Ocala prices up 13 percent

LEXINGTON, Ky. - Topped by a sale-record $310,000 Double Honor colt, the Ocala Breeders' Sales Company's June sale of 2-year-olds and horses of racing age ended Wednesday with significant improvements over last year's returns.

The two-day auction at the OBS facility in Ocala, Fla., sold 241 juveniles for gross receipts of $4,569,500, up 20 percent from last year, when 226 juveniles brought a total of $3,809,700. The average price rose 13 percent, from $16,857 last year to $18,961.

The $310,000 Double Honor colt, currently named College Honor, sold during Tuesday's opening session. College Honor, the second horse through the ring, went to William Condren. Farnsworth Farms, agent, sold the colt, