Tapit Colt Tops OBS Winter Mixed Sale

BY BROCK SHERIDAN

The Ocala Breeders’ Sales Company started their 2023 auction season Jan. 24 with their two-day Winter Mixed Sale that saw even trading of yearlings, broodmares and horses of racing age. The two-day auction began with a Preferred Session and Horses of Racing Age Session on the first day and continued the following day with an Open Session.

A bay colt by Tapit got the auction off to a good start during the Preferred Session when Dave Cannizzo as agent went to $225,000 to obtain the half-brother to stakes-placed runner Miss Boom Boom. Consigned by Stuart Morris as agent, the colt is out of Heat Street, by Street Cry (Ire) and was catalogued as Hip 42.

Cannizzo was the sale’s leading buyer with the lone purchase. Fire at Will Syndicate was the second leading buyer having purchased six head for $185,000 while Machmer Hall bought two head for $180,000.

Kaizen Sales topped all consignors with $728,900 in gross sales from 42 head while Summerfield sold 40 horses for $537,000. Beth Bayer consigned 22 horses that generated $449,000 in gross sales.

The Preferred Session sold 96 head for $2,601,700 for an average of $27,101, the highest average for the first day of the Winter Mixed Sale since 2007 when the average was $33,900. The average also represented a 29.7% increase compared to last year’s Preferred Session when 147 head averaged $20,893. The $19,000 median price nearly doubles last year’s $10,000 median.

The Horses of Racing Age Session produced $1,466,800 from selling 89 head for an average price of $16,481. Last year during the corresponding session, 81 head sold for $1,499,700 for an average of $18,515. The median price dropped from $11,000 last year to $10,000 for the Horses of Racing Age Session.

During the Open Session, 183 head sold for $2,072,200 compared to last year’s Open Session when 186 horses generated $2,075,600 in gross sales. The average was $11,323, a 1.47% jump from the $11,159 average last year. The median of $7,500 Wednesday compares to $7,000 last year, equating to a 7.14% increase.

The average for both days was $16,711, an increase of 4% compared to the two-day average during last year’s January Sale. Gross sales were down slightly in 2023 as 383 head sold for $6,400,200 compared to 414 selling for $6,646,600 last year.

Pleasant Acres Stallions resident Gunnevera was represented by a $100,000 Florida-bred yearling from his first crop as Hip 29 went to new owner Machmer Hall. Consigned by Danielle Loya’s Silver Oaks Farm as agent, the dark bay or brown colt is out of Emotional Roar, by Roar of the Tiger, a half-sister to Grade 3 Gotham-winner Mayakovsky and graded-stakes producers Uniquely Appealing and Emotional Outburst. The colt was bred by Ivan Car rera.

Hip 53, a Florida-bred colt by Instilled Regard, went for $90,000 on a final bid by H.H. as agent. Consigned by breeder Beth Bayer as agent, the colt is out of the stakes-placed Know It All Anna, by Midnight Lute, a half-sister to stakes-placed Street Icon. Instilled Regard’s first foals are yearlings this year.

Also garnering a bid of $90,000 was Hip 54, a bay filly by

Practical Joke out of La Milanesa, by Mr. Greeley. Purchased by Hanibal Smith and consigned by Noble Oaks Farm LLC as agent, the filly is a half-sister to Smart N Fancy-winner Ginger N Rye. La Milanesa is a half-sister to Grade 2 Meadowlands Breeders’ Cup-winner Bowman’s Band, stakes-placed College Hill and graded-stakes producers Lianda and Etats Unis.

Hip 321 also sold for $90,000 to Wayne Catalano as agent. Clever Joke is a 3-year-old filly by Practical Joke out of the Looking at Lucky mare La Piba, winner of the West Virginia Senate President’s Cup and a half-sister to stakes-winner Mobil Solution and stakes-producers Splendid Solution and Queen of Empire.

H.H. as agent also purchased Hip 61, a Florida-bred colt by first crop sire Global Campaign, for $82,000 from the consignment of Richard Kent’s Kaizen Sales as agent. The colt is out of the Yes It’s True mare Maid in Heaven, a full sister to Grade 3 Kenny Noe-winner Yesbyjimminy and stakes-placed Qureall; and a half-sister to stakes-winners Magic Mecke and A.J. Melini. The colt was bred in the Sunshine State by Katherine Nielsen and Gem Racing Inc.

Hip 113 also generated a bid of $82,000 from First Finds. Consigned by Beth Bayer as agent, the dark bay or brown colt is by first crop sire McKinzie out of Speedy Bird, by Birdstone, a half-sister to Grade 3 Allaire DuPont Distaff-winner Super Quick and graded stakes-placed, stakes-winner Viva Majorca and stakes-winner Quick Quick Quick.

