OBS October yearling sale average finishes up 5 percent

The Ocala Breeders’ Sales Co.'s October yearling sale, the last stop on the yearling calendar for the Florida marketplace, concluded on Wednesday night with strength at the top of the marketplace leading to a gain in overall average prices.

OBS reported 395 horses sold for revenues of $9,116,600 during the two-day sale, which was arranged into selected and open sessions, compared with 434 yearlings bringing $9,532,750 in 2018's sale, which had one selected and two open sessions. The overall average price for this week's sale finished at $23,080, a 5 percent bump from $21,965 for the three sessions last year.

Tuesday's selected session, which was led by 16 horses sold for six figures, compared with nine a year ago, opened the sale in strong fashion and helped to make up for quieter figures in Wednesday's open session. The selected session's average price finished at $46,324, a gain of 13 percent compared to $41,000 last year. The median price jumped 25 percent, to $35,000 from $28,000. The buyback percentage was the blight on the rose, rising to 35 percent compared to 24 percent.

A day later, the open session's average price was $12,671, a moderate dip of 3 percent compared to $13,090 in the open portion last year. The median was $8,000, rising 14 percent from $7,000. The buyback rate remained even at 24 percent.

The overall sale topper was a $230,000 colt by current freshman sire Liam's Map sold during the select session. The colt was purchased by de Meric Stables, as agent, from the consignment of Select Sales, as agent.

This year's yearlings represent the second crop for 2015 Breeders' Cup Dirt Mile winner Liam's Map, who is the sire of a pair of Grade 1 winners in his first crop in Basin and Wicked Whisper. Liam's Map sits fourth on the freshman sire earnings list.

The colt is the first foal out of the Giant's Causeway mare Dad'ssilverpitcher, a half-sister to stakes winner Melodic. French Group 3 winner Oiseau de Feu, who was also Group 1 placed, appears on the catalog page, as do Grade 3 winners Adcat and Adorable Micol and stakes winners Adorydar, Brokerette, Columbia Gold, Cute Cognac, and Gratiaen.

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