OBS April Starts Today

The Ocala Breeders’ Sales Company’s April Spring Sale of 2-Year-Olds in Training begins its four-day run Monday morning at the OBS Sales Complex in Ocala, Florida. Bidding begins at 10:30 a.m. 
   The April sale produced record results in 2013, when 802 horses sold for $48,549,000, an average of $60,535 and a median of $35,000–all highwater marks for the auction. The buy-back rate was a sparkling 15.4%. Records continued to fall when OBS resumed selling juveniles at its March sale. 
    “March was a great sale,” OBS Director of Sales Tod Wojciechowski confirmed. “And last April was a great sale for us. Even our June sale was excellent. Hopefully we can continue with that trend Monday.” 
   The April sale’s success continued onto the racetrack, with 2013 grads Fashion Plate (Old Fashioned) and Dance With Fate (Two Step Salsa) leading the way. Fashion Plate, a $340,000 purchase by Arnold Zetcher and Michael Tabor from the de Meric Sales consignment, is now a two-time Grade I winner after victories in the Feb. 1 Las Virgenes S. and Apr. 5 Santa Anita Oaks. Sharon Alesia, Bran Jam Stables, Ciaglia Racing LLC’s Dance With Fate, a $120,000 purchase from the Best A Luck Farm consignment, punched his ticket to the GI Kentucky Derby with a win in the Apr. 12 GI Toyota Blue Grass S. 
    “I think that success only gives buyers more confidence,” Wojciechowski said. “Year after year, we’ve proven that the 2-year-old sales at OBS produce runners. Ultimately, that is your benchmark.” 
    The April sale has been on the ascend in recent years, with records falling at the past two renewals. The auction has also produced GI Kentucky Derby winner I’ll Have Another (Flower Alley), sprint champion Trinniberg (Teuflesberg) and MGISW Executiveprivilege (First Samurai), only increasing the sale’s popularity. 
    “I think the quality of horse that the consignors have brought has increased over the last few years,” Wojciechowski explained. “The success of the horses that have come out of this sale–going back a few years to I’ll Have Another–I think that has helped.” 
    A total of 1,209 juveniles have been catalogued for the April sale. That number is another draw for the four-day auction. 
    “I think that buyers appreciate having a selection to choose from,” Wojciechowski said. “April has certainly evolved into the type of sale where there is something for everyone. I think that buyers feel comfortable and confident that no matter what price range they are shopping in, they will find something that fits their bill.” 
The 2014 April catalogue is another standout, according to Wojciechowski. 
    “I think the consignors have done another tremendous job of bringing some nice horses to market,” he said. 
“The tack show went extremely well. I think the activity at the barns, between people trying to do their homework as far videos and such and then looking at horses, there was a lot of activity. The consignors that I spoke with certainly were pleased with what was happening.” 
    Sessions begin daily through Thursday at 10:30 a.m. Hips 1 through 302 are scheduled to go under the hammer Monday. For more information, visit obssales.com.