Ocala Breeders’ Sales Company kicks off open sessions of August yearling sale with gains

Led by a $110,000 Kitten’s Joy colt, the first open session at the Ocala Breeders’ Sales Company’s August yearling auction ended Wednesday evening with across-the-board gains.

The first of two open sessions at the Ocala, Fla., sale this week sold 206 yearlings for $2,890,100, a 10 percent increase over last year’s opening session total for 213 yearlings. Average and median also rose, by 13 percent and 11 percent, respectively. Wednesday’s average price was $14,030, and the median was $12,377. Buybacks also improved, shrinking from 23 percent to 21 percent.

Eight yearlings sold for $50,000 or more this year, double last year’s opening session total. The session-topping Kitten’s Joy colt went to agent Al Pike. Dapple Stud, agent, consigned the bay colt, a half-brother to multiple-graded-placed Cannonball. The March 31 foal is out of the Skywalker mare No Deadline.

The second and final open session at the OBS sale takes place Thursday at the OBS pavilion, starting at 10:30 a.m.