Good news, bad news at OBS session

The Ocala Breeders' Sales Company spring juvenile sale in Ocala, Fla., ended its first session Monday with a decrease in average price and an increase median.

Jo Ann and Alex Lieblong, who campaign Grade 1 winner Telling, bought Monday's session-topper. The $260,000 Pleasantly Perfect colt is out of Minister Thatcher, by Deputy Minister. Parrish Farms, agent, consigned the chestnut full brother to the winning 4-year-old Minister Perfect. He also is a half-brother to 5-year-old winner Sanlorenzo.

The session-topper sold as Hip No. 132. He had worked a quarter in 20.80 seconds at the under-tack preview.

The opening session sold 196 for a gross of $4,579,100, down 16 percent from last year's total for 209 juveniles. Average price also declined, falling 11 percent, from $26,112 last year to $23,363 in 2010. But the median climbed 16 percent, from last season's figure of $15,500 to $18,000.

The buyback percentage edged upward, from 24 percent last year to 26 percent this year. As happened at the 2009 opening session, 22 horses brought $50,000 or more at Monday's session.

The OBS spring juvenile auction was to continue through Thursday at the OBS pavilion. Sessions begin daily at 10:30 a.m.