Practical Joke filly brings $425,000 at first session of the OBS June sale

A filly from the first crop of Practical Joke sold for $425,000 to lead the way as the Ocala Breeders' Sales Co.'s June sale of 2-year-olds in training and horses of racing age opened its three-day run Wednesday.

OBS reported that 176 horses sold in the session and grossed $7,268,400. In the corresponding opening session of this sale last year - pushed back to July by the coronavirus pandemic - 163 sold for a total of $5,037,800.

Wednesday's average price was $41,298 up 34 percent compared with $30,907 a year ago, while the median price was $20,000, soaring 54 percent from $13,000 in 2020. The buyback rate was 27 percent, compared to 25 percent.

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The session-leading filly was purchased by bloodstock agent and clocker Gary Young - who selected Medina Spirit out of this same auction last year - from the consignment of Top Line Sales, as agent. The filly, a May foal, had worked a quarter-mile in 21 1/5 seconds over the Ocala Training Center's all-weather Safetrack surface during last week's under-tack preview show.

This is the first crop for Practical Joke, a multiple Grade 1-winning son of leading sire and emerging sire of sires Into Mischief. Practical Joke, who stands at Coolmore's Ashford Stud, is represented by two winners to date from his first crop, including Wit, a six-length debut winner on the Belmont Stakes undercard last Saturday.

Practical Joke's session-leading filly is out of the stakes-placed Medaglia d'Oro mare Devious d'Oro, whose only starter thus far is a winner. Devious d'Oro is a half-sister to Grade 3 winner Devious Intent, stakes winner Pioneer Spirit, and stakes-placed Virgil Caine.
The OBS June sale continues Thursday and Friday. For hip-by-hip results, click here.