For Immediate Release
Beth Bayer had good reason to be biased about the gray or roan filly by Taiba in her consignment for the 2026 Ocala Breeders’ Sales Company January Winter Mixed Sale.
Not only was the newly turned yearling one of the more popular residents in Bayer’s shedrow once she arrived on the grounds, but she carried an added dose of sentiment as Bayer had bred the filly and hence, had been there for every moment of her development.
January Winter Mixed Sale. (OBS/VidHorse photo)
“I bred her, I raised her…I’ve loved her since the day she was born,” Bayer said of the filly catalogued as Hip 80.
The high opinion Bayer held of her homebred proved more than just emotions talking as the youngster headed up an outstanding day for her breeder/consignor when she sold for a sale-topping $150,000 during the one-day January Winter Mixed Sale held Jan. 27.
In addition to selling the Taiba filly to Marc Gunderson, Bayer also consigned Hip 22, a colt by Nashville, who brought the day’s second highest price when he elicited a final bid of $140,000 to Always Dreaming. When the dust settled, Bayer had sold three of the top four prices during the session, including Hip 133, a colt by Zandon out of the winning Roman Ruler mare Built in a Day, who went to Pine Creek Ranch for $90,000.
The market for short yearlings was expected to be solid heading into the sale, and that theory indeed held true once the bidding started. The Taiba filly proved most desirable as she is out of the winning Unbridled’s Song mare Tranquil Song and is a half sister to Isolate, a multiple group 2 winner in Dubai.
“I loved everything about her. She just had so much class and has done everything right for me,” Bayer said. “It ended up paying off for me at the end of the day.”
The son of Nashville Bayer brought to the auction was another who ended up paying handsome dividends.
Bred by Boone Family Trust, the colt is out the stakes winning Forest Wildcat mare Rapid Racer and is a half sibling to graded stakes placed Lee’s Baby Girl. Rapid Racer is out of a half sister to the top producing mare Ticket to Houston, dam of multiple graded stakes winner Runway Model who herself produced Grade 1 winner and sire McKinzie.
January Winter Mixed Sale. (OBS/VidHorse photo)
“When he arrived, I was pleasantly pleased with him because he was a big strong colt, lots of bone, lots of size, a lot of substance,” said Bayer, who also sold Hip 90, another son of Nashville, for $75,000 to Dark Horse Racing Stable. “He presented himself really well. He reciprocated what I thought he would bring.”
Overall, Bayer led all consignors with 21 head sold for $719,800.
Bayer’s leading duo were among a trio of yearlings that cracked the six-figure mark during the session. Hip 191, a colt by Simplification, also reached that threshold when he sold for $100,000 to Rising Dividends Racing.
Consigned by Danielle Loya’s Silver Oaks Farm and bred by Tami Bobo, the colt is out of the Sky Mesa mare Gidget Girl and is a half brother to King’s Plate winner and OBS graduate Mansetti and multiple stakes winner Straight Up G.
Other notable hips included Hip 91, a colt by Pappacap consigned by Kaizen Sales (Richard Kent), and Hip 260, a colt by Cairo Prince consigned by Hare Hill Farm, both of whom sold for $85,000. The son of Pappacap was purchased by Pinhook Partners while Banks Bloodstock landed the Cairo Prince colt.
Hip 49, a colt by Drain the Clock, was purchased by Pine Creek Ranch for $82,000 from the Silver Oaks Farm consignment while Hip 116, a filly by Engage now named Ms. Engaged from the Hare Hill consignment, and Hip 217 Mom Said Win, a filly by Win Win Win consigned by Colin Brennan Bloodstock at Highlander Training Center, each brought $65,000. The Engage filly sold to Silver Creek Thoroughbreds with Breeze Easy & Robert Cotran purchasing Mom Said Win.
The highest priced broodmare or broodmare prospect to sell was Hip 267, Callie’s Courage, a daughter of Girvin consigned by Kaizen Sales, who sold for $48,000 to William Churly. Callie’s Courage sold in foal to Gunite and is out of the winning mare Mom’s a Cougar, a daughter of OBS grad Kantharos, who is a half sister to multiple graded stakes winner and OBS grad Mom’s On Strike and multiple stakes winner Otago.
The January Winter Mixed Sale finished with across-the-board gains over the 2025 exercise in all key metrics. At the close of business Jan. 27, a total of 186 head sold for total gross receipts of $3,507,850, an increase over the $3,093,700 generated by 212 sold a year ago. The average came in at $18,859, up from $14,593 in 2025, while the median of $12,000 was an improvement over $7,500 a year ago. A total of 71 horses failed to meet their reserve for an RNA percentage of 27.6%, up from 21.4% in 2025.
