Medaglia d’Oro filly commands $275,000 at OBS

Live Oak Plantation snapped up the sale’s only Medaglia d’Oro yearling (Courtesy of OBS/Louise Reinagel Photo) A filly by the hot sire Medaglia d’Oro was purchased by Live Oak Plantation for the top price of $275,000 at Monday’s Selected Yearlings portion of the Ocala Breeders’ Sales Company’s August Yearling Sale. The only yearling by that stallion in the entire catalog, Hip No. 108 was consigned by Summerfield (Francis & Barbara Vanlangendonck), agent. The Florida-bred bay is out of the stakes-winning Phone Trick mare Lolabell, who compiled a record of 15-4-1-3, $130,416 over three seasons of racing. Lolabell is herself a half-sister to three stakes-placed runners, including Dish It Out (Naevus), runner-up in the 1994 Southwest S. at Oaklawn Park. Further back, this is the family of Grade 2 winners Highland Park (Raise a Native), Roshani (Fantastic Light) and Kumari Continent (Kris S.), as well as 1997 Canadian champion sprinter, Glanmire (Briartic). The February 29 foal was making her second appearance at OBS, having brought $67,000 as a weanling last October.

A colt from the first crop of Grade 2 hero Rockport Harbor (Unbridled’s Song)
was the day’s next most expensive seller, bringing a bid of $140,000 from Nick
de Meric, agent. Out of the unraced Java Jolt (Hennessy), Hip 89 is a
half-brother to True Addiction (Yes It’s True), runner-up in the 2006 Adirondack
S. (G2).

The Florida-bred bay’s second dam is Grade 3 heroine Risen Colony (Pleasant
Colony), a full sister to Flamingo S. (G1) victor Cherokee Colony. They hail
from the family of Hopeful S. (G1) winner Crusader Sword (Damascus), Turf
Classic Invitational (G1) scorer Turk Passer (Turkoman) and Canadian champion
juvenile filly Silken Cat (Storm Cat), herself the dam of 2004 champion sprinter
and emerging young sire, Speightstown (Gone West).

The March 22 colt was offered by Ron and Lybby Gay.

First-crop sire Pomeroy (Boundary) was responsible for the day’s only other
six-figure yearling, a $115,000 colt cataloged as Hip 111. The dark bay was
acquired by Budget Stable from the consignment of Moreau Bloodstock
International, agent. The March 2 Florida-bred was produced by the unraced
Memory Rock (Sheikh Albadou [GB]), who is herself a half-sister to stakes
winners Mountain Range (Mountain Cat) and Royal Vindication (Vindication), both
Grade 3-placed. The colt’s fifth dam is Kentucky Oaks queen and influential
matron Native Street (Native Dancer).

The yearling was originally sold as an OBS October weanling for $28,000.

During the select session, 113 yearlings brought a total of $3,708,500, a
34.2 percent decline from 2008, when $5,633,000 was realized by the exact same
number of horses. The average likewise fell 34.2 percent, from $49,850 to
$32,819, while the median plummeted 37.5 percent, from $40,000 to $25,000.

The buyback percentage was 38.3 percent, compared to 43.5 percent at last
year’s comparable session.

The auction continues with the three-day Open Yearlings Sale, beginning
Tuesday and running through Thursday. Each session kicks off at 10:30 a.m.
(EDT).

For more information, visit obssales.com.