Ocala Breeders’ Sales Company announced Wednesday’s Under Tack Show has been cancelled due to rain and high winds forecasted to hit the area March 5.
The Under Tack show will now be consolidated to three days and take place March 6-8. Horses will breeze according to their corresponding sale day with Hips 1 – 272 going Thursday, Hips 273-544 going Friday, and Hips 545-814 breezing on Saturday. Each Under Tack session will start at 8 a.m. ET.
The sale will take place as scheduled March 11-13 with sessions beginning at 11 a.m. ET each day.
Wathnan Racing’s Flood Zone (Frosted-Curls for Girls, by Curlin) launched himself into the Kentucky Derby (G1) picture when he upset the field in the Grade 3, $300,000 Gotham Stakes at Aqueduct Racetrack March 1, becoming one of three Ocala Breeders’ Sales Company graduates to earn graded stakes victories over the weekend.
Flood Zone wins the Gotham Stakes (NYRA/Walter Wlodarczyk photo)
Flood Zone earned 50 qualifying points for the Kentucky Derby as he defeated eight sophomores in the field. Consigned by Paul Sharp, he was purchased for $45,000 by VEB Racing Stable at the 2024 OBS June Sale after breezing in :21.3.
“Going two turns, he’ll be even better in my opinion. He has very good tactical speed and he has gears to go the distance,” jockey Reylu Gutierrez told the NYRA publicity team.
At Gulfstream Park March 1, D. J. Stable LLC and Eclipse Thoroughbred Partners’ Vixen (Vekoma – Top Mission, by Noble Mission (GB)) notched her first graded victory when she captured the $215,000 Herecomesthebride (G3). The Mark Casse trainee was purchased by D. J. Stable for $200,000 out of the SGV Thoroughbreds at the 2024 OBS Spring Sale after breezing in :10.1.
On March 2 at Santa Anita Park, Michael Lund Petersen’s Maysam (Game Winner-Sefani, by American Pharoah) gamely outdueled favorite Supa Speed to win the Grade 3, $100,000 Santa Ysabel Stakes and earn 25 qualifying points toward the Kentucky Oaks (G1). Maysam was purchased by Petersen for $500,000 out of the Wavertree Stables consignment at the 2024 OBS March sale after breezing in :10 flat.
Other OBS graduates to earn stakes wins the past week include:
Feb 24
Oaklawn Park
$145,000 Commodore Overnight Stakes – Booth (Mitole – Sophia’s Song, by Bellamy Road). Owner: William and Corinne Heiligbrodt, Jackpot Farm, Whispering Oaks Farm; Sale: 2023 OBS March; Buyer: Bill & Corinne Heiligbrodt and Jackpot Farm; Consignor: Wavertree Stables; Price: $225,000; Breeze: 10.0 (Under Tack Video)
$150,000 Dixie Belle Stakes – G W’s Girl (Munnings – Essence of Audre, by Exchange Rate); Owner: Mag Racing LLC; Sale: 2024 OBS March; Buyer: Mag Racing Stables; Consignor: Triple J Equine Sales; Price: $130,000; Breeze: 10.0.
$100,000 Flashy Prize Stakes – Blue Fire (Aurelius Maximus – Mystic Blue, by Maimonides); Owner: Stonestreet Stables and Peter Leidel; Sale: 2023 OBS Winter Mixed Sale; Buyer: Fast Horses; Consignor: Kaizen Sales; Price: $32,000.
Turfway
$125,000 Wintergreen Stakes – Ms Quality Control (Quality Road – A Bit Special (GB), by Mukhadram (GB); Owner: James Schurman; Sale: 2023 OBS March; Buyer: David Cannizzo, agent; Consignor: Wavertree Stables; Price: $255,000; Breeze: 10.2 (Under Tack Video)
March 2
Oaklawn Park
$150,000 Nodouble Breeders’ Stakes – Navy Seal (Midshipman – Copperelle, by Elusive Quality); Owner: KEM Stables; Sale: 2020 OBS March; Buyer: KEM Stable; Consignor: Hoby and Lana Kight; Price: $80,000; Breeze: 21.1 (Under Tack Video)
The $1.5 million Saudi Derby (G3) proved a showcase for Ocala Breeders’ Sales Company graduates as Golden Vekoma (Vekoma – Sticks Wondergirl, by Stevie Wonderboy) bested fellow OBS graduate Shin Forever to take the 1,600-meter test on the undercard of the Saudi Cup (G1) Feb. 22.