Bidding is also currently live for the OBSOnline January Horses of Racing Age and Two-Year-Old Sale, which runs until Jan. 30. Bidding will close at noon ET Jan. 30. Visit obsonline.com to view the sale.
The next live sale on the OBS auction calendar is the March Two-Year-Olds in Training Sale, set for March 10-12 with the under-tack show taking place March 4-7.
Current information about OBS sales, consignors and graduates is also available via social media sites Facebook and “X”.
For Immediate Release
Coming off a 2025 sales season ripe with record-setting results, Ocala Breeders’ Sales Company hosts its first live auction of 2026 when its January Winter Mixed Sale takes place Jan. 27 with 307 entries, including supplements, catalogued.
The single-session auction will begin at 11 a.m. ET and features newly turned yearlings, broodmares, and broodmare prospects.
Bidding started at noon ET on Monday for the OBSOnline January Horses of Racing Age and Two-Year-Old Sale, which runs until Jan. 30. Several of the horses will be available for inspection on the OBS sale grounds during the live sale. Bidding will close at noon ET Jan. 30. Visit obsonline.com to view the sale.
Market strength was the theme throughout the Thoroughbred auction arena in 2025, highlighted by OBS establishing new marks at each of its juvenile exercises and across-the-board gains during its October Yearling Sale. That robust demand, particularly for short yearlings, has sellers cautiously optimistic more positive figures are on the horizon.
“I think (the market strength) should continue. I don’t see any reason why it wouldn’t so I’m pretty hopeful,” said consignor Colin Brennan of Highlander Training Center. “In terms of the general market, it’s been a record-setting year particularly the weanling market. I’ve noticed a lot more end users buying earlier and spending a little bit more knowing that if you buy them now, it’s almost like spending money to save money down the line, that kind of mind frame.
“I think there was a little more strength through the middle market. The lower market seemed to continue to struggle if you will. But it was nice to see the middle market was a little bit better and that’s because there were so many people shopping at the top end, you figure, you have to get some kind of stock.”
Among the notable stock that count themselves as graduates of the January Winter Mixed sale are multiple Grade 1 winner and multi-millionaire White Abarrio, Grade 1 winners Casa Creed, Medina Spirit, and Speech, and graded stakes winners Federal Judge, Midnight Stroll, and St. Joe Bay. Dazzling Dame, currently fourth of the Road to the Kentucky Oaks (G1) leaderboard following her victory in the Busanda Stakes Jan. 3, is also a graduate of the Winter Mixed Sale.
The 2026 OBS January Winter Mixed Sale boasts yearlings by such notable stallions as Authentic, Charlatan, Early Voting, Essential Quality, Girvin, Golden Pal, Hard Spun, Jackie’s Warrior, Independence Hall, Mandaloun, Maxfield, Maximus Mischief, Mystic Guide, Omaha Beach, Roadster, Speaker’s Corner, Tiz the Law, Verifying, and Win Win Win.
The catalogue also features yearlings by OBS graduates Bucchero, Colonel Liam, Goldencents, Kantharos, Mitole, and Yaupon as well as offerings by Nashville and first-crop sires Arcangelo, Annapolis, OBS grad Country Grammer, Dr. Schivel, Doppelganger, Endorsed, Fulsome, Gunite, Pappacap, Proxy, Simplification, Taiba, and Zandon.
The 2026 OBS January Winter Mixed Sale includes a daughter of seven-time leading sire and OBS grad Into Mischief, daughters by top sires Candy Ride (ARG) and Tapit, as well as mares in foal to emerging sires Dornoch and Maxfield, and proven stallions Khozan, Leinster, and Midshipman.
The catalog pages for all entries are available via the OBS website at obssales.com and in printed form at the sales.
The January sale will be streamed live via the OBS website as well as the DRF, TDN, BloodHorse, 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. OBS has upgraded its internet bidding platform for both live and timed auctions and existing users will need to update their passwords. To regain access in the new platform, existing users will need to go to the login page bid.obsonline.com/login and use the “Forgot Password” feature to establish a new password.
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 provides innovative search, sort, and rating capability. For more information and downloads go to: equineline.com.
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.
Current information about OBS sales, consignors and graduates is now also available via social media sites Facebook and “X”.
Daniel Alonso’s Skippylongstocking (Exaggerator – Twinkling, by War Chant) finally added a top-level victory to his accomplished resume when the hard-knocking 7-year-old captured the $3 million Pegasus World Cup Invitational (G1) at Gulfstream Park Jan. 25 in his unprecedented fourth try in the race, leading the slate of stakes-winning OBS graduates.
