OBS spring: Curlin and Bernardini colts tie for top price on day three

The Ocala Breeders’ Sales Co. spring sale of 2-year-olds in training continued to post strong results as its third session concluded on Wednesday, with a higher buyback rate the only negative. A colt by Curlin and a colt by Bernardini each sold for $700,000 to lead the session, placing them in a tie for second overall among the auction’s top prices through three days.

For Wednesday’s session, OBS reported 190 horses sold for revenues of $15,666,000, a 15 percent increase compared with the third session last year, when 213 horses changed hands for $13,644,000. The third session average price of $82,453 jumped 29 percent compared with last year’s $64,056 average, and Wednesday’s median price of $52,000 rose 30 percent from $40,000. The buyback rate was up for the third consecutive session, as 21 percent of horses who went through the sales ring failed to meet their reserves. The buyback rate at last year’s comparable session was 11 percent.

McKathan Bros., as agent for David Shimmon’s Fog City Stables, purchased the co-session topping Curlin colt from the consignment of Old South Farm, agent. The colt is out of the multiple Grade 2-winning Eskimo mare Silent Eskimo, who has produced two stakes horses. The colt breezed a furlong in 10 seconds flat during the pre-sale under-tack show last week.

Donato Lanni, as agent, bought the other $700,000 colt. Consigned by Northwest Stud, the dark bay or brown son of Bernardini is out of Grade 1 Santa Margarita Invitational winner Tarlow, by Stormin Fever, and from the family of Grade 3 winners Mr. Bowling and Yankee Fourtune. The colt breezed a quarter-mile in 21 seconds flat at the under-tack show.

Wednesday’s co-session-toppers trail only a $725,000 Tapit colt purchased by Mike Repole on Tuesday in the auction’s individual price rankings.

Overall, OBS reports 581 juveniles sold through three sessions for $43,635,000 in gross receipts. That marks a 13 percent increase compared with $38,548,500 from 628 sold through the third session last year. The cumulative 2014 average of $75,103 is 22 percent higher than last year’s average of $61,383, and the median of $47,000 through three sessions has improved 27 percent compared with $37,000 last year.

The OBS spring sale concludes with a final session on Thursday, beginning at 10:30 a.m. Eastern.

For hip-by-hip results, click here.