Golden Vekoma after winning the Saudi Derby (Jockey Club of Saudi Arabia/Mathea Kelley Photo)
Golden Vekoma wore down Shin Forever to score by 1 ¾ lengths. The son of Vekoma had previously earned his first grade/group victory when he annexed the UAE 2000 Guineas S. (G3) by two lengths at Meydan Racecourse in Dubai for owner Mohammed Ahmad Ali Al Subousi on Jan. 24.
“These were deep waters…but he showed his class,” Connor Beasley, jockey for Golden Vekoma, told the Saudi Cup publicity team on his Saudi Derby win. “It’s a big day for myself and the whole team.”
Golden Vekoma was purchased by Harmash Racing for $90,000 from the 2024 OBS Spring Sale of Two-Year-Olds in Training from the Grassroots Training and Sales consignment after breezing in :10.2.
Other stakes winners on the weekend included Lea Farms LLC’s multiple Grade 3 winner Super Chow (Lord Nelson – Bonita Mia, by Warrior’s Reward)running down 8-5 favorite Concrete Glory to score a three-quarter-length victory in the $140,000 Gulfstream Park Sprint at Gulfstream Park Feb. 22. The son of Lord Nelson was purchased for $75,000 out of the Eisaman Equine consignment at the 2022 OBS Spring Sale after breezing an eighth in :10 flat. (Under tack video)
At Santa Anita Park Feb. 22, Dutch Girls Holdings LLC and Irving Ventures LLC’s Queen Maxima (Bucchero – Corfu Lady, by Corfu) earned her first stakes win for trainer Jeff Mullins with a 3 ½-length victory in the $100,000 Wishing Well Stakes going six furlongs on the turf. Consigned by Blue River Bloodstock, the daughter of OBS graduate Bucchero was purchased by Michael Pender, agent for $40,000 from the 2023 OBS June sale after breezing in :20.3. (Under tack video)
Lael Stables’ Taking Candy (Twirling Candy-Taking Aim, by Trappe Shot)was one of three Ocala Breeders’ Sales Company graduates to earn their first stakes victories this past weekend when he captured the $175,000 Fair Grounds Stakes (G3) at Fair Grounds Race Course & Slots Feb. 15.
The son of Twirling Candy notched his first graded stakes win in nine career starts when he finished one length ahead of runner-up Higgins Boat. Taking Candy was purchased by Lael Stable for $400,000 at the 2022 OBS March Sale of Two-Year-Olds in Training from the consignment of Eddie Woods after breezing in :10 flat. (Under Tack Video)
At Santa Anita Park, Rancho Temescal LLC, White Fence LLC and Richard Hale Jr.’s Roll On Big Joe (Prospective – Nina’s Gift, by Victory Gallop) also collected his first graded win when he led every point of call to prevail by four lengths in the $100,000 Palos Verdes Stakes (G3) Feb. 15. The son of Prospective was purchased by Rancho Temescal for $90,000 at the 2022 OBS June sale from the Gayle Woods consignment after breezing in :10 flat. (Under Tack Video)
On Feb. 16, Calvin Nguyen and Joey Tran’s Scipio(Caravaggio – Soul Spirit, by Quality Road) earned his first stakes win with a 1 ½-length victory in the $100,000 Baffle Stakes on Santa Anita’s hillside turf course. Consigned by Scanlon Training & Sales, Scipio was purchased for $60,000 by Richard Baltas out of the 2024 OBS March sale after breezing in :10.2.
With an economic impact of more than $3.2 billion to the state, the importance of the Thoroughbred industry in Marion County, and Florida as a whole, cannot be overstated. Any action that threatens the viability of our racing and breeding operations is deeply troubling and unacceptable. Ocala Breeders’ Sales Company, Inc. (OBS) is proud to be the leading seller of two-year-olds in training in the world and while the sales attract a broad group of domestic and international buyers, it is critical that OBS along with the Florida horsemen and breeders have a stable environment in our own backyard. OBS is a center of commerce for the Thoroughbred marketplace in Florida and often relied upon to generate income to help sustain training and breeding operations. Therefore, we have been steadfast in our opposition to decoupling.
It is important to understand that the bill for decoupling is in the initial stages and has a long way to get to the finish line. Simply put, decoupling will allow a Thoroughbred racetrack to operate a stand-alone slot and card casino by removing the statutory requirement to conduct racing and fund purses and breeder awards for the horsemen that helped them qualify for the gaming license and supply the horses for the races. The push for decoupling by 1/ST Racing is disturbing, selfish and unfounded. 1/ST Racing should be applauded for their significant investment in racing, but it is counterintuitive that a company with “Racing” in their name would want to do anything that would harm racing in Florida and throughout the country. Make no mistake, if this bill passes, the impact WILL harm racing and will not be limited to Florida, the ripple effects will be nationwide, and the message will be deafening.
