Ocala Breeders' Sales Co. spring sale ends with record gross

The Ocala Breeders' Sales Co.'s spring sale of 2-year-olds in training wrapped up its four-day run Friday evening with gains compared to its embattled 2020 edition, continuing a solid start to the juvenile sales calendar.

Led by a $1.5 million Quality Road colt and a $1 million Arrogate filly, OBS reported 723 horses sold for a sale-record gross of $73,907,900. Last year's four-session auction, which was pushed back from its traditional April dates to June by the coronavirus pandemic, and which faced an uphill battle with the economic uncertainty of the time, finished with 634 juveniles sold for $57,715,000.

The average price was $102,224, compared with $91,033 a year ago. The median was unchanged at $50,000. The gain in average is noteworthy because, while last year's sale did face turbulence, it also was led by the most expensive juvenile in North America on the season, $1.35 million Princess Noor.

The buyback rate in a selective marketplace was 13 percent, an improvement from was 19 percent last year.

The sale-topping Quality Road colt was purchased by Speedway Stables LLC. The colt, who was consigned by de Meric Sales, as agent, had breezed a furlong in 10 seconds flat during the under-tack preview show held last week on the Ocala Training Center's all-weather Safetrack surface.

The colt is out of the Najran mare Wasted Tears, a six-time graded stakes winner who earned $941,463. The mare, herself a half-sister to two stakes winners, is the dam of four winners from five starters, including stakes-placed Coffee Crush.

The seven-figure Arrogate filly was purchased by Katsumi Yoshida, via an online bid, from the consignment of Mayberry Farm, as agent. The filly, from the first of what will be just three crops by the late Arrogate, also had breezed a furlong in 10 seconds during her under-tack preview.

The filly is out of the multiple graded stakes-winning Montbrook mare Amen Hallelujah, who also recorded four Grade 1 placings. All four of her foals are winners.

For hip-by-hip results, click here.