NEWS
Numbers rise, buy-backs drop at OBS August
Posted: Thursday, August 26, 2010 9:54 PM
by Cynthia McFarland
Coming off a difficult 2009 and with breeders and buyers alike keeping a close eye on the summer yearling sales, Ocala Breeders’ Sales Co. officials were relieved to close a three-day run on Thursday with across-the-board improvements.
By the end of the final session of the OBS August yearling sale, 615 yearlings sold for gross receipts of $9,105,350, a 22.7% increase over 2009, when 651 horses brought $7,421,700.
This year’s average was $14,805, up 29.9% from last year’s average of $11,400. Median soared 60% to $8,000, from $5,000 last August. The buy-back rate dropped to 24.5%, down sharply from 34.5% in 2009.
“The sale held up very well today. We’re pleased with the way things went,” said Tom Ventura, OBS general manager and director of sales. “It seems like we’ve seen the bottom and are working our way up. When you look at the final numbers, we had two open sessions that actually grossed more than the three open sessions last year.”
An athletic filly by millionaire and Grade 1 winner Any Given Saturday topped the sale during the select session on Tuesday, bringing $280,000 from Jeff Bonde and Mersad Metanovic, agent, who signed the ticket on behalf of California owner Phil Lebherz.
Bonde and Metanovic were the sale’s leading buyer, purchasing five yearlings for a total of $447,000. Lebherz, who races on the West Coast, owns Grade 1 winner Smiling Tiger, recent winner of the Bing Crosby Stakes (G1) at Del Mar and one of the favorites in this weekend’s Pat O’Brien Stakes (G1).
Consigned by Beth Bayer, agent, the sale topper—currently named Going Mavericki—is out of the Prized mare, Ricki S, a full sister to Grade 1 winner Brass Hat, now with $2,097,921 in earnings. Bayer was the sale’s second leading consignor behind Summerfield, which sold 73 yearlings from 89 offered for total sales of $1,260,100.
The sale topper helped Any Given Saturday, whose first foals are yearlings of 2010, lead all sires in average price with four sold for an average of $116,250.
The sale’s top-priced colt and second-highest price overall was a $135,000 Malibu Moon yearling consigned by Lexington-based Legacy Bloodstock, agent. Legacy led all consignors in average price, selling all five yearlings it sent through the ring for an average of $65,800.
Ocala pinhooker Nick de Meric signed the ticket on the dark bay or brown colt out of the multiple stakes winner Ambition Unbridled, by Unbridled’s Song. De Meric was second leading buyer, taking home four yearlings for $337,000.
For hip-by-hip results, click here.
Cynthia McFarland is a Florida-based Thoroughbred Times correspondent