It is our hope and belief that decoupling of Thoroughbred racing will not become a reality in Florida. The problem is that the existence of the bill itself has created obvious concern, uncertainties throughout the industry and has likely impacted breeding decisions. This is not an isolated Florida issue; it is a national issue and opposition to the bill includes leaders from throughout the country that actually compete with Florida in attracting horsemen and breeders to race and breed in their state. This bill creates a disincentive to race.
The legislators have consistently and historically recognized the importance of Thoroughbred racing and breeding in Florida by creating a statutory framework that protects and promotes the Thoroughbred industry. The current effort to pass decoupling is ill founded and will favor one company while inflicting wide reaching damage to a signature industry of Florida and more importantly the livelihood of the thousands of people that rely upon the stability of the Thoroughbred industry.
In 2021, the legislators once again recognized the profound impact of the Thoroughbred industry to the state and specifically excluded Thoroughbred racing from being decoupled and retained other protective measures to maintain racing days. In fact, when slot machines were initially approved in 2005, statutory language for Thoroughbred permitholders were unique compared to the other pari-mutuel permitholders. Since day one with the support of horsemen, breeders, and the Thoroughbred tracks (including Gulfstream Park and Calder), there has been a statutory requirement for an agreement for purses and breeders’ awards to be in place before a slot license could be issued to a Thoroughbred permitholder. Since the inception of slots, Jai Alai, Greyhound, and Standardbred permitholders have never been required to share slots revenue or have an agreement with the underlying participants. The requirements for Quarter Horse permitholders were ineffective due to loopholes in the statute.
Owners, breeders, trainers, and all horsemen have options when considering where to race and breed. Hence, it is vital that Florida continues to support Thoroughbred racing and breeding and not force businesses and jobs to flee Florida to more welcoming states. Having a vibrant horse industry in Florida that is competitive with other states protects an established, signature industry that not only provides a tremendous economic impact but promotes and preserves greenspace.
While it is certainly the prerogative of the owners of Gulfstream Park to walk away from racing and develop or sell their property, they do not and should not have the right to walk away with parting gifts of standalone slots and cards from the backs of the horsemen and breeders that are their partners and were critical in obtaining these privileges.
Decoupling will send the wrong message. Now is the time to do the right thing; step up, withdraw the bill as well as the notion of decoupling before it creates any more damage.
Michael E. Pegram, Karl Watson and Paul Weitman’s Casalu (Caracaro – Key d’Oro, by Medaglia d’Oro) headlined the list of stakes-winning Ocala Breeders’ Sales Company graduates the past week when she captured the $100,000 Sweet Life Stakes for 3-year-old fillies at Santa Anita Park Feb. 9.
Casalu wins the Sweet Life Stakes. (Benoit photo)
The daughter of Caracaro notched her second consecutive stakes win as she scored by 1 ¾ lengths over runner-up and fellow OBS grad As Catch Can. Casalu was purchased by Three Amigos for $775,000 out of the Global Thoroughbreds consignment at the 2024 OBS Spring Sale of Two-Year-Olds in Training after breezing a quarter in :20.2.
At Gulfstream Park Feb. 8, Leon Ellman, Glassman Racing and Laurie Plesa’s Epona’s Hope (Adios Charlie – Alotofappeal, by Trippi) led every step en route to the victory in the $140,000 Ladies’ Turf Sprint. The bay filly was purchased by her owners for $295,000 from the Ocala Stud consignment at the 2023 OBS March Sale after breezing in in :21.1. (Under Tack Video)
In the $100,000 Minaret Stakes at Tampa Bay Downs Feb. 8, Florida-bred Nic’s Style (Uncaptured – Sense When, by Street Sense) unleashed a monster rally to earn her third straight stakes victory and sixth win from seven career starts. She was purchased by owner Stephen Rousseau for $25,000 out of the Summerfield consignment at the 2021 October Yearling Sale.
The catalogue for the 2025 Ocala Breeders’ Sales Company March Sale of Two-Year-Olds in Training is now available online at obssales.com.
