Ocala opener's gross up 17 percent

After a healthy opening session that saw gains in gross receipts and median price, the Ocala Breeders' Sales Company's spring 2-year-old auction entered its second day Tuesday with seven horses bringing six-figure bids by 5 p.m.

The most expensive among those was a $210,000 Menifee filly that Amerman Racing bought from agent Nick De Meric. The filly is out of the Eastern Echo mare Sinful Morning.

A $175,000 More Than Ready colt led Monday's opening day. That session-topper went to Harry Aleo, who bought him from Murray Smith. The colt is out of No Mud On Me, a Great Above half-sister to stakes winners Bear On and Love Triangle.

The Monday session sold more horses than in last year's opener and reaped the benefit with a 17 percent increase in gross. The 2005 opening day sold 205 lots for $5,323,500, compared with 173 lots bringing $4,569,100 last year. Despite the increase in sales, the average price nearly held level, slipping only slightly from last year's $26,411 to $25,968. The median rose 3 percent, from $16,500 to $17,000. But buy-backs also rose, climbing from 27 percent to 28 percent.

The sale continues through April 28.