Broodmares in OBS spotlight

There will be seven stallions debuting at stud this year in Florida, many with significant racetrack accomplishments. Breeders in the Sunshine State looking ahead to supporting those newcomers when the Northern Hemisphere breeding season opens next month will get a chance to pick up broodmares at this week’s Ocala Breeders’ Sales Co.’s winter mixed sale.

The OBS January sale is the penultimate stop of the North American mixed sale season, which began in November and concludes next month with the Fasig-Tipton Kentucky winter mixed sale.

The OBS sale is set for Tuesday and Wednesday. The opening session is designated as a consignor-preferred session for broodmares, yearlings, and horses of racing age. The second session is an open session. Horses of racing age have the opportunity to participate in an under-tack preview show on Monday on the Ocala Training Center’s all-weather Safetrack surface.

The stallions debuting in 2021 in Florida include a pair of Grade 1 winners at Ocala Stud in Seeking the Soul and Win Win Win, who are expected to be well supported by their respective racing connections as well as other in-state breeders. The state also welcomes multimillionaire Gunnevera at Pleasant Acres Stallions, and multiple graded stakes winner Mr. Money, by leading sire Into Mischief’s successful son Goldencents, at Journeyman Stallions.

Breeders picking up mares and looking toward the future may also have a chance to get in on the ground floor with some of Florida’s other newer stallions. The six stallions debuting in the state last year were led by St Patrick’s Day, a group stakes-placed full brother to American Pharoah, at Journeyman Stallions. The group also included Rogueish, the first son of Into Mischief in the state, at Stormborne Stallions.

There are 10 broodmares carrying foals from St Patrick’s Day’s first crop in the OBS January catalog, as well as two in foal to Rogueish.

Last year’s OBS January sale was dominated by young stock. Nine of the top 13 horses on the leaderboard were yearlings, led by a sale-topping $165,000 Union Rags colt. The short yearlings in this year’s sale include one marquee offering in a colt from the first crop of City of Light, who has been a commercial leader of his class. The offerings also include yearlings by successful young Florida sires Brethren (17 yearlings in catalog), Jess’s Dream (5), Khozan (12), and Ride On Curlin (1).