The three-day sale will take place March 11-13 with each session beginning at 11 a.m. Hips 1-272 will sell March 11 with Hips 273-544 going March 12 and 545-814 selling March 13. The 2025 OBS March Sale also offers a new entry option of “Gallop Only” where sellers can enter their horses with this designation, which will be on the catalogue page.
The under-tack show will run from March 5-8 starting at 8 a.m. each day. Hips 1-204 are slated for March 5 followed by Hips 205-408 March 6, Hips 409-611 March 7, and Hips 612-814 March 8. The Under Tack Show and sale will be streamed live via the OBS website as well as the TDN, DRF, BloodHorse, and Past The Wire websites.
Notable graduates out of the 2024 OBS March sale include Grade 1 winner and Eclipse Award finalist Gaming, Grade 1 winner Scottish Lassie, graded stakes winner Nooni, multiple Grade 1 placed Ferocious, and multiple graded stakes placed Sandman.
Featured on the cover of the catalog is C2 Racing Stable, Prince Faisal bin Khaled bin Abdulaziz Al-Saud and Antonio Pagnano’s multiple Grade 1 winner White Abarrio (Race Day – Catching Diamonds, by Into Mischief). The 6-year-old horse captured the 2023 Breeders’ Cup Classic (G1) and most recently scored an open-length triumph in the Pegasus World Cup Invitational (G1) at Gulfstream Park Jan. 25.
White Abarrio is a two-time OBS graduate having been sold by Summerfield (Francis & Barbara Vanlangendonck), Agent, at the 2020 Winter Mixed Sale and then purchased for $40,000 out of the Nice and Easy Thoroughbreds consignment at the 2021 March Sale after breezing an eighth in 10.2. (Under Tack video).
Gaming and Scottish Lassie are among the four OBS graduates featured on the back cover along with Grade 1 winners Muth and Iscreamuscream.
Michael E. Pegram, Karl Watson and Paul Weitman’s Gaming (Game Winner – So Stylish, by Johannesburg) won two of four starts in 2024 including a victory in the Del Mar Futurity (G1). Gaming was purchased for $250,000 at the 2024 OBS March Sale of Two-Year-Olds in Training by Three Amigos from the Pick View consignment after breezing in 20.2.
Sportsmen Stable, Parkland Thoroughbreds, Photos Finish LLC, Corms Racing Stable and Jorge R. Abreu’s Scottish Lassie (McKinzie – Bodebabe, by Bodemeister) broke her maiden in high-level fashion when she captured the 2024 Frizette Stakes (G1) in her second career start. She was purchased for $85,000 out of the 2024 March sale by Parkland Thoroughbreds from the consignment of Gene Recio after breezing in :21 flat.
Zedan Racing Stables’ Muth (Good Magic – Hoppa, by Uncle Mo) earned Grade 1 wins at ages 2 and 3. The son of Good Magic annexed the 2023 American Pharoah Stakes (G1) and went on to prevail in the last year’s Arkansas Derby (G1). Muth was consigned to the 2023 OBS March Sale by Top Line Sales LLC, Agent, and purchased by Donato Lanni, Agent, for a sale record equaling $2 million after breezing in 9.3. Muth retired from racing with earnings over $1.5 million and begins his stallion career at Gainesway Farm in 2025 (Under tack video / Walking video)
Iscreamuscream (Twirling Candy – Silver Screamer, by Cozzene), owned by Little Red Feather Racing, John Hundley Jr, Marsha Naify, John Snyder and Stacey Snyder has won four of five starts and earned two graded wins in 2024 highlighted by her victory in the Del Mar Oaks (G1). She was consigned to the 2023 OBS March Sale by GOP Racing Stable and sold to Little Red Feather for $145,000 after breezing in 9.4. (Under tack video / Walking video )
OBS will again offer online bidding during the March Sale. Buyers may go to the OBS website and register to gain bidding approval, then access the OBS Bidding Screen with their credentials. For complete information on registration and online bidding please go to the OBS website: obs-internet-bidding.
The iPad version of the catalog can be accessed via the equineline Sales Catalog App. The App allows users to download and view the catalog, receive updates and results, record notes and also provides innovative search, sort and rating capability. For more information and downloads go to:equineline.com/SalesCatalogApp/
Current information about OBS sales, consignors and graduates is now also available via social media sites Facebook and “X”.
Baoma Corp.’s Tenma (Nyquist – Amagansett, by Tapit)launched herself atop the Road to the Kentucky Oaks (G1) leaderboard when she scored a 6 ½ length win in the $100,000 Las Virgenes Stakes (G3) at Santa Anita Park Feb. 2 to lead the slate of stakes-winning Ocala Breeders’ Sales Company graduates this past week.
