agent Steven Young for $600,000 on Wednesday as the second highest price of the sale. Consigned by Harris Training Center, agent, the bay colt worked an eighth in :10.20 at the under-tack show. Henna is a half-sister to Grade 1 winner and sire Pomeroy and to Gold Vault, the dam of Grade 1 winner and 2012 Eclipse Award finalist Contested.

Eisaman Equine led all consigners at the OBS March sale with 22 juveniles sold for $4,110,000. Barbara Banke’s Stonestreet was leading buyer with three purchases for $2,420,000.

For Wednesday’s concluding session, OBS reported 83 horses sold for total receipts of $15,077,000, a 19 percent rise compared with 86 sold for $12,720,000 in 2012. The average sale price jumped 23 percent, going from $147,907 last year to $181,651, while the median price of $135,000 also rose 23 percent from last year’s second session median of $110,000.

Tuesday’s opening session got the sale off to a strong start, with 99 horses sold for revenues of $13,794,000, up 15 percent from last year’s opening session total of $12,019,500. The average sale price of $139,333 was a nine percent improvement from $127,867, while the median spiked 23 percent from $97,500 to $120,000.

The opening session was led by $480,000 Flatter colt out of winning Well Decorated mare Well, who was secured by bloodstock agent David Ingordo for Lane’s End Bloodstock. The colt is a sibling to two winners from as many to race, including Grade 3 winner Well Spelled and is from the family of Grade 2 winner Notation and Grade 3 winner My Creed.

Consigned by Niall Brennan Stables, agent, the colt breezed one furlong in :10.20 seconds. He was a $60,000 purchase at the 2012 Keeneland September yearling sale, and was by far the highest-priced foal out of his dam.

For hip-by-hip results, click here.

Year	Sold	Total	Average	Median
2013	182	$28,871,000 (+17%)	$158,632 (+15%)	$127,500 (+28%)
2012	180	$24,739,500	$137,442	$100,000