Into Mischief Filly Tops OBS Thursday

OCALA, Fl – The Ocala Breeders' Sales Company's June Sale of 2-Year-Olds in Training and Horses of Racing Age continued to produce tepid results during its third session Thursday, as a filly by Into Mischief was one of seven horses to bring six figures while topping the day at $250,000. John Fort purchased the juvenile (hip 866), who was consigned by Eisaman Equine.

Through three sessions, OBS has sold 462 horses for a total of $12,707,900. The average of $27,506 was down 29.7% from last year, while the median fell 30.3% to $13,250. With 159 horses reported not sold through the three sessions, the cumulative buy-back rate is 25.6%.

During Thursday's session, 164 horses sold for $4,096,700, an average of $24,980 and a median of $12,000. There were 43 horses reported not sold for a buy-back rate of 20.8%.

Last year's third session, which was topped by a $575,000 son of Super Saver, saw 156 horses sell for $6,702,500. The session average was $42,965 and the median was $18,000.

“This is the trend we've seen,” explained OBS Director of Sales Tod Wojciechowski. “There is competition at the top, but it gets difficult after that. We have one day left and we still have some nice horses left to sell tomorrow.”

Bloodstock agent Gary Young, who has purchased four horses at OBS this week, including Thursday's co-second highest price lot at $190,000, said there was still plenty of competition for the top individuals.

“When they lead a good one through the ring, there is money for the horse,” Young said. “A lot of the bigger players aren't here, but when they lead a good one through the ring, there is money for them.”

Still consignors continued to find interest very limited in Ocala this week.

“It's been really difficult,” admitted consignor Bobby Dodd, who sold a Hard Spun filly to Mercedes Stables for $190,000 Thursday, as well as the auction's second-highest priced offering at $370,000 Wednesday. “Thankfully, we are selling two or three really good to cover up the bad, but I'm worried about the market. I'm selling horses for less than they cost, but we sold two or three for a lot of money and we're going to leave here breaking even, I hope.”

Dodd continued, “Everybody has different theories [about the lack of buyers]. I think it's an election year and oil prices are down–they haven't been around much at any sale. There are more horses than there are buyers and people are breeding these cheap mares to cheap stallions and they are going to have give that up.”

Barry Eisaman, whose Eisaman Equine consigned Thursday's top-priced offering, agreed the final juvenile sale of the season was proving a difficult market.

“It looks like we have, in this crop of horses, more horses to sell than buyers are looking,” Eisaman commented. “I think there are fewer buyers out there shopping and many of them have bought what they wanted at earlier sales. So this last batch of 1200, we are finding it a little difficult to find homes for them.”

Eisaman continued, “A few years ago, it was really easy in April to find a home for a $30,000-$50,000 horse that had a chance, that was sound and could run. That gets harder and harder all the time.”

Dodd said the results of this year's juvenile sales will change his approach going into the upcoming yearling sales as a buyer.

“I'm not going to buy as many horses,” he explained. “My average is usually $95,000 and I'm going to try to get it down to $70,000. I think the yearling market is going to be good for the high-end horses, it always is, but I think these horses that pinhookers buy are going to sell for a lot less and the market is going to be weaker.”

The OBS June sale concludes Friday with a session beginning at 10:30 a.m.

Into Mischief Filly Tops OBS Thursday

A filly by Into Mischief became Thursday's top seller at the OBS June sale when bringing a final bid of $250,000 from John Fort of Peachtree Stables. Out of the unraced Simple Symphony (Consolidator), hip 866 was consigned by Eisaman Equine.

Fort did his bidding by phone, but got positive input from Barry Eisaman.

“He just talked to me on the phone [about the filly],” Eisaman explained of Fort's interest in the filly. “I've had horses for him for many years and he had observed the filly at our farm and he liked her.”

Eisaman had high expectations for the filly as he led her into the sales ring Thursday

“I believed she would sell very well,” he said. “She was a wonderful filly. She could have been a standout at any of the earlier sales, she didn't get bumped to June because of any problem with her. The folks who owned her just decided to sell her and that's why she appeared here. She is a very, very good filly and I understand she is going to Bob Baffert.

The session topper, who worked in :10 1/5, was purchased by Gainesway for $230,000 at last year's Fasig-Tipton Saratoga sale.

Waters Has VanBerg Back at OBS

Jack VanBerg hadn't been to a 2-year-old sale in nearly two decades, but the veteran trainer was back in action at OBS this week. Along with trainer Mike Puhich and bloodstock agent Christina Jelm, VanBerg has been picking out juveniles to stock the growing racing stable of new owner Mike Waters.

“This is my third year in racing,” Waters, who is based in Seattle and in the commercial flooring business, explained Thursday. “I've been betting on races since I was a little kid. When we were kids, we didn't go to the parks, we went to the Santa Anita infield. So when I got a little older, I was able to afford racehorses. I've always had a passionate love for the game.”

Waters currently has horses in training at Churchill with VanBerg, at Emerald Downs with Puhich and in California with trainer Tim Yakteen.

Jelm has signed for eight horses on behalf of Waters so far this week, including hip 61, a $90,000 son of Gemologist; and hip 90, a $37,000 son of Midnight Lute.

Asked what he was looking for in his sales prospects, Waters said, “Anything that Christina, Jack and Mike think are good. I listen to them.”

VanBerg, holding court in the OBS cafeteria, was clearly enjoying his return to the juvenile sales scene.

“Mike Puhich brought Mike to me,” VanBerg said. “And they brought me down here to keep them straight. I love it–I love picking babies out. I was fortunate to have the best teacher in my father who taught me how to see what a horse will mature into.”

VanBerg has noticed increased participation throughout the first three days of the four-day sale.

“It's gotten stronger every day,” he said. “You always have competition when you pick the best ones out.”