OBS sale gets $400K colt during Tuesday's second session

The Ocala Breeders’ Sales Company’s spring 2-year-old sale continued to see gains at its second of four sessions Tuesday in Ocala, Fla.

The second session ended Tuesday evening with 197 juveniles sold for $8,731,500, an 18 percent increase over last year’s Day 2 total for 223 horses. Average and median also climbed. The $44,322 average price was 36 percent higher than last year, and the $30,000 median was up 50 percent. Buybacks fell from 2011’s figure of 20 percent to 19 percent.

Tuesday’s highest price was the $400,000 that Narvick International paid for Hip No. 441, a Majestic Warrior-Flirtatious Miss colt. The chestnut colt sold as part of the Harris Training Center agency’s consignment and had breezed an eighth-mile in 10.2 seconds at last week’s under-tack preview. The March 7 foal is from the family of Grade 1 winner Trick or Treat.

Also priced above $250,000 on Tuesday were a pair of $260,000 juveniles. They were Hip No. 363, a Keyed Entry-Dixie Image filly that had worked a quarter-mile in 20.8 seconds, and Hip No. 398, a Political Force-Endless Virtue colt that also worked a quarter, this one in 21.4 seconds. John Fort bought the filly from H.J. Parra Racing Stables, and Bear Stables picked up the colt from the Azpurua Stables agency.

Tuesday’s $400,000 session-leader equaled the highest price from Monday’s opener, where a Medaglia d’Oro-Bashful Charmer filly brought that bid from Southland Stables. Niall Brennan, agent, sold Monday’s session-topper.

The first session grossed $7,403,000 from the sales of 179 juveniles. The total was up 31 percent from last year’s gross for 199 horses. This year’s average price was $41,358 and was up 45 percent, and the $25,000 median increased 25 percent over last year’s figure. The buyback rate was 23 percent, down from 27 percent for the equivalent session in 2011.

The OBS April sale was to continue through Thursday, with sessions starting at 10:30 a.m. All sessions take place at the OBS sale complex in Ocala, Fla.