The victory earned Tenma 20 additional qualifying points for this year’s Kentucky Oaks, improving her total to 33 points overall. In addition to leading a 1-2 finish for OBS grads in the Las Virgenes, she won her debut in August at Del Mar last year then scored in the Del Mar Debutante (G1) and Starlet Stakes (G2) to close out her juvenile season.
Tenma wins the Las Virgenes (Benoit Photo)
The daughter of Nyquist was purchased by Baoma for $850,000 out of the Wavertree Stables consignment at the 2024 OBS Spring Sale of Two-Year-Olds in Training after breezing an eighth in :9.4.
On Feb. 1, My Way Racing’s El Potente (Temple City – Charmsil, by Silver Charm) notched his first career graded stakes win when he rolled to a three-length victory in the $100,000 Thunder Road Stakes (G3) at Santa Anita. El Potente was purchased by McMahon and Hill Bloodstock, agent for $35,000 out of the Nice and Easy Thoroughbreds consignment at the 2021 OBS June Sale after breezing in :10.1 (Under Tack Video).
On Jan. 31, Chancheng Glory (Mor Spirit – Solid Scam, by Consolidator) earned the biggest win of his career on an international stage when he prevailed in the HK$4.2 million Group 3 Centenary Vase Handicap at Sha Tin. The Iowa-bred gelding was an RNA at the 2022 OBS March Sale where he was offered by Pike Racing and breezed in :10 flat (Under Tack Video).
Other stakes winners included D. J. Stable LLC and Eclipse Thoroughbred Partners’Vixen (Vekoma – Top Mission, by Noble Mission (GB) making an impressive 2025 debut when she took the $165,000 Sweetest Chant Feb. 1 at Gulfstream Park. The Mark Casse trainee was purchased by D. J. Stable for $200,000 out of the SGV Thoroughbreds at the 2024 OBS Spring Sale after breezing in :10.1.
At Aqueduct on Feb. 1, Bran Jam Stable and David Clark’s Volleyballprincess (Mo Town – Prom Dress, by Stephen Got Even) netted her first stakes victory in the $125,000 Ruthless Stakes over fellow OBS Grad Ourdaydreaminggirl. The North Carolina bred filly was sold for $17,000 by RiceHorse Stable to Louis Linder Jr. at the 2024 OBS March Sale after breezing in :10 flat.
At Oaklawn Park Feb. 1, Kaleem Shah’s Benedetta (City of Light – Tessie Flip, by Grand Slam) earned her fourth consecutive victory when she delivered in the $150,000 American Beauty for older female sprinters. She was purchased for $750,000 at the 2023 OBS March Sale of Two-Year-Olds in Training by KSI out of the Top Line Sales consignment after breezing in :9.4 (Under Tack Video).
At Fair Grounds Race Course & Slots Feb. 1, Gentry Farms’ Accomplished Girl (Street Boss – Dazzle, by Twirling Candy) earned her second stakes victory of the meet when she annexed the $100,000 Robert “Bobby” Kelly Memorial. The daughter of Street Boss was purchased for $275,000 by Gentry Farms/Saffie Joseph out of the Grassroots Training & Sales consignment at the 2022 OBS Spring Sale after breezing in :9.3 (Under Tack Video).
At Delta Downs Feb. 1, Rand S. Metoyer’s Wonderrand (Cloud Computing – Laughing Saint, by Vindication) took the $125,000 LA Bred Premier Night Distaff Stakes. She was purchased for $30,000 out of the 2023 OBS Spring Sale from the Grassroots Training and Sales consignment after breezing in :10.1 (Under Tack Video).
Multiple stakes placed Dream Concert elicited a final bid of $110,000 from Tiger Racing to top the OBSOnline January Sale for 2-year-olds and Horses of Racing Age.
The January digital auction was conducted from Jan. 23-30. It marks the third auction held under the OBSOnline banner.
Consigned as Hip 425 by trainer Kathleen O’Connell, agent, Dream Concert is out of the stakes-winning Concerto mare Spanish Concert, who has two winners from as many foals to race. The 5-year-old daughter of Jess’s Dream has four wins from 19 career starts with $202,930 in earnings.
Bred by James Michael Chicklo, Dream Concert is nominated to the Grade 3 Endeavour Stakes at Tampa Bay Downs Feb. 1. She most recently finished third in the $100,000 Wayward Lass Stakes at Tampa Bay Downs Jan. 11 where she was beaten just a nose for place honors.
