Liam's Map colt electrifies third session at OBS

Ron and Suzanne Fine fulfilled a lifelong dream on Thursday at the Ocala Breeders' Sales Spring Sale of Two-Year-Olds in Training.

The longtime horse owners watched with ecstatic members of the Wavertree Stables crew as their striking colt by first-crop sire Liam's Map not only hit the million-dollar mark but passed it.

"The great thing is that they have been in the horse business for 30 years, and their dream has always been to sell a $1 million horse and this is it," said Wavertree's Ciaran Dunne, who consigned the colt as Hip 898 to the four-day sale.

Purchased for $1.2 million by Robert and Lawana Low, the colt added fuel to the fire on a strong penultimate day of a sale that is tracking well ahead of last year's record numbers. He was the second seven-figure transaction during the first three days of the sale and highlighted a session of spirited trade that produced another day of across-the-board increases in key statistical categories.

OBS reported 160 horses grossed $17,789,000 Thursday, with an average price of $111,180 and a $62,000 median. Those figures were up 10 per cent, 23 per cent and 13 per cent respectively, from the total $16,224,500 paid for 180 horses on day three last year, which averaged $90,140 with a $55,000 median. This year's third session buyback rate was 24 per cent, while it was 17 per cent last year.

The final session of the sale begins Friday at 10.30am local time.

From 912 catalogued through the first three days, 508 horses have been reported sold for $56,088,500, with an average of $110,410 and a $65,000 median. Through the comparable period last year, 539 head changed hands for total receipts of $51,607,000, an average price of $95,750, and a $55,000 median.

OBS director of sales Tod Wojciechowski said it's not surprising the sale would be ahead of 2018, considering the presale assessment of the stock on offer.

"We saw the quality of horses these guys were entering, and it was impressive," he said. "We're tracking ahead, and I think there are a lot of good horses left tomorrow. We've heard there are plenty of good horses, and we're excited to see what happens."

The session topper closed Thursday on a high note, but few were surprised by his purchase price. Heading into the day's action, the son of the Lane's End stallion was widely expected to bring a high figure.

Bred in Kentucky by Phillips Racing Partnership, the colt was purchased by the Fines in the name of Waves Bloodstock for $50,000 at last year's Keeneland September Yearling Sale. He is out of the Bernardini mare Amazement, a daughter of $1.4 million earner and multiple Grade 1 winner Wonder Again, who is also the dam of Japanese stakes winner Red Raven.

"He was as well received as any horse we ever brought to a sale," Dunne said. "He performed, and he looked the part."

Jacob West, who represented the Lows in buying the colt, said he was a rare gem.

"I don't use the term loosely, but he was a freak," West said. "I loved him from the second I saw him. There was a little bit of buzz before the sale. When you hear the buzz and then they show up on the track and do everything the right way, they vet clean, and they're from a good consignor, you get excited about them.

"When I went and saw him, I was totally in love. He was a physical specimen unlike anything I had seen in a while. I loved him. He has the right pedigree, and I am lucky to have clients that trust me."

West said $1.2 million was the figure at which he had been instructed to stop bidding.

"That was the last bid," said West. "I've probably never prayed more. When I put in that last bid, I was just praying (auctioneer) Ryan Mahan would drop that hammer because that was the number Mr Low told me to go. When I had to go to that number, I was nervous and started saying a couple of Hail Marys."

During the under tack show workouts, the colt breezed a quarter-mile in :20 4/5.

"He is a big two-turn-looking horse who can hopefully get a route of ground," West said. "He's stunning. I loved him so much. I hope the Lows come up with a good name for him because he is the man. We hope this horse goes on and we get lucky."

The session's second-highest price of $750,000 was paid by Phoenix Thoroughbreds for an Into Mischief filly consigned by de Meric Sales, agent.

The filly bred in Kentucky by WinStar Farm was bought by Nick de Meric for $220,000 at the Keeneland September Yearling Sale. Produced from the Unbridled's Song mare Unbridled Ridge, the filly is a half sister to stakes-placed Divisor (by Harlan's Holiday) and hails from the female family of three-time champion Gio Ponti .

Tom Ludt, director of Phoenix Thoroughbreds' U.S. operations, said the market at OBS is not unlike that seen at previous venues, with more buyers competing for the same horses at the top.

"(The market) is like all these two-year-old sales," Ludt said. "The good ones stand out, and we're all on them. We have to stretch a little bit. To be honest with you, I would like to see this middle market strengthen up because a lot of good horses aren't getting sold. It's tough. It's a tough game, but it's the same thing we've seen for the last few years, and I don't see it changing."

More from OBS:

Seven-figure filly fuels strong second session at OBS

International players fuel solid opening session of OBS Spring Sale

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