(Jeff Zamaiko photo)
In taking the 1 1/8-mile stakes for 4-year-olds and up, Skippylongstocking defeated the 2025 Pegasus World Cup winner and fellow Saffie Joseph Jr. trainee and OBS grad White Abarrio by 1 ¾ lengths. The veteran runner also earned a fees paid entry into the $7 million Breeders’ Cup Classic (G1) Oct. 31 at Keeneland.
“It just means everything. He’s an amazing horse, and he deserves it,” Alonso told Gulfstream Park publicity. “Watching the races today we knew it was going to be tough coming from that far back, but he just found another gear today that we hadn’t seen before. To beat a champion like White Abarrio, it’s amazing.”
The Pegasus gave Skippylongstocking his 13th win from 36 career starts and improved his bankroll to $5,461,250. He was purchased by Alonso for $37,000 out of the Top Line Sales consignment at the 2021 OBS April Sale after breezing an eighth in :10 2/5.
The Pegasus World Cup card also saw Steve Landers Racing LLC’s Destino d’Oro (Bolt d’Oro- Heart of Destiny, by Lion Heart) capture the $500,000 Pegasus World Cup Filly and Mare Turf Invitational (G2).
Trained by Brad Cox, the 4-year-old filly previously won the Pucker Up (G3) at Ellis Park in August and has now improved her career earnings to more than $830,000. She was purchased by her owner for $185,000 at the 2024 OBS April Sale from the consignment of CM Thoroughbreds after breezing in :10 flat.
Ocala Breeders’ Sales Company congratulates Morplay Racing’s Shisospicy (Mitole – Mischief Galore, by Into Mischief) who was named champion female sprinter at the 55th annual Eclipse Awards Jan. 22, becoming the third OBS sales graduate to prevail in the category.
Shisospicy joins fellow OBS graduates Shamrock Rose (2018) and Musical Romance (2011) as winners in the division. The gray or roan filly also becomes the first champion sired by fellow OBS grad and Eclipse Award winner Mitole, who stands at Spendthrift Farm.
Trained by Jose D’Angelo, Shisospicy won three graded stakes in 2025 with the highlight coming when she became the first 3-year-old filly to win the $1 million Breeders’ Cup Turf Sprint (G1) Nov. 1 at Del Mar. Bred by Bill and Corinne Heiligbrodt, she was offered at the 2024 OBS April Sale by Hartley/DeRenzo Thoroughbreds where she was an RNA after breezing in :9 3/5.
For Immediate Release:
Ocala Breeders’ Sales Company has catalogued 16 horses for its OBSOnline January 2026 auction taking place Jan. 26-30. The OBSOnline January sale features 2-year-olds and horses of racing age.
The catalogue will be available for viewing on Friday Jan. 23 on the OBSOnline website (www.obsonline.com). Bidding will begin Jan 26 at noon ET and close at noon Jan. 30. The OBSOnline January sale will be held in conjunction with the live January Winter Mixed Sale taking place Jan. 27.
A total of seven online entrants breezed or galloped during the optional under tack show held at OBS on Jan. 22: The four entrants who breezed were:
- Hip 409 (Honest Mischief-Caribe d’Oro, by Medaglia d’Oro). The dark bay or brown filly consigned by RiceHorse Stable (Brandon and Ali Rice) worked three-eighths in :32 4/5.
- Hip 411 (Known Agenda-Cherry Marie, by Carpe Diem). The chestnut filly from the family of graded stakes winner Derby Kitten and consigned by Speedy Gonzalez breezed three-eighths in :33 1/5.
- Hip 406 (Good Magic-Mrs. Appeal, by Successful Appeal). The bay colt consigned by Champions of the Future and out of a full sister to graded stakes winner Closing Argument breezed three-eighths in :35 2/5.
- Hip 412 Bruno (Independence Hall-Everything Magic, by Street Sense). The dark bay or brown colt consigned by Jose Munoz breezed a half mile in :47 1/5. The colt is a half brother to multiple stakes placed Heldish.
Consignors also have the option to bring the horses to the OBS Sale grounds for viewing.
Other notable entries in the OBSOnline January catalogue include:
- Hip 402 Ifyousaidso (Cajun Breeze-Theladysaidno, by Concerto). Consigned by Shadybrook Farm, the 3-year-old filly is a full sister to multiple stakes winner Cajun Casanova and stakes placed Full Disclosure. The Florida-bred filly has two wins from four starts and has been on the board in each outing.
