Three seven-figure lots help OBS spring sale close with notable gains

An Into Mischief colt sold for $1.3 million on Friday as a robust upper market helped the Ocala Breeders' Sales Co.'s spring sale of 2-year-olds in training close another record renewal as it continues to gain stature on the calendar.

The four-day sale established records for its gross, average, and median as OBS reported that the sale closed with 675 horses sold for a total of $73,287,000. That eclipsed by 7 percent the previous record gross of $68,541,500 from 707 lots sold a year ago. The cumulative average price finished at $108,573, shattering the record of $98,197 established in 2018 by 11 percent. The median was $60,000, topping last year's high-water mark of $55,000 by 9 percent. The buyback rate was relatively steady in a selective market, finishing at 20 percent compared to 19 percent a year ago.

Three seven-figure juveniles led the top of the market: The $1.3 million Into Mischief colt, a $1.2 million Liam's Map colt, and a $1 million Quality Road filly. Led by those three, a total of six lots sold for $750,000 or more. The 2018 edition of this sale produced just one seven-figure horse, with four sold for $750,000 or more.

The Into Mischief colt was purchased by Team Casse, as agent, from the consignment of de Meric Sales, as agent. That consignment also produced the $1 million Quality Road filly, and had four lots among the top seven prices.

The sale topper, who is out of the unraced Fusaichi Pegasus mare Dixie Song, had breezed a quarter-mile in 21 seconds flat on the Ocala Training Center's all-weather Safetrack surface during the pre-sale under tack show. Dixie Song is a half-sister to three stakes producers, most notably Grade 1-placed By the Light, a nine-time stakes winner who is the dam of multiple Grade 1 winner By the Moon. They are also half-sisters to Winbrandlex, dam of stakes winner Malibu Yankee, and to Magnolia Moon, dam of Venezuelan stakes winner Abuelo Adib.

The Liam's Map colt was purchased by Robert and Lawana Low from the consignment of Ciaran Dunne's Wavertree Stables, as agent. This is the first crop for Liam's Map, whose multiple Grade 1 victories included the 2015 Breeders' Cup Dirt Mile. The son of Unbridled's Song's high-ticket horse breezed a quarter-mile in 20 4/5 seconds during the under-tack show.

The colt is out of the unraced Bernardini mare Amazement, whose dam is multiple Grade 1-winning millionaire Wonder Again. The latter is the dam of Group 3-placed stakes winner Red Raven. Graceful Darby and Tribulation, both winners of the Queen Elizabeth II Challenge Cup, appear on the catalog page, as does Japanese champion Grass Wonder.

The Quality Road filly was purchased by Narvick International from de Meric's consignment. The filly had breezed a furlong in 9 4/5 seconds, making her one of several juveniles tied at the second-fastest time for the distance at the breeze show.

Out of the unplaced Accelerator mare Paris Rose, the filly is a half-sister to Grade 3 winner Decelerator, dam of South African Group 2 winner Nafaayes. They are also half-sisters to Grade 2-placed Cool Blue Red Hot. Paris Rose is out of Grade 1 winner Fabulous Notion, making her a half-sister to several stakes producers – most notably Paris Notion, the dam of Quality Road's Breeders' Cup Dirt Mile and Pegasus World Cup winner City of Light. Grade 1 winners Cacoethes and Fabulously Fast also appear on the catalog page.

For hip-by-hip results from the OBS spring sale, click here.