The top selling newly turned 3-year-old wasHip 403, a daughter of Practical Joke who sold for $46,000 to Daniel McGreevy. Consigned by Wavertree Stables, the filly is out of the Quality Road mare Happy Road and is from the female family of Grade 1 winner Bustin Stones. She breezed in 32.1 during the optional under tack show.
As of Jan. 31, the OBSOnline January sale generated $273,200 in gross receipts from 12 horses sold. The average was $22,767 with the median coming in at $7,500. Nine horses failed to meet their reserve.
Media Advisory: Photos for editorial use from the OBS January Winter Mixed sale are available here.
For Immediate Release:
Last Leaf made her third trip through the Ocala Breeders’ Sales Company ring her best outing yet.
Before setting foot in the pavilion for the 2025 OBS January Winter Mixed Sale Jan. 28, the multiple stakes-winning daughter of Not This Time was already well acquainted with the grounds having previously sold for $10,000 at the 2020 OBS Winter Mixed Sale and $23,500 at the 2020 October exercise.
In her latest turn before the bidders, the 6-year-old mare delivered her most memorable performance when she elicited a final bid of $140,000 from agent Marette Farrell to top the single-day sale.
Hip 56 Last Leaf (OBS/Penelope P. Miller Photo)
The 2024 January sale was held over two days with a consignor preferred session and Horses of Racing Age comprising the first day and an open session taking place the second day. This year saw the 2-year-olds and Horses of Racing Age being sold in the OBSOnline January auction, which began Jan. 23 and runs through noon ET Jan. 30. Visit obsonline.com to view the sale.
Consigned as Hip 56 by Gilberto Martinez of G. Martinez Training, agent, Last Leaf is out of the Paddy O’Prado mare My Miss Kallie and earned $622,580 in 30 career starts. The dark bay mare was purchased by Farrell on behalf of owner Joey Peacock, who is buying mares to support his newly retired Grade 1 winner Senor Buscador in his first season at stud at Lane’s End Farm.
“He really wants to support the stallion with good mares,” Farrell, who signed the ticket as Senor’s Senorita’s, said of Peacock. “The mares we’ve already accumulated have all run good numbers, have good form. This filly ran in some of the top stakes races and was a graded stakes level filly. (Her pedigree) goes back to (champion) Soul of an Angel, who won the Breeders’ Cup Filly and Mare Sprint, and (Grade 1 winner) Homeboykris. It’s exactly what he needs. And she’s beautiful, just a gorgeous upper body.”
For Martinez, Last Leaf was the only horse his consignment sent through the ring at the Winter Mixed Sale, giving him a homerun of a result.
“I think she’s going to be a nice broodmare,” Martinez said. “She’s the only one (we sold) so it feels good to sell one like that. We were expecting a bit more but that’s okay.”
Offerings by proven sires were most sought after throughout the sale. The day’s highest priced short yearling was a daughter of McKinzie consigned by Summerfield who sold to Lambholm, agent for $97,000.
Catalogued as Hip 70, the dark bay filly is out of the winning Bellamy Road mare Picolata and hails from the female family of multiple graded stakes winner North East Bound. Her sire McKinzie was represented by a pair of Grade 1 winners last year in OBS graduates Chancer McPatrick and Scottish Lassie.
“We thought we would be in the $75-80,000 range, but there were so many people on her I thought we might get close to $100,000,” said Francis Vanlangendonck of Summerfield. “We’re thrilled. She’s a pretty filly. Being by (McKinzie), there aren’t many like that here. And she was correct and vetted perfectly, so she was one of the better ones on the sales grounds.
“She got shown like 50 times two days in a row, she never stopped. She showed lots of class.”
Richard Kent of Kaizen Sales said one of his consignment’s most popular offerings was Hip 233, a yearling son of OBS graduate Yaupon. The bay youngster showed why he commanded such attention when he sold to Sea Warrior Stables, LLC for $95,000, the highest priced yearling colt in the sale.
A registered Florida bred, the colt is out of the winning Discreet Cat mare Catsoutofthebag, who is a full sister to stakes placed Fly At Dawn.
“We showed him over 100 times and he never wavered,” Kent said of the colt. “He was ready to go each time we brought him out. It’s a little easier to sell really nice horses. He had the advantage of having a sire that is a real talking horse right now, especially here in Ocala. I loved his balance and the way that he walked, he had a really smooth walk to him. So, we were pretty confident.”
