Matthews Stables went to $265,000 for LUNAR STAR (Silver Ghost) to top the
opening session of the OBS Winter Mixed Sale on Tuesday. Consigned by Shadybrook
Farm (Michael Yates), agent, as Hip No. 74, the nine-year-old mare is out of
the winning Rafael Luna (Idle Minds), making the sale-topping bay a full sister
to 1993 Ashland S. (G1) and Davona Dale S. (G3) victress Lunar Spook. Lunar
Star, who is currently in foal to Songandaprayer on an April 10 cover, is also a
three-quarters sister to 2002 Lafayette S. (G3) winner Cashel Castle.
Over four seasons of racing, Lunar Star earned $137,610 from a 20-4-6-1 mark
including a second-place outing in the 2002 Lady Hallie H.
The high-priced yearling on the day was Hip 91, a chestnut colt by
Songandaprayer who was purchased by Chestnut Valley Farm for $110,000. The
April 28 youngster was consigned by Nancy Bauman, agent, and is out of Rhonda’s
Rocket (Fit to Fight), a half-sister to stakes hero World Series (Robyn Dancer).
Hip 15, a bay filly by Northern Afleet, was purchased for $87,000 by Buzz
Chace, agent, as the highest-priced yearling filly for the session. Consigned by
Four Horsemen’s Ranch, the Florida-bred is the
second foal out of the multiple stakes-placed mare On the Horizon (Lord Avie), a
half-sister to stakes winner and multiple Grade 3-placed Walkie Talker, who
established a new course record at Calder in 1992.
There were 175 horses sold Tuesday for an aggregate $3,441,900, a 6.2
percent decrease from last year when 186 horses were purchased for $3,655,700.
Average price remained relatively steady, rising slightly from $19,654 to
$19,668, while median price declined 13 percent, from $11,500 to $10,000.
The sale continues Wednesday at 11 a.m. (EST). For complete sales results,
visit obssales.com.