Ocala Breeders' Sales Company

by Jessica Martini & Stefanie Grimm OCALA, FL - While it took some time to find its stride, the first session of the Ocala Breeders' Sales Company's Spring Sale of 2-Year-Olds in Training gained momentum throughout the day and concluded with figures in line with the first session of its record-setting 2023 renewal. "I thought it was a good day," said OBS Director of Sales Tod Wojciechowski. "A good horse sells well and I thought we had a lot of nice horses today. Holding true to last year, that's a...

In a vote by the Florida Thoroughbred Breeders' and Owners' Association board of directors, Speed Boat Beach (Bayern) has been crowned the 2023 Florida-bred Horse of the Year. The result was announced Monday night at the FTBOA Awards Gala. Bred by Richard Heysek's Caperlane Farm, who was also presented with the Needles Award recognizing the Small Thoroughbred Breeder of the Year in Florida, the Bob Baffert runner also took home the awards for champion 3-year-old colt and champion male sprinter. In 2023, Speed Boat Beach won the GI Malibu S....

The Ocala Breeders' Sales Company's Spring Sale of 2-Year-Olds in Training, with 1208 catalogued offerings, begins its four-day run Tuesday morning. Bidding begins at noon during the auction's first session. "I anticipate it being a good sale," said OBS Director of Sales Tod Wojciechowski. "We've got a lot of people here. The under-tack show was well-attended and the interest that we are getting is high. Certainly, the April sale is the go-to sale of the year." The size of the Spring sale's catalogue helps attract a diverse buying bench, Wojciechowski...

A filly from the first crop of multiple Grade I winner McKinzie (hip 1143) equaled the fastest quarter-mile work of the seven-session under-tack show for the Ocala Breeders' Sales Company's Spring Sale of 2-Year-Olds in Training when covering the distance in :20 1/5 Sunday in Central Florida. The juvenile is consigned by Eddie Woods on behalf of breeders Brent and Beth Harris. "We expected her to work well," Woods said. "I'm not going to say I thought she would go in :20 1/5. That would be ridiculous. But she really...

The :9 4/5 works continue to pile up during the fourth session of the under-tack show for the Ocala Breeders' Sales Company's Spring Sale of 2-Year-Olds in Training, with 18 juveniles hitting that mark Wednesday, even as sales officials confirm Thursday's session has been canceled due to forecasted inclement weather in Central Florida. After its unexpected dark day Thursday, the under-tack show will continue Friday and will have an extra day added Sunday. One of the pack of furlong bullet workers Wednesday was a son of Into Mischief out of...

A filly from the first crop of multiple Grade I winner Tiz the Law (hip 365) tied the track record when working a quarter-mile in :20 1/5 during the third session of the under-tack preview for the Ocala Breeders' Sales Company's Spring Sale of 2-Year-Olds in Training, while 17 juveniles shared the session's fastest furlong time of :9 4/5, Tuesday in Central Florida. "It was pretty special," consignor Tom McCrocklin said of the bullet quarter-mile work. "I have one disability that keeps me knowing that one will go that fast...

The X-Ray Files series, now in its second year and presented in cooperation with the Consignors and Breeders Association, uses conversations with buyers and sellers to contribute to the discussion on the sales and training process. Veteran bloodstock agent Alistair Roden has found success buying for clients at all ranges of the market. Among his stakes-winning acquisitions already this year are Riley Allison Derby winner Lucky Jeremy (Lookin at Lucky) and Turfway Prevue S. winner Vote No (Divisidero), both of whom were purchased for $50,000 at last year's OBS June...

A filly by Omaha Beach (hip 308), consigned by Omar Ramirez Bloodstock, set the benchmark with a furlong work in :9 3/5 early in Monday's second session of the under-tack preview of the Ocala Breeders' Sales Company's Spring 2-Year-Olds in Training Sale and the time was matched about a half-hour later by a filly by Mitole (hip 335) consigned by Hartley/DeRenzo Thoroughbreds. Hip 308 is the first foal out of the unraced Marla (Frosted), a half-sister to multiple graded stakes winner Envoutante (Uncle Mo). "I was expecting a good work...

The under-tack show for the Ocala Breeders' Sales Company's Spring 2-Year-Olds in Training Sale begins Sunday morning and continues through Saturday. Sessions begin each day at 8 a.m. Hips one through 173 are scheduled to work Sunday, followed by: hips 174-345 on Monday; hips 346-518 on Tuesday, hips 519-690 on Wednesday; hips 691-863 on Thursday; hips 864-1035 on Friday; and hips 1036-1208 on Saturday. The Spring sale will be held Apr. 16-19 with bidding beginning each day at 10:30 a.m.

HOT SPRINGS, Arkansas--A pair of 'TDN Rising Stars' in Muth (Good Magic) and Timberlake (Into Mischief) squared off on an overcast but warm Saturday afternoon at Oaklawn Park to contest the 88th running of the GI Arkansas Derby. What the race turned out to be was a strong statement issued by Muth, as Zedan Racing's colt kicked for home, won by two lengths and collected the purse money. Of course--since the 3-year-old is a trainee in Bob Baffert's care--he will not receive his 100 Kentucky Derby points. A record-tying victory,...

Enhanced medication policies will be in effect at all the major auctions in the U.S. beginning July 1, leading North American sales companies Keeneland Association, Fasig-Tipton Company and Ocala Breeders' Sales Company jointly announced Tuesday morning. The changes were made in an effort "to safeguard the welfare of the horse while creating greater clarity and consistency among the nation's three major U.S. Thoroughbred auction houses," according to the release, and are the result of meetings between the three companies begun last October at the behest of the Horseracing Integrity and...

The catalogue for the Ocala Breeders' Sales Company's Spring Sale of 2-Year-Olds in Training is now available online at the company's website, obssales.com. A total of 1,207 juveniles have been catalogued for the four-day sale, which will be held Apr. 16-19. Bidding begins at 10:30 a.m. for each session. The auction's under-tack show will be held Apr. 7-13, beginning each day at 8 a.m. Recent graduates of the Spring sale include Grade I winners Arabian Knight (Uncle Mo), Arabian Lion (Justify), Du Jour (Temple City); Practical Move (Practical Joke); Saudi...