Gun Runner filly points the way as trade rises at OBS Mixed Winter Sale

The opening day of the Ocala Breeders' Sales Winter Mixed Sale on Tuesday saw early fireworks when the lone filly in the sale by popular sire Gun Runner lit up the bid board at $275,000 - and gross sales saw an 18 per cent rise compared to last year's opening day.

"It's a great way to kick off the New Year," OBS sales director Tod Wojciechowski said.

Cumulative figures for the first session of the two-day sale closed with 216 horses sold for gross receipts of $4,286,000. The average price for the day was $19,843 and the median was $10,000, while the RNA rate was 17 per cent.

At the 2021 edition of the winter sale, 175 horses sold for gross receipts of $3,631,800. An average price of $20,753 was recorded and the RNA rate was 22 per cent.

Tuesday was headlined by a short yearling filly by Gun Runner, consigned by Get Away Farm as hip 86, who sold for $275,000 to Breeze Easy during the first part of the day, the consignor preferred session.

The Florida-bred comes from the fast family of Grade 2 winner Conquest Two Step and stakes winners Sheikh of Sheikhs and Homemade Salsa. She was the sole purchase on Tuesday by Mike Hall for Breeze Easy.

"We were very pleased with today's results. The momentum we have seen in the other breeding stock sales carried forward today," said Wojciechowski. "The day's sale-topping Gun Runner filly was a beautiful filly, and she certainly had a lot of action on her. She looked good on the end of a shank and did well in the ring."

Reeves Thoroughbred Racing made two purchases, with the latter being the second-highest price of the day. A short yearling Laoban colt from the family of Grade 1 winner Colonel Liam - who will try to defend his title in the Pegasus World Cup - sold for $160,000 to Reeves.

Consigned by McMahon of Saratoga Thoroughbreds, agent, as Hip 180, the colt is a full brother to Yo Cuz, winner of the December 18 Fifth Avenue division of the New York Stallion Stakes Series at Aqueduct. He was bred in New York by Seidman Stables out of Steve's Philly, a winning Tale of Ekati mare.

The colt's third dam is the multiple Grade 1 winner and millionaire Wonder Again, who produced Japanese stakes winner Red Raven along with Amazement, the dam of Colonel Liam.

Reeves also signed the ticket on a $50,000 Breaking Lucky yearling colt out of Anea consigned by 4 M Ranch, agent.

The consignor preferred session saw 143 horses sell for gross receipts of $3,074,300, an average of $21,499, and a median of $10,000, with an RNA rate of 16 per cent. This was an improvement on the same session a year ago, when 101 head brought $1,935,300 and averaged $19,161. The median was similar a year ago at $10,100.

The second part of the day, the horses of racing age portion, was led by Freedom Speaks, who sold for $145,000 to Reitman Stables. The three-year-old American Freedom filly breezed the fastest three furlongs at the under tack show on Monday in :31 2/5. She was consigned by Best A Luck Farm, agent.

Freedom Speaks was bred in Kentucky by Hartmut H. Malluche and Silesia Farm out of the Macho Uno mare Wicked Speed. She is from the family Canada's 2008 Horse of the Year Fatal Bullet and 2021 Queen's Plate winner Safe Conduct. First time through the auction ring at the 2020 Fasig-Tipton Kentucky October Yearling Sale, Freedom Speaks sold for $37,000 to All About the Breeze out of the Warrendale Sales consignment.

The number of head sold during the horses of racing age session remained steady, with 73 changing hands Tuesday compared to 74 last year. Receipts totaled $1,211,700 Tuesday and the average was $16,599, with an $11,000 median and an RNA rate of 19 per cent. During last year's horses of racing age session, the gross was $1,696,500, the average $22,926, and the median $13,000.

"Owners are being protective of their racing stock. It's the nature of the beast," Wojciechowski commented. "We had some scratches and it has an ebb and flow from year to year as to what horses are available."

Seven horses sold for six figures Tuesday, compared to the 2021 opening day when six sold for $100,000 or more.

John Sykes of Woodford Thoroughbreds made five purchases for his Florida operation worth total receipts of $410,000 to be Tuesday's leading buyer.

The first-day leading consignor by gross was Francis and Barbara Vanlangendonck's Summerfield, which sold 11 head for $387,000.

"Hopefully, going into the second day of selling on Wednesday, we will see the same strength in the market for the yearlings that we saw on Tuesday, and we are looking forward to another great day," Wojciechowski said.

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