OBS select sale up, open sale down

LEXINGTON, Ky. - The five-day Ocala Breeders' Sales Company's August yearling sale that ended Friday yielded mixed results, with gains at its select session followed by open sale declines.

The sale got under way with a single select session on Aug. 20 that produced a sale-topping a $305,000 Valid Expectations-Dame's Rocket (by Timeless Native) colt. The select average increased 6 percent to $44,076, and median remained level at $35,000. Buybacks increased from 32 percent to 34 percent.

Padua Stables purchased the sale-topping colt from Kelli Mitchell, agent. The colt is a half-brother to a pair of stakes-placed runners, Valid Rocket and Rocky Appeal, both by Valid Appeal. The sale-topper's sire, Valid Expectations, is a son of Valid Appeal.

The average at the four open sessions this year dropped 2 percent, from $9,638 last year to $9,399. Median fell by 17 percent, from $6,000 last year to $5,000. Buybacks rose slightly, from 28 percent to 29 percent.