- Hip 403, a 2-year-old bay filly consigned by McKathan Bros. Sales by OBS grad Collected and out of the multiple Grade 1 winning Tiznow filly Tough Tiz’s Sis. The filly is a half sister to graded stakes winner and producer Tiz Midnight.
- Hip 408 Monsieur Candy (Catalina Red-Cajun Rocket, by Lion Tamer). Consigned by Alice Cohn, agent, the 5-year-old Louisiana bred gelding boasts two wins, including a maiden victory at Keeneland, and has been off the board just twice in 11 starts.
Each horse will have pedigree, video, and racing details available for viewing. Medical information will be available to veterinarians in the OBS repository.
To create an account or register to bid for the OBSOnline January Sale, visit obsonline.com
OBS Updates Online Bidding Platform
Ahead of the OBSOnline January Sale and January Winter Mixed Sale, OBS has upgraded its internet bidding platform for both live and timed auctions.
As part of the migration process, existing passwords could not be moved over. To regain access in the new platform, existing users will need to go to the login page www.bid.obssales.com/login and use the “Forgot Password” feature to establish a new password.
Instructions for EXISTING users:
- Go to the login page – www.bid.obssales.com/login
- Click “Forgot Password”
- Re-enter the email used for the existing account
- An email will be sent to the email address provided with a link to reset your password.
- Follow the prompts and you will be able to access the bidding platform.
If you do not receive a password reset email, please check your spam or junk folder.
Midway Racing’s Street Beast (Street Sense-Flower Party (IRE), by Duke of Marmalade (IRE)) kicked off his 3-year-old season in impressive fashion with a gate-to-wire victory in the $124,835 Leonatus Stakes at Turfway Park Racing & Gaming on Jan. 17, leading the slate of stakes-winning OBS graduates.
(Turfway Park/Devin Hall photo)
Trained by Ben Colebrook, the Leonatus was Street Beast’s third career victory from five starts and second career stakes victory after winning the Juvenile Mile (Listed) at Kentucky Downs as a 2-year-old.
With his victory in the Leonatus, Street Beast earned his connections $75,140 and boosted his overall purse earnings to $885,784.
Street Beast was purchased from the Eddie Woods consignment for $85,000 at the 2025 OBS April Sale by bloodstock agent Davant Latham, whose partnership races in the name of Midway Racing, after breezing in :10 2/5.
At Gulfstream Park Jan. 17, Grade 1 stakes-placed on dirt, Neoequos (Neolithic – Bold Birdie, by Birdstone) scored an impressive turf debut as the 4-year-old son of Neolithic registered a two-length victory in the $75,000 Sunshine Turf.
Neoequos, who finished third in last year’s Fountain of Youth (G2) and Florida Derby (G1), kicked in powerfully to win going away over fellow OBS grad Seminole Chief, who put in a strong rally along the rail. Owned by C2 Racing Stable LLC, Ian Parsard, Shining Stables LLC, Stefania Farms LLC, Ken Reimer, Paul Braverman and Timothy Pinch, Neoequos was purchased by trainer Saffie Joseph Jr. for $22,000 at the 2023 OBS October Yearling Sale from the consignment of Abbie Road Farm.
Norman Stables LLC and Saints or Sinners’ So Happy (Runhappy-So Cunning, by Blame) made a successful leap into graded company when he prevailed in the Grade 2, $200,000 San Vicente Stakes at Santa Anita Park January 10, leading the slate of stakes-winning OBS graduates for the week.
Bred by Leverett Miller and trained by Mark Glatt, So Happy’s victory kicked off a banner weekend that saw OBS graduates sweep all three graded stakes scheduled. The son of Runhappy surged to the lead inside the final furlong and held off a late charge from 1-2 favorite and fellow OBS grad Buetane to score by two lengths.
“I was really happy with the way he handled the seven-eighths because usually that’s a pretty good indication they will go two turns,” winning jockey Mike Smith told Santa Anita publicity. “He was well within himself running underneath the wire. I was really happy with the way he did things.”
So Happy was purchased by Glatt, agent for $150,000 at the 2025 OBS March Sale out of the First Call consignment after breezing in :10 flat.
So Happy’s triumph set the stage for an outstanding couple of days for Glatt and Saints or Sinners. The following day’s Santa Anita card saw the connections enjoy more success with another OBS grad when Margarita Girl (Twirling Candy-My Day, by Uncle Mo) was victorious in the Grade 3, $100,000 Las Flores Stakes to notch her first career graded win.