The next sale on the OBS calendar is the prestigious March Sale of 2-year-olds in training, which has been expanded to three days this year. The March Sale will run March 20-22 and the Under Tack program will be conducted Tuesday-Friday, March 14-17. TFH

1) The Board reviewed a recently issued Independent Auditors’ Report regarding the financial statements of the FTBOA and its subsidiaries for the year ended June 30, 2022, including statements of activities and cash flows and related notes. The Independent Auditors’ Report was prepared by the accounting firm of Pur vis, Gray & Company, a regional accounting firm founded in 1946 that has extensive audit experience with nonprofit organizations.

Af ter the auditors’ presentation, the FTBOA Board of Directors voted to accept the Independent Auditors’ Report as presented. This Report was previously presented by the auditors to the FTBOA Audit Committee and the FTBOA Executive Committee.

2) In his remarks, FTBOA CEO Lonny Powell updated the Board on HISA implementation and the recent public comments submitted by the Association to the Florida Gaming Control Commission, urging the state to find ways to fund HISA regulatory costs (see Wire to Wire, Nov. 12-13, page 7). Lawsuits challenging the validity of HISA are working their way through the courts.

Powell also noted that the portion of the Nov. 29 Executive Committee meeting dealing with the Executive Committee’s consideration of the 2023 Florida-Bred Stakes Agreement for Tampa Bay Downs will be open to the public to provide comments and/or observe the proceedings.

Powell briefed the Board on the current status of communications with Gulfstream and the FTHA on ADW and on the 2023 Flor ida-Bred Stakes Agreement for Gulfstream Park.

3) President George Isaacs thanked the Board for their service and stated his goals for his presidency, including more PAC fundraising. He emphasized the importance of continuing the Association’s legislative efforts and the need to focus on growing the industry’s PAC.

4) Matt Bryan (outside lobbyist) briefed the Board regarding the results of the recent general election and the make-up of the

Florida Legislature and executive branch, to include incoming Dept. of Agriculture Commissioner Wilton Simpson who has been a supporter of the Thoroughbred industry. He highlighted 2023 legislative goals.

5) Warren Husband (outside legal counsel) briefed the Board on legal and regulatory developments surrounding: (a) the pending federal court challenge to the new Seminole Gaming Compact, which is currently on appeal; (b) the state court case brought by the Florida Standardbred Breeders to challenge the “decoupling” provisions of the 2021 pari-mutuel law; (c) the ongoing implementation of HISA, the funding challenges it presents and possible state legislative action, and the pending federal court challenges to the law creating HISA; (d) recent activity at the new Florida Gaming Control Commission; and (e) the recent election defeat of two well-financed sports wagering ballot initiatives in California.

6) Tammy Gantt (Assoc. VP Membership/Events) provided the Board with important dates and deadlines, including the Jan. 15 Florida Sire Stakes two-year-old payment deadline for $250, which increases to $500 from Jan. 16 - Feb. 28, and the last chance deadline for yearlings that may have missed the earlier payment deadlines (Jan. 15 for $5,000).

Additional dates included the Florida Sire Stakes races at Tampa Bay Downs on Dec. 10 and the FTBOA Member Charity Open House on Dec. 2.

Gantt highlighted the Ocala downtown Walk of Fame, which will feature bronze stars memorializing famed Florida-breds who are in the National Racing Hall of Fame or are Eclipse Award national champions. George Isaacs is the chair for the committee.

7) Board member Laurine Fuller-Vargas briefed the Board on the Run for the Ribbons horse show series that she founded to publicize the versatility of retired thoroughbreds. She also shared her vision for the 6th Florida Thoroughbred Transformation Expo at the Florida Horse Park to be held Dec. 9-11. TFH

No tax on stallion seasons

No personal state income tax

No individual capital gains tax

National leader in veterinary and equine research

Ranks second in the U.S. for number of thoroughbred horses

Feed and animal health items, along with other specific items, are also exempt

Horses are exempt from sales tax when purchased from their original breeder

Florida’s greenbelt exemption provides property taxbreaks for Florida horse farms

Physical climate allows for year-round training, racing, showing and business opportunities

FLORIDA DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE AND CONSUMER SERVICES

Wilton Simpson, Commissioner www.FDACS.gov

Editor’s Note: It has been 55 years since Florida-bred Dr. Fager was named the 1968 Horse of the Year, champion older horse, champion sprinter and champion grass horse. No Thoroughbred since has earned four titles in one year. Author JoAnn Guidry remembers the famous champion in her book Winner’s Circle: The Legacy of the Florida Thoroughbred Industry which can be purchased at the FTBOA headquarters, 801 SW 60th Avenue, Ocala; 352-629-2160. The following is printed with permission from Ms. Guidry.