Written by TDN America
To no one's surprise, Into Mischief (USA) – a US$180,000 (AU$250,000) purchase at the auction 15 years ago was the star of the show at the opening session of the Ocala Breeders' Sales Company's 2022 March Sale of 2-Year-Olds in Training, with two of his colts bringing seven figures during a strong day of trade.
At A Glance
A total of 188 juveniles summoned US$26.3 million (AU$36.5 million) up from US$25.6 million (AU 35.2 million) last year, with an average of US$140,027 (AU$194,000) up from US$115,516 (AU$160,000) last year.
The median was US$77,500 (AU$107,500) (up from US$62,500 {AU$86,800}) with the clearance rate at 81.4 per cent (80 per cent).
Hideyuki Mori and Spendthrift Farm and the BSW/Crow Colts Group paid US$1.1 million (AU$1.53 million) and US$1 million (AU$1.4 million) respectively for colts by Into Mischief (USA).
First-crop sires accounted for six of the top 15 sellers, with three of those six by Bolt D'Oro (USA).
Into Mischief colt lures Mori
Last year's leading General Sire Into Mischief (USA) parlayed his dominance on the racetrack to the Sale's ring Thursday when a colt by the Spendthrift stallion lit up the board with a session topping US$1.1-million (AU$1.53 million) final bid from Hideyuki Mori, who was doing his bidding in OBS's back ring.
Into Mischief (USA) | Standing at Spendthrift Farm, KY
Narvick's Emmanuel de Seroux was the immediate underbidder on the bay, who was consigned by Eddie Woods as Hip 257.
One of only two seven-figure horses sold Tuesday, Woods admitted the result was welcome but somewhat unexpected.
“That wasn't even close to what I was thinking, maybe halfway,” he admitted. “I knew he was going to sell well, but I didn't think they were going to go as high as they did. It was just the case of the right people hooking up. There were two (buyers) that we really didn't keep in mind as players–Hideyuki Mori and Narvick's Emmanuel de Seroux. And away they went. The two Japanese entities just went at it.”
“I knew he (Hip 257) was going to sell well, but I didn't think they were going to go as high as they did. It was just the case of the right people hooking up." - Eddie Woods
Out of Zapara (USA) (Not For Love {USA}), the May 12 foal is a half-brother to stakes-placed Basso (USA) (Cairo Prince {USA}). The 12-year-old mare is a half-sister to G1 Santa Anita Oaks winner Hedonist (USA) (Alydeed {USA}).
Bred by Brookstone Farm and Lee Mauberret, the colt was purchased by Woods' Quarter Pole Enterprises for US$180,000 (AU$250,000) at last summer's Fasig-Tipton Saratoga Yearling Sale.
Asked about his distance limitations, Woods indicated the colt would definitely pack a punch at shorter distances.
“I'm not sure he's going to go a mile and a quarter, I think he's too quick for that,” he said. “But he'll like a one-turn mile. He's very fast.”
Artemis Agrotera shines yet again at OBS
Back in 2019, the first foal by Chester and Mary Broman's Artemis Agrotera (USA) (Roman Ruler {USA}), a Tapit (USA) colt named Chestertown (USA), topped the OBS March sale at US$2 million (AU$2.8 million).
The mare was a star yet again at this year's renewal with her current 2-year-old colt by white-hot sire Into Mischief (Hip 277) summoning US$1 million (AU$1.4 million) from Spendthrift Farm and the BSW/Crow Colts Group with the Bromans staying in for 25 per cent. The colt will be trained by Brad Cox.
“He has been excellent all along,” Broman said. “I'm excited to stay in and race him.”
Hip 277 is a third-generation Broman New York-bred. His dam Artemis Agrotera won the G1 Frizette S. and G1 Ballerina S. for the Bromans and her Sale-topping son Chestertown is now a stakes winner.
“He is a big, beautiful Into Mischief and obviously we love Into Mischief,” said Spendthrift's Ned Toffey. “He is out of a heck of a mare and produced by a wonderful breeder. He had a nice breeze and Becky does a great job. We are happy to get him.”
“He (Hip 277) is a big, beautiful Into Mischief and obviously we love Into Mischief." - Ned Toffey
He added, “When a horse is by Into Mischief and out of that kind of mare, they could be anything. There aren't many that breeze like that.”
As for the price, Toffey, while standing across from Sequel's Becky Thomas, who consigned the colt, said, “Don't tell Becky, but we thought he would be more. We thought he could be the Sales topper. When you get to this point, you never know where they are going to land. He is a very nice horse.”
Thomas laughed and said, “Mr. Broman was one of the original breeding right holders in Into Mischief.”
Toffey replied, “I don't know if Mr. Broman remembers, but I went to his farm once to look at his offspring and he, very tongue in cheek, said, 'Oh here is the one by that stallion you made me take.' At the time, Mr. Hughes said, 'If you want to breed to Malibu Moon, you have to breed to something else.' His something else was he took a breeding right to Into Mischief.”
Shah gets his 'Bolt'
Spendthrift Farm's Bolt D'Oro (USA) continued to enjoy good energy during the initial day of the OBS March Sale, highlighted by Hip 291, who realised US$600,000 (AU$833,000) from Kaleem Shah. The colt was the sole purchase Tuesday for Shah, who was accompanied by advisor Ben McElroy during the proceedings. The colt was consigned by Top Line Sales LLC.
“Visually, his breeze was very impressive,” said McElroy. “Obviously the time was impressive, but when I went back to see him at the barn, he was (physically) impressive as well.”
“Obviously the time was impressive, but when I went back to see him (Hip 291) at the barn, he was (physically) impressive as well.”
The colt was the highest-priced juvenile by the sire at Tuesday's session, with six of the offerings bringing over US$200,000 (AU$278,000).
“We were hoping for less,” admitted McElroy of the final price. “But, I could see when he walked into the back walking ring, that there was a Hip of attention on him.”
A dual Grade I winner, freshman sire Bolt D'Oro was also represented by a pair of colts that brought US$400,000 (AU$555,423) on Day 1 - Hips 51 and Hip 300.
“After seeing his stock here at the Sale, it's hard not to be impressed with Bolt D'Oro,” said McElroy. “He's stamping them. They all seem to have good minds on them.”
“After seeing his stock here at the Sale, it's hard not to be impressed with Bolt D'Oro. He's stamping them. They all seem to have good minds on them.” - Ben McElroy
The OBS March Sale displayed a very deep and diverse buying bench, with nine different entities purchasing the top 10 horses. Japanese horsemen were very active Tuesday, with Mori leading all buyers while purchasing four head for US$1.65 million (AU$2.3 million), and Katsumi Yoshida was third on the list, buying three for US$1.08 million (AU$1.5 million).
The second and final session of the OBS March Sale will begin, as originally scheduled, at 10.30 am local on Wednesday.
