For Immediate Release
When Eddie Woods speaks, those in the know listen. And bloodstock agent Ramiro Restrepo took the noted consignor’s words to heart – then backed it up with his wallet.
On a day that began with a speech about the strength of Florida’s Thoroughbred industry, the market buying power showed itself once more during the third session of the OBS Spring Sale of Two-Year-Olds in Training when a bay colt by the late champion Uncle Mo sold for $1.3 million to Restrepo’s Marquee Bloodstock, agent to lead the action.
The colt, consigned as Hip 833, added to what is already a record-setting OBS April sale as he became the eighth horse to sell for seven figures during the 2025 Spring exercise, besting the previous mark of five that was established in 2022. The youngster also gave Woods, who is set to retire after the April sale, another highlight moment in a career bursting with achievements.
During the OBS March sale, Woods consigned a son of Gun Runner that sold for an OBS record $3 million. The veteran horseman said his expectations for the Uncle Mo colt were also lofty and that he hammered down at almost the exact level predicted.
“I was pretty confident he would sell really well,” Woods said. “He had all the right people on him, his video was amazing, he’s by a proper stallion. He’s supposed to be a nice horse and he sold accordingly.
“For once, he sold right around where I thought he was going to sell.”
The colt, who breezed in :10 flat, is out of the Venezuelan champion Cacciatora (VEN), by Point of Entry, and is from the female family of Horse of the Year and OBS grad Favorite Trick.
Restrepo said he purchased the colt for a group that includes some of the same partners as the ones who campaigned OBS grad multiple Grade 1 placed Ferocious, and that Woods’ endorsement of the juvenile carried significant weight.
“First and foremost, the colt’s work was pretty spectacular,” Restrepo said. “Going back there and watching the game tape several times, it was pretty evident he had arguably the best breeze in the sale. Physically, I love the medium sized Uncle Mos. He’s a very powerful colt and you also have the lean on the opinion of amazing horsemen like Eddie Woods.
“The things he spoke about the horse were pretty special to hear and when you have the track record of a person like that, it bends your ear a bit.”
Restrepo added that Gustavo Delgado, who conditioned 2023 Kentucky Derby (G1) winner Mage, will train the Uncle Mo colt.
For the second day in a row, Hall of Fame trainer Steve Asmussen’s affinity for offspring by his former trainees also helped light up the board in the OBS pavilion.
After owner Kaleem Shah stretched to $1.3 million on Wednesday to land Hip 585, a bay colt by OBS grad and former Asmussen protégé Yaupon, he went to $850,000 during Thursday’s session to take home Hip 727, a dark bay or brown colt by Maclean’s Music.
Consigned by Caliente Thoroughbreds, the colt, who breezed in :10 flat, is out of the winning Lemon Drop Kid mare Apologize and is a half-brother to graded stakes placed Blue Devil. The family is one Asmussen is well acquainted with as he trained both Maclean’s Music and Blue Devil.
“I love the colt as an individual. Maclean’s Music has been wonderful to me,” said Asmussen. “I actually had Blue Devil as well, so it’s an individual I absolutely love. I loved his breeze. Just very fortunate Kaleem was willing to buy him.”
Apologize is a full sister to multiple graded stakes winner Aurelia’s Belle, and her Maclean’s Music colt gave consignor Saul Marquez his biggest financial success to date.
“He came in in such good form. He’s always showed his class,” said Marquez of Caliente Thoroughbreds, who sold future multiple Grade 1 winner Chancer McPatrick at last year’s April sale. “Very high hopes for him. He’s on to his second career and I don’t think he’s going to disappoint. He’s the most expensive horse I’ve sold in three years of consigning. (The market’s) been up and down. I’ve always said a good horse is going to sell. And just happy overall with all my results.”
The day’s third highest price came when Hip 787, a chestnut colt by Vekoma consigned by Ocala Stud, sold for $750,000 to Maverick Racing and CHC, Inc. The colt, who breezed in :20 3/5, is out of the winning Big Drama mare Big Thrill, an OBS April grad who is a half-sister to multiple stakes winner Determinato.
“It exceeded our expectations, but I’m not surprised that he brought that number,” said David O’Farrell of Ocala Stud. “He’s a really flashy colt he worked extremely well. He’s just a really sharp colt by the right sire at the moment.”
Other top prices on the day included:
Hip 619, a dark bay colt by Independence Hall out of the Candy Ride (ARG) mare Waltzing who sold to Winchell Thoroughbreds for $700,000. Consigned by Wavertree Stables, the colt, who breezed in :20 2/5, comes from a family with proven ability on both turf and dirt. Waltzing is a half-sister to graded stakes winner Dancing Solo as well as Grade 1 placed Dancing. The mare is also out of a full sister to Grade 1 winner Voodoo Dancer.
Hip 875, a bay colt by OBS grad Yaupon consigned by Hoppel LLC that brought $625,000 from Spendthrift Farm. The colt, who breezed in :20 2/5, is out of the winning Scat Daddy mare Chestnut Street, who is a half-sister to multiple stakes winner Saratoga Snacks.
Hip 775, a chestnut colt consigned by Scanlon Training & Sales by Essential Quality who sold to Marc Tacher for $600,000. The colt, who breezed in :9 4/5, is out of the stakes placed mare Be Sneaky, who is by OBS grad Into Mischief. The colt is from the female family of graded stakes winners Red Ruby, Mo Tom, and Crupi.
Hip 741, a chestnut filly by Justify consigned by Top Line Sales LLC who sold to Saints or Sinners LLC for $550,000. The filly, who breezed in :9 4/5, is out of the Malibu Moon mare Aurora Point, a half-sister to stakes winner and Grade 1 placed Rattlesnake Bridge.
Before the day’s session got underway, Florida Governor Ron DeSantis made an appearance on the grounds alongside owner Mike Repole and spoke to the audience about the importance of the industry.
“I understand the importance of the industry to the state, not just in terms of economy, which is important,” DeSantis said. “But it’s a culture and a way of life and something people have known for many generations.”
DeSantis, seated alongside Repole in the pavilion, helped bid on a horse early in the session as Hip 613, a bay filly by Practical Joke consigned by Mayberry Farm, hammered for $140,000 to West Bloodstock, Agent for Repole Stable, Inc.
Prior to speaking to the crowd, DeSantis met with several key member of the industry including O’Farrell, president of the Thoroughbred Racing Initiative, which was created to fight for live horse racing in Florida and elsewhere in the United States.
“It’s been a really good day for our industry, it’s great for OBS and just showing strength that we’re here, we’re a viable business,” O’Farrell said. “It was great to show him the commerce taking place in Ocala. Showing him what our industry is all about. To know that we have the Governor on our side as a huge ally and supports our business is a huge win for the industry.”
Total gross for the session came in at $21,806,500 from 144 sold, well up from the $15,692,000 generated by 157 sold in 2024. The average of $151,434 jumped up from $99,949 last year while the median came in at $80,000 a significant improvement compared to $57,000 a year ago.
Overall figures for gross and average are also pacing well ahead of 2024’s numbers. The total gross of $68,940,000 is up from $62,545,000 last year at this point with the average jumping from $126,866 in 2024 to $143,029 this year. The median of $65,000 is down slightly from $72,000 through three sessions in 2024.
De Meric Sales leads all consignors by gross through the first three days with 25 sold for $5,842,000. Mahmud Mouni leads all buyers with six purchased for $3,530,000. A total of 109 horses have failed to meet their reserve resulting in an RNA rate of 18.4%.
The sale concludes Friday beginning at 10:30 a.m. with hips 907 – 1207 selling.
Full sale results can be found at obssales.com.