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| Staff Writer |
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A daughter of Curlin has established a new benchmark for the Ocala Breeders' Sales June 2YOs in Training and Horses of Racing Age Sale, commanding US$975,000 from Gus King to surpass the previous record of US$900,000 set in 2019.
The remarkable sale concluded with gross receipts climbing to US$25,688,500 from US$22,045,800 achieved twelve months earlier, despite more than 100 fewer lots being offered during the consolidated two-day format.
Market strength proved evident across all key metrics, with 502 horses changing ownership at an average of US$51,172, representing a substantial 40.7 per cent increase from the previous year's US$36,379. The median price rose 25 per cent to US$25,000 from US$20,000, establishing new records for both categories at the June fixture.
"We certainly saw the same pattern that we saw in the 2YO market all year and I'm glad that it held all the way to June," remarked OBS director of sales Tod Wojciechowski. "This time of year, you worry about buyer fatigue, but a lot of that was just worry. The market proved its resiliency again. Lots of records this year, it was an excellent season. We're grateful to the buyers that came, grateful to the consignors who bring the quality horses they bring."
The RNA rate remained encouraging at 16.7 per cent for the 101 horses failing to meet reserve, improving slightly from the previous year's 18.1 per cent.
The sale-topping Curlin filly, catalogued as Hip 850 through Caliente Thoroughbreds, boasts impeccable breeding being out of graded stakes-winning Tapit mare Mufajaah. The dam has produced two winners including stakes-placed Mejthaam. Bred in Kentucky by Lynch Bages and Camas Park Stud, the chestnut filly had previously sold for US$200,000 as a yearling to Happy Farm at the Fasig-Tipton Kentucky October Yearling Sale through Four Star Sales.
Her under tack performance proved compelling, breezing an eighth of a mile in 10 seconds during the preview show. Agent Randy Miles, acting for King, confirmed the filly would join Hall of Fame trainer Steve Asmussen's string.
"Gus really just wants top quality," Miles explained. "He had Publisher in the Kentucky Derby this year and really wants to continue that line with really top-quality horses, and we felt the Curlin was the best horse in the sale.
We thought the horse could be bought for a little bit less, but we were not going to stop. We wanted to give it our all to get that horse bought. We didn't want to spend that much money but to get that kind of horse, you have to spend that money. And Gus was very willing."
Saul Marquez of Caliente Thoroughbreds, who previously consigned multiple Group One winner Chancer McPatrick at the OBS Spring Sale of 2YOs in Training, expressed delight with the result.
"The first time we saw this filly we fell in love with her. She's always done everything right," Marquez said. "She's been smart, loves what she does, she's just a racehorse. We brought her in April but my whole idea was pointing her here in June. I was confident in her. But right now I don't even have words."
The second-highest priced filly proved to be a daughter of Gun Runner out of Group One winner Restless Rider, securing US$525,000 from MyRacehorse through the Randy Miles consignment. The grey or roan filly, Hip 857, was bred in Kentucky by Three Chimneys Farm, Fern Circle Stables, and McPeek Racing Stables, demonstrating her quality with a 10-second eighth-mile breeze.
"She was just amazing. She came in here really light on training and what she did on her breeze show was remarkable to me," Miles reflected. "We came into Ocala thinking we may gallop her because she was so far behind. What she did had nothing to do with anything we did. She did all of it. It was a real shock, it was a pleasant shock. MyRacehorse bought her and it's going to be a fun road to watch. I love watching my babies go on and do well."
Among the colts, a son of Bolt d'Oro catalogued as Hip 572 topped the division at US$425,000 to Gary Young. The Wavertree Stables-consigned youngster impressed with a swift 9.8-second eighth-mile work during the under tack show, having been acquired for US$85,000 at the previous year's Keeneland September Yearling Sale by Red Wings.
King emerged as leading buyer with his single strategic purchase of the sale-topper, while Taproot Bloodstock secured nine juveniles totalling US$822,000. Among consignors, De Meric Sales led with 14 head realising US$1,494,000, closely followed by Wavertree Stables with 13 juveniles bringing US$1,453,000.