Ocala has record opener

The Ocala Breeders' Sales Company's August yearling sale continued Tuesday, one day after a record opening day, with a $75,000 Rock and Roll-Wings of the Night colt the leader as of 5 p.m. at the first of three open sessions. Moonshadow Farm, agent, bought the colt from the Shanbally Acres agency.

The four-day auction started strongly at Monday's select session, when 16 yearlings brought bids of $100,000 or more, including a $235,000 session-topper. The top price came for Hip No. 180, a Halo's Image-Proud Clarioness colt. Red Storm Stable bought him from the Celebrity Farm consignment.

Monday's select session sold 177 yearlings for a record gross of $9,252,000, up 45 percent from last year's total for 144 lots. The average price climbed 18 percent this year to a record $52,271, and the median also rose 29 percent, to a record $45,000.

The sale was to run through Thursday in Ocala, Fla.