NEWS
Two-year-old sales begin with OBSC February
Posted: Monday, February 16, 2009 7:12 PM
by Pete Denk
With a record batch of fast times and the promise of a new crop of two-year-olds, the United States juvenile sales begin Tuesday with the Ocala Breeders’ Sales Co. February sale of selected two-year-olds in training.
Twenty-one horses worked one furlong in less than :10 and another 12 drilled two furlongs in less than :21 on OBSC’s synthetic Safetrack surface on Friday.
Twenty-five outs decreased the original catalog of 200 to 175 as of Monday night.
“We’re feeling pretty good. We think we’ve got some nice horses and the right people are here to buy them,” OBSC Director of Sales Tom Ventura said. “I’m pleased with the activity in the barns.
“Certainly, the upper end of the market appears well represented. I’m seeing enough activity at that next level, and that’s important because we need more than just the top 20 horses to sell well.”
The quickness of the track surface has been a major point of discussion on the sales grounds. Ventura said he believes the fast times were a product of cool weather.
“We had an extended run of colder weather and the result has been the track is on the quick side. Certainly, there was nothing on our end that we intentionally made it that way,” Ventura said. “It’s a warmer weather surface and when it gets cold, it gets a little tighter. For the most part, I’ve been through the barns and the horses seem to be in pretty good condition for post-breeze.
“The time is certainly a part of the decision making for buyers, but it’s the way that they do it and how they look at the barn.”
There was not a consensus opinion on Monday as to which horse will top this year’s sale. The prevailing view is this catalog is deep on good, useful racing prospects.
Last year’s sale was topped by a $520,000 Silver Deputy filly and produced a record average of $157,640 and a record median of $125,000. The sale begins at noon EST.
To view the catalog, click here.
Pete Denk is sales editor of Thoroughbred Times
