The North American juvenile sale season got underway in strong fashion as the season opener, the Ocala Breeders' Sales Co.'s March sale of 2-year-olds in training, concluded with gains on Wednesday evening.
A pair of colts by Into Mischief sold for seven-figure price tags as the Ocala Breeders' Sales Co.'s March sale of 2-year-olds in training came roaring out of the gate Tuesday to kick off the season with a bang.
Three Chimneys Farm struck gold with Gun Runner, as the Horse of the Year, who it co-campaigned, dominated the juvenile scene last season, setting a record for freshman-season earnings and finishing as the overall leading 2-year-old sire. Now, Three Chimneys brings a pair of Grade 1 winners with ties to the same family to this year's freshman class in Funtastic and Sharp Azteca.
As the season turns back to the 2-year-old sales, forecasters are hoping for continued sunny skies. Demand for young stock that can quickly be sent to the racetrack, particularly with those who have already proven themselves, is still high – as has been seen with young racing-age offerings during the recently concluded mixed sale season.
This year's freshman sires are an accomplished group, with Triple Crown winner and Horse of the Year Justify leading a class that includes three other Eclipse Award champions and three other American classic winners. However, City of Light – a talented horse who perhaps simply raced in the wrong year to earn a championship – has been stealing the thunder thus far.
Triple Crown winner Justify was, famously, unraced as a juvenile, becoming the first horse to win the Kentucky Derby without racing in his 2-year-old season since Apollo in 1882. After debuting on Feb. 18 as a 3-year-old in 2018, Justify swept all six of his starts, including the Triple Crown. Precocity and speed are valued in the American marketplace – but an early start has not been the end all, be all for successful stallions recently.
Last year, with North American juvenile sales returning to their traditional places on the calendar, market enthusiasm came roaring back, with many sales posting improved or even record results. A very similar slate of sales this season will provide the chance for that strong marketplace to settle into a place of stability.
A colt by Bayern finished with the fastest furlong at the pre-sale under-tack show for the Ocala Breeders' Sales Co.'s March sale of 2-year-olds in training, the season kickoff in North America.
The 2-year-old sale season breaks from the starting gate with the Ocala Breeders' Sales Co. March sale. There are 635 juveniles in the catalog for the sale – the first of three OBS will conduct this spring – on Tuesday and Wednesday.
Respected horseman William "Buff" Bradley, who retired from training last year, has joined the Keeneland sales team, in the new position of associate of sales development.
