OBS sale: $275K topper keys big session gains

LEXINGTON, Ky. - A $275,000 filly by successful young sire War Front topped Monday’s opening session at the Ocala Breeders’ Sales Company’s April 2-year-old sale in Ocala, Fla., on a day of big gains in gross, average, and median.

The opening session sold eight horses for $100,000 or more, including the session-topper and a Kafwain filly that went for $200,000.
Jayeff B Stable, represented by agent Buzz Chace, bought the session-topper. The dark bay or brown filly is out of stakes winner Tappin for Gold, by Pleasant Tap, and is from the family of Grade 3 performer Marla Bay. Alexandra de Meric and Brandon Rice, agent, consigned the filly. The sale-topper went through the ring last year at the Keeneland September yearling sale, where she brought $80,000 from New Mission Bloodstock.

The session sold 189 juveniles for $5,517,900, a 21 percent bump from last year’s total for 196 juveniles. The day’s average price was up even more, 25 percent, at $29,195, and median rallied by 11 percent to reach $20,000. But buybacks were higher, 31 percent as compared to last season’s figure of 26 percent.

Twenty-three horses fetched sale prices of $50,000 or more, slightly up from last year’s 22.

The session’s second-highest-priced horse was the $200,000 Kafwain-Seattle Splash filly that Grace Stables from the Eddie Woods agency. The filly breezed a quarter in 21 seconds at the under-tack show last week and is from the family of Grade 3-placed stakes winners Splasha and Grand Splash. She last sold as a yearling at the OBS 2010 August yearling sale, where Quarter Pole Enterprises bought her for $31,000.

The OBS April auction was to continue through April 21 at the OBS facility in Ocala. Sessions begin daily at 10:30 a.m.

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