Other notable prices included Hip 192, a yearling colt by Vekoma who sold for $80,000 to John Kimmel and Nick Sallusto, agent from the consignment of Boutte Sales, and Hip 269, a yearling son of Candy Ride (ARG) that got a final bid of $75,000 from Eduardo Soto from the consignment of Abbie Road Farm (Lisa McGreevy).
Hip 116, a yearling filly by Frosted from the consignment of Afleet Equine Services, sold to Gray A Day for $72,000 while Hip 26, a bay colt by Army Mule from the consignment of Silver Oaks Farm (Danielle Loya), brought a final bid of $70,000 from SB Consulting.
At the close of business on Jan. 28, the January Winter Mixed Sale saw 213 head sold for total gross receipts of $3,108,700. The average came in at $14,595 while the median was $7,500. A total of 57 horses failed to meet their reserve for an RNA percentage of 23.1.
Due to the change in format from the 2024 auction, final figures are not completely comparable. Last year’s sale figures without the horses of racing age included in the final numbers were 251 horses sold for gross receipts of $3,946,800. The average was $15,724 with a median of $7,000 as 64 horses failed to meet their reserve for an RNA percentage of 20.3.
“(The market) is a little sticky,” Kent said. “The good horses they sell but it’s difficult on the middle of the road horses. That hasn’t changed for a long time.”
Lisa McGreevy of Abbie Road led all consignors with 25 head sold for $528,200 this year.
Next on the 2025 OBS auction calendar is the March Two-Year-Olds in Training Sale, set for March 11-13 with the under-tack show taking place March 5-8.
Current information about OBS sales, consignors and graduates is also available via social media sites Facebook and Twitter.
The first live auction of 2025 at Ocala Breeders’ Sales Company takes place Jan. 28 with 342 horses, including supplemental entries, catalogued for its January Winter Mixed Sale.
The single-session auction will begin at 11 a.m. ET and features newly turned yearlings, broodmares, and broodmare prospects. Comparison figures to 2024 will not be applicable as last year’s January sale was held over two days with a consignor preferred session and Horses of Racing Age comprising the first day and an open session taking place the second day.
Trainer Mark Casse at OBS January (Penelope P. Miller/OBS Photo)
This year has 2-year-olds and Horses of Racing Age being sold in the OBSOnline January auction, which began Jan. 23 and runs through noon ET Jan. 30. Several of the horses will be available for inspection on the OBS sale grounds during the live sale. The OBSOnline January sale had an additional entry added to the catalogue with multiple stakes placed Dream Concert being consigned as Hip 425. Visit obsonline.com to view the sale.
Notable graduates of the Winter Mixed sale include newly minted Pegasus World Cup (G1) winner White Abarrio, Grade 1 winners Casa Creed, Medina Spirit, and Speech, and graded stakes winners Federal Judge, Midnight Stroll, and St. Joe Bay.
The 2025 OBS January Winter Mixed Sale includes mares in foals to proven sires and up and coming stallions such as Complexity, Early Voting, Girvin, Independence Hall, Khozan, Leinster, Magic On Tap, Pappacap, Simplification, The Factor, Tiz the Law, Two Phil’s, Volatile, and Win Win Win.
Among the first-crop stallions represented with yearlings in the catalogue are OBS graduate and multiple Grade 1 winner Colonel Liam, OBS graduate and champion Corniche, Drain the Clock, Epicenter, Golden Pal, Greatest Honour, Mandaloun, Mind Control, Mystic Guide, Mo Donegal, Nashville, and Roadster. The catalogue also offers yearlings by such top sires as Candy Ride (ARG), McKinzie, Munnings, Oscar Performance, Speightstown,Vekoma and Yaupon.
Francis Vanlangendonck of Summerfield, which led all consignors at the 2024 Winter Mixed Sale by gross, said he expects the discerning nature of the Thoroughbred marketplace to continue in the new year.
“Your quality stuff is going to sell very well. The mares that haven’t produced runners are going to be tough and the yearlings with vetting issues are going to be tough. But that’s the case everywhere,” Vanlangendonck said. “What Ocala has is a built-in market. A lot of people show up because they live here and they’re in the business, and that showed in October during the hurricane. A ton of people showed up to buy horses and we had a much better sale that we thought we were going to have. People poured in here even though we changed the time; we changed the date and they still showed up. We’re in a pretty good spot that way because we have people who will buy a lot of these horses who live here.”
The catalog pages for all entries are available via the OBS website at obssales.comand in printed form at the sales.
The Sale will be streamed live via the OBS website as well as the DRF, TDN, BloodHorse, Pastthewire, and Hipismo.net websites.
