Ocala momentum continues

The Ocala Breeders' Sale Company's August yearling sale showed Tuesday that regional demand for yearlings was stronger than last year, and some of that momentum carried over into the Wednesday session in Ocala, Fla.

Wednesday's session leaders at 5:30 p.m. were a pair of $110,000 yearlings. The first was a More than Ready colt signed for by Nick de Meric, agent. The chestnut colt is out of Pulla Surprise, an unraced A. P. Indy mare. The Sugar Hill agency consigned the colt as Hip No. 748.

Hip No. 784, a Texas Glitter-Robinfleir filly, brought the same price from buyer Speed Horse Racing. Peggy Dellheim, agent, consigned the filly.

The Wednesday session was the second open session in five days of selling. On Tuesday, a $160,000 Songandaprayer colt was the afternoon's most expensive lot. Agent Joe Brocklebank purchased the colt from Nancy Bauman, agent.

Tuesday's session sold 216 yearlings for $2,943,600, up 12 percent from last year, when 212 sold. Tuesday's average also increased, by 10 percent to $13,628, and the median price jumped 17 percent to $8,000. But the buy-back rate also rose, from last year's 19 percent to 25 percent.

The auction was to continue through Friday.