Evangeline Downs: Juvenile sale up from '07

Buoyed by the $100,000 sale-topping colt by three-time top Louisiana sire Leestown, the John Franks Memorial 2-year-olds in training sale on Sunday at Evangeline Downs posted healthy increases across the board. The average price on the 192 juveniles who passed through the ring increased 16 percent, to $10,619, from last year, while total proceeds increased nearly 4 percent to $1,826,000, up from $1,757,000 in 2007.

Purchased by Harold Foreman, the sale topper is named Lee City Slew. Consigned for Valene Farm by agent Clear Creek Stud, the accredited Louisiana-bred colt is out of the Carson City mare Rosie City and is a full brother to multiple stakes winner Equestrian Girls and a half-brother to the stakes-placed Taking Flight.

An unnamed Florida-bred filly by first-crop sire Alex's Pal out of the Afternoon Deelites mare Dayjur's Deelights brought the next-highest total of $75,000 after posting the fastest one-furlong breeze (10.23 seconds) in Saturday's gallop preview.

* The Louisiana Thoroughbred Breeders Sales Co.'s 2008 spring mixed sale is slated for April 13 at the Blackham Coliseum in Lafayette, La. A total of 149 yearlings, 2-year-olds, horses of racing age, and broodmares will go through the auction ring beginning at 10 a.m.

Prominent Louisiana sires represented include Leestown, Placid Fund, Autocracy, and Ide. Perennial major consignors Clear Creek Stud, Red River Farm, and Southern Equine Stables will again be present.