OBS again offers Online Bidding during the January Sale. Buyers will be able to go to the OBS website and register to gain bidding approval, then access the OBS Bidding Screen with their credentials. For complete information on registration and online bidding please go to the OBS website: obs-online-bidding.
Current information about OBS sales, consignors and graduates is now also available via social media sites Facebook and Twitter. A link on the homepage directs users to either site.
Sales results will be available on the OBS website, updated frequently during each session of the Sale. In addition, the latest news regarding OBS graduates, sales schedules, nominations, credit requests, travel information and other news relevant to OBS consignors and customers is also available. E-mail should be addressed to obs@obssales.com.
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Photos for editorial use from the OBS January Winter Mixed sale will be available here.
C2 Racing Stable, Prince Faisal bin Khaled bin Abdulaziz Al-Saud and Antonio Pagnano’s White Abarrio (Race Day – Catching Diamonds, by Into Mischief) was the star of a banner weekend for Ocala Breeders’ Sales Company graduates as he turned in a stakes-record 6 1/4-length triumph in the $3 million Pegasus World Cup Invitational (G1) at Gulfstream Park Jan. 25.
The winner of the 2023 Breeders’ Cup Classic (G1) covered the distance in 1:48.05 over a fast main track to surpass the previous largest margin of victory, 5 3/4 lengths, set by City of Light in 2019.
White Abarrio (Coglianese/Lauren King photo)
“I thought the Breeders’ Cup Classic was the best race of his life, but this was very close behind,” trainer Saffie Joseph, Jr. told the Gulfstream Park publicity team. “Everything just aligned. You come up with a plan and more often than not it doesn’t work, but today it did.”
A two-time OBS graduate, White Abarrio was sold by Summerfield (Francis & Barbara Vanlangendonck), Agent, at the 2020 Winter Mixed Sale and then purchased for $40,000 out of the Nice and Easy Thoroughbreds consignment at the 2021 March Sale after breezing an eighth in 10.2. (Under Tack video).
White Abarrio was one of four OBS graduates to earn grade/group wins the past week.
The undercard of the Pegasus World Cup saw C2 Racing Stable LLC and Stefania Farms’ Mystic Lake (Mo Town – Salty Soul, by Itsmyluckyday) capture the $215,000 Inside Information (G2). The 3-year-old Florida-bred filly, a two-time OBS graduate, was sold by Summerfield Agent at the 2022 October Yearling Sale and then purchased for $130,000 out of the Tom McCrocklin consignment at the 2023 March Sale after breezing in 20.4. (Under Tack video)
At Oaklawn Park Jan. 25, Speed King (Volatile – Athenian Beauty, by Corinthian) led a 1-2 finish for OBS Grads when he bested Sandman to score a gate-to-wire victory in the $1 million Southwest Stakes (G3) for owner Ted Bowman of Triton Thoroughbreds. Speed King was purchased by Triton Thoroughbreds for $100,000 out of the A.G Sale consignment at the 2024 OBS Spring Sale of Two-Year-Olds in Training.
On Jan. 24, Golden Vekoma (Vekoma – Sticks Wondergirl, by Stevie Wonderboy)earned his first grade/group victory when he annexed the UAE 2000 Guineas S. (G3), winning the 1,600-meter race by two lengths at Meydan Racecourse in Dubai for owner Mohammed Ahmad Ali Al Subousi. Golden Vekoma was purchased by Harmash Racing for $90,000 from the 2024 OBS Spring Sale of Two-Year-Olds in Training from the Grassroots Training and Sales consignment.
Other stakes winners on the weekend included The Wine Steward (Vino Rosso – Call to Service, by To Honor and Serve) taking the $150,000 Fifth Season Stakes at Oaklawn Park Jan. 25 for owners Peter Proscia (Paradise Farms Corp.) and David Staudacher. The Wine Steward was purchased for $340,000 by trainer Mike Maker from the Sequel Bloodstock consignment at the 2023 March Two-Year-Olds in Training Sale (Under Tack Video).
At Turfway Park Jan. 25, Lithe Spirit (Speightstown – Spooky Woods, by Ghostzapper) won the $125,000 Wishing Well Stakes for an ownership group that includes Bradley Thoroughbreds, Gainesway Stable, et al. The filly was purchased by Bradley Thoroughbreds for $485,000 from the Scanlon Training & Sales consignment at the 2023 OBS Spring Sale of Two-Year-Olds in Training (Under Tack Video).
