The Ocala Breeders’ Sales Winter Mixed Sale completed its two days on Jan. 27 and the first session was the popular Horses of Racing Age book.
A number of Stronach Stables’ horses in training were offered by Richard Kent of Kaizen Sales, agent, and Canadian buyers were quick to take a look.
Al and Bill Ulwelling picked up promising maiden allowance winner WALTZING CHAMP for $85,000. The 4-year-old is by Ghostzapper and he has earned over $73,000 (Can.).
Mike Doyle,as agent purchased the gelding ENTRY TO HEAVEN for $20,000. The 4-year-old by Point of Entry is a winner. Doyle, who trains some horses for Stronach Stables at Woodbine, also bought Devine Dancing, a 3-year-old by Silent Name (Jpn) who cost $20,000.
Shelley Brown, a leading trainer in Manitoba, paid $7,000 for a 2-year-old gelding by Strong Mandate.
Nick Nosowenko paid $1,500 for VIVID VIXEN, an unraced Animal Kingdom 3-year-old filly and a half-sister to stakes winner Zestina.
Chris Howard bought the 4-year-old FORT HOPE for $24,000 and this Ontario-bred gelding was placed at 3 in 2020 and is a son of Fort Larned.
Robert Simonick, who races horses at Woodbine, bought HANDSOME DEVIL, a 4-year-old Ghostzapper gelding, for $9,500 from the Stronach consignment. Simonick also bought a 2-year-old filly named ESTA CALIENTE for $9,500 and the Revolutionary filly worked 3 furlongs in 34 4/5 for the sale.
Canadian-born trainer KERRI RAVEN bought the session topper, BEAR BRIAN, a debut winner by Tiznow, for $150,000. Raven, who has raced horses at Hastings Park in Vancouver, purchased three horses during the Horses of Racing Age section on Tuesday, going to $90,000 to acquire an unraced 3-year-old colt by Distorted Humor (hip 315) and to $60,000 to purchase the 5-year-old Jungle Fighter (Animal Kingdom) (hip 257).
Mary Self, whose horses are trained by Zeljko Krcmar, paid $14,000 for the 3-year-old LIVERPOOL MAN by Milwaukee Brew.
Slade Callaghan signed the ticket for the 4-year-old gelding JOLLY SWAGMAN who reached a final bid of $23,000. Jolly Swagman is a Kentucky-bred by Discreet Cat who was a winner last year. Callaghan, whose wife Kelly Callaghan trains, also picked up LOWER FOR LONGER (Ire), a 3-year-old filly by Tamayuz (GB) for $22,000. The filly’s dam is a half- sister to multiple Grade 1 winner Doctor Dino. Lower for Longer finished third in a turf maiden race at Tampa Bay Downs on Jan. 24.
Other Stronach Stables offerings included the Canadian-bred 3-year-old POLTERER, a son of Ghostzapper, who brought a bid of $110,000 from Danny W. Brown of Hot Springs, Arkansas.
Polterer will join trainer Greg Compton at Oaklawn Park to focus on a dirt campaign. Compton told Canadian Thoroughbred that he is based at Delaware Park in the summer and that he and Brown will take a look at the Canadian Triple Crown races in Ontario.
More Canadian buyers included Francine Villeneuve, former jockey and now owner and trainer, who bought the 3-year-old gelding GIGI’S GIFT, a son of High Cotton, for $9,000.
On the second day of the OBS Winter Sale, Bruno Schickedanz bought 7 mares for a total of $14,200.