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| Staff Writer |
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Consignors are in bullish mood as the Ocala Breeders' Sales Company's March Sale of 2-Year-Olds in Training kicks off its three-day run on Tuesday afternoon, marking a full decade as an open auction.
Following a well-attended under-tack show last week and busy weekend viewings, expectations are high for the first juvenile sale of the season, which will now start at 1 p.m. on Tuesday – later than the originally scheduled 11 a.m. – to allow horsemen additional time following the consolidated under-tack show.
"I think it's going to be a good sale," said Ocala Stud's David O'Farrell. "We've been busy all day today and I've seen a lot of nice horses on the grounds. I'm optimistic."
The optimism follows a competitive yearling market last summer and autumn, with consignors hoping for an equally robust juvenile sales season this spring.
"The yearling sales have been powerful, so I am hoping it just carries on to the 2YO sales," said Saul Marquez of Caliente Thoroughbreds. "I have seen a lot of action here on the grounds and I think it's going to be a strong sale."
Ocala Stud represented the 2024 March sale topper, a US$1.8-million daughter of the farm's Win Win Win. The filly was one of four seven-figure juveniles at last year's auction, following five million-dollar 2YOs at the 2023 auction – indicating a potential swing back towards March after years of dominance by the OBS April sale.
"Even though it got de-selected, we have still had the mentality that you've got to bring select, quality horses to this sale," said O'Farrell. "The last couple of years, some of the consignors waited a little longer for the April sale because it was safer, but I think they missed out on the opportunities in March. I think people have really focused more on March this year and I think the sale has gotten its mojo back. It seems principal owners are more likely to attend March, as well as a lot of the bigger trainers. There are just so many race meets going on in April, with Keeneland and the Derby right around the corner, you get more people here for March."
Three of last year's million-dollar juveniles have already seen graded stakes action, with the US$1.8 million Nooni (Win Win Win) winning the Gr.3 Sorrento Stakes. The US$1.3-million Ferocious (Flatter) finished second in last year's Gr.1 Hopeful Stakes and Gr.1 Claiborne Breeders' Futurity, while the US$1.2-million Sandman (Tapit) is now graded three-times placed, including a runner-up effort in the Gr.3 Southwest Stakes and a third-place finish in the Gr.2 Rebel Stakes.
When OBS released finalised figures for the 2024 March sale, 454 head had grossed US$65,239,100 for an average of US$143,698 and a median of US$72,000.
The under-tack preview was condensed to three days due to weather concerns and began last Thursday with horses working into a strong head wind.
"Obviously, the first day was very tough on my horses, wind-wise," said Marquez. "There were a couple of horses that I thought would perform better, but obviously I wasn't the only one. It affected everyone. The second and third days were more normal conditions and, if the horse had potential, it showed."
A pair of juveniles shared the show's fastest furlong time of :9 3/5, a filly by Caracaro (hip 446) from the On the Run Sales consignment and a colt by Gun Runner (hip 654) from the Eddie Woods consignment.
Three juveniles shared the show's fastest quarter-mile time of :20 2/5: a colt by Midshipman (hip 325) from Marquez's Caliente Thoroughbreds, a colt by Mor Spirit (hip 364) consigned by Pick View, and a filly by Leinster (hip 505) consigned by Tom McCrocklin.
"The track was great," O'Farrell said. "Horses came back really good. We didn't have any problems that way. Obviously, the wind was very difficult on Thursday, but it was pretty consistent for everybody involved. I am sure some horses got a gust where others didn't, but for the most part, it was pretty consistent throughout the day. And aside from that, I thought it was a very good breeze show. I thought it played fair throughout the day pretty much every day."
A total of 814 horses have been catalogued, with bidding beginning at 1 p.m. on Tuesday, and 11 a.m. on the remaining days.