The Ocala Breeders’ Sales Co. continued what has been a strong yearling sale season as its two-session fall sale concluded Wednesday evening with gains across the board.
OBS reported that 209 horses sold for gross receipts of $7,267,700, compared to 297 sold for $5,724,600 last year, in a sale that was impacted by Hurricane Milton.
The average price was $23,520, up 22 percent from $19,275 in 2024. The median jumped 50 percent, to $15,000 from $10,000. The buyback rate was 26 percent, improved from 36 percent.
The OBS fall sale joins other major-company auctions this season in posting gains in major economic categories. Cited as reasons for this strong season have been changes to the tax code that favor many Thoroughbred owners, strong purse structures in many jurisdictions, and an increased interest in horse ownership, particularly in partnerships, due to media coverage, celebrity involvement, and other factors.
A $240,000 filly from the first crop of Mo Donegal topped Tuesday’s opening session and the sale overall. Wednesday’s second and final session was led by another first-crop stallion, as a $180,000 colt by champion sprinter Jackie’s Warrior led the proceedings. Jackie’s Warrior and Mo Donegal both stand at Spendthrift Farm.
The Jackie’s Warrior colt was purchased by Arroyo Bloodstock from the consignment of Glen Hill Farm and will be a pinhook prospect at OBS next spring as a 2-year-old.
“I loved the horse,” Nelson Arroyo said. “He has a lot of substance to him. He has all the right parts. To me, he was my favorite horse of the sale. I told my guys we might have to pay the most, but thank God, we got him for less than what we thought. His page of course [is outstanding], but his physical and his mind is what got me.”
The colt is out of the Grade 3-winning Broken Vow mare Broken Dreams. She is the dam of four winners from six starters, including Grade 2 winner Caribou Club. Breeders’ Cup Distaff winner One Dreamer appears on the catalog page.
For hip-by-hip results, click here.
:: Want to learn more about handicapping and wagering? Check out DRF's Handicapping 101 and Wagering 101 pages.