Offspring of Hard Spun prove popular with buyers; average and median rise
Lady Clara, who two weeks ago finished third in the Busanda Stakes at Aqueduct in her first start of the year, proved to be the star of the show Tuesday during the first session of the OBS winter mixed sale.
Consigned by Gayle Woods, agent, Lady Clara sold to Hard Acre Farm. The 3-year-old daughter of Hard Spun is out of the stakes-winning Exbourne mare Victorica. The filly, who sold as hip No. 145, is a half-sister to King Hesperus, a stakes winner in Ireland, and is from the family of Noble Minstrel, Naughty New Yorker and Pupil.
In addition to her third-place effort in the Busanda earlier this month, Lady Clara broke her maiden at Aqueduct last November.
All told for the consignor preferred session, 64 horses grossed $1,159,000 compared with 117 horses bringing a total of $1,458,400 at the corresponding session in 2011. The average price was $18,109, up 45.3 percent from $12,465 a year ago, while the median price was $15,000, up 66 percent from $9,000 in 2011. The buyback percentage was 36 percent; it was 28.2 percent last year. The sale topper at last year’s offering was a Congrats colt who sold for $100,000. For the Horses of Racing Age section, 71 horses sold for a total of $997,200.
Other top prices on Tuesday included hip No. 37, who brought $87,000 from Richard Kent’s Kaizen Sales, agent. The yearling filly by Hard Spun out of the graded stakes-placed Alarming Prospect, by Darn That Alarm, was consigned by Montgomery Equine Center LLC, agent, and is a half-sister to Golden Rod Stakes (G2) winner French Park.
Hip No. 128, a 3-year-old colt named Hard as Steel, sold for $85,000 to Patrice Miller, EQB Inc., agent. The colt, another offspring of Hard Spun fetching top dollar on opening day of the sale, was consigned by W.D. North Thoroughbreds, agent.
The colt, who breezed four furlongs in a bullet :45 at the under tack show on Monday, is produced from the stakes-winning Afleet mare Swift Alliance. Hard as Steel is a half-brother to graded stakes winner Sky Alliance, winner of the Natalma Stakes (G3) at Woodbine, Foothill Stakes winner Prime Ruler and graded stakes-placed Modification.
Miller also signed the ticket for hip No. 253, an unraced 3-year-old filly by Van Nistelrooy named Red Roy. Consigned by Paul Sharp, agent, the filly is out of the stakes-placed Runaway Groom mare Red Melody. Red Roy recorded the fastest three-furlong move in :32 at the under tack show.
Hip No. 62, a Florida-bred yearling colt by Congrats sold for $67,000 to Tristan de Meric. Consigned by Perrone Sales, agent, the colt is produced from the Carson City mare Evil Eyed Czarina, and is a half-brother to stakes winner Imperial Czar.
Above It, an unraced mare by Holy Bull—Dame Avie, by Lord Gaylord, sold to WinStar Farm for $60,000. Consigned by Kaizen Sales, agent, the 2007 mare sold in foal to Scat Daddy. From the family of stakes winners Harriman, Dixie Accent, Primitive Hall, Strength and Honor and Earth to Jackie, Above It produced a Fusaichi Pegasus colt in 2011.
Hip No. 42, a Florida-bred colt by Congrats, sold for $58,000 to Chad Schumer, agent. Consigned by Peggy Dellheim, agent, the colt is out of the winning Take Me Out mare Apple Grove.
From the first 100 hips through the ring at the OBS Winter Mixed Sale on Wednesday, hip No. 328 led early action at the open session, bringing $90,000 from Bortolazzo Stable, LLC. The Florida-bred yearling colt by Congrats out of the Royal Academy mare Summer School was consigned by Stroud’s Lane Farm LLC. He is from the family of California graded stakes winner Mud Route.
The second-highest price at press time was hip No. 393, a Florida-bred yearling filly by Ocala Stud stallion High Cotton who sold for $32,000 to Norman Handry. Consigned by Summerfield, agent, the filly was produced from the Stormy Atlantic mare Breaking Storm, and is from the family of stakes winner Peace Symbol.
The third-highest priced yearling at press time was hip No. 379, a Florida-bred yearling filly by Ocala Stud stallion In Summation whose first foals are yearling s of 2012. Consigned by Summerfield, agent, the filly was purchased by Clyde Rice for $25,000.
Twilight Mirage, hip No. 305, was the highest priced mare at press time. The stakes placed daughter of Jeblar was consigned by Janie Roper, agent. Twilight Mirage sold in foal to Stonewall Farm Ocala stallion Leroidesanimaux (BRZ). She has already produced stakes winner Determinato from four foals to race. She was purchased by Quarter Pole Ent. LLC for $15,000.
– Additional reporting by Patrick Vinzant
Photo by Louise Reinagel