A 4-year-old daughter of Twirling Candy, Margarita Girl joined Glatt’s barn as a juvenile with high expectations after being purchased by Saints or Sinners for $575,000 at the 2024 OBS March Sale from the Wavertree Stables consignment after breezing in :9 4/5.
The Jan. 11 card at Santa Anita also saw Queen Maxima (Bucchero – Corfu Lady, by Corfu) earn her fifth stakes and third at the graded level when prevailing in the Grade 3, $100,000 Las Cienegas Stakes for older fillies and mares on the hillside turf course.
A 5-year-old daughter of fellow OBS grad Bucchero, Queen Maxima is owned by Dutch Girl Holdings LLC and Irving Ventures and trained by Jeff Mullins. Consigned by Blue River Bloodstock, she was purchased by Michael Pender, agent for $40,000 from the 2023 OBS June Sale after breezing in :20 3/5.
At Fair Grounds on Jan. 10, Blue Fire (Aurelius Maximus – Mystic Blue, by Maimonides) proved too much in the $100,000 Bob F. Wright Memorial Stakes, winning by 2 1/4 lengths. Owned by Stonestreet Stables and Peter Leidel and trained by Steve Asmussen, Blue Fire was purchased for $32,000 by Fast Horses out of the 2023 OBS Winter Mixed Sale from the Kaizen Sales consignment.
Respect the Valleys’ Dazzling Dame (Girvin – Awesome Dama, by Corinthian) put herself on the Kentucky Oaks (G1) trail when she drew off to an emphatic 11 1/2-length victory in the $150,000 Busanda at Aqueduct Racetrack Jan. 3, leading the slate of stakes-winning OBS graduates for the week.
(NYRA/Susie Raisher photo)
The Busanda offered 20-10-6-4-2 Kentucky Oaks qualifying points to the top-five finishers, respectively.
Trained by Brittany Russell, Dazzling Dame entered off a 1 1/2-length victory in Delaware Park’s White Clay Creek on Oct. 11. Her final time of 1:38.30 was more than 3/5 of a second faster than sophomore colt My World ran when winning the $150,000 Jerome earlier on the card (1:38.96).
Trained by Brittany Russell, the daughter of Girvin was purchased by her owners for $45,000 at the 2025 OBS March Sale from the Richardson Bloodstock consignment after breezing in :21 flat. She was previously sold to Tahoe Bloodstock from the Hare Hill Farm consignment for $65,000 at the 2024 OBS Winter Mixed Sale.
At Turfway Park Dec. 3, Colts Neck Stables’ Hometown Bound (Mitole- Youngest Daughter, by The Factor) remained unbeaten as he cruised to a 1 ¼-length victory in the $123,750 Turfway Prevue.
Trained by Jorge Duarte Jr., Hometown Bound bested fellow OBS grads Trendsetter and Blessed Warrior. The son of Mitole was purchased by his owners at the 2025 OBS March Sale for $350,000 from the L.G. consignment after breezing in :9 4/5
At Oaklawn Park Jan. 3, Leland Ackerley Racing’s Obliteration (Violence- I’mclassyandsassy, by Master Command) dominated the $150,000 Renaissance Stakes, taking the lead at the top of the stretch and drawing away to a 7 ½-length victory.
Trained by Hall of Famer Steve Asmussen, the son of Violence was making his 3-year-old debut following a successful 2-year-old campaign that saw him earn a 10 ½-length victory the Grade 3 Sanford Stakes in July. Obliteration was a $200,000 purchase by his owner at the 2025 OBS March Sale from the consignment of breeder Ocala Stud after breezing in :21 3/5.
At Gulfstream Park Jan. 1, JSM Equine’s Haute Diva (Constitution – Diva Style, by Unbridled’s Song) closed through the stretch to register a neck victory in the $175,000 Cash Run Stakes.
Trained by Patrick Biancone, Haute Diva was offered by Wavertree Stables at the 2025 OBS April Sale where she failed to meet her reserve after breezing in :10 flat.
At Santa Anita Park Dec. 29, La Ville Lumiere (City of Light-Malibu Drive, by Malibu Moon) became a newly minted stakes winner when she surged late to score by a neck in the $100,000 Blue Norther Stakes going a mile on turf.
Trained by Michael McCarthy and owned by Eclipse Thoroughbred Partners, Sabby Racing and Ken T. Reimer, La Ville Lumiere was purchased by Eclipse Thoroughbred Partners for $475,000 at the 2025 OBS March Sale from the Eddie Woods consignment after breezing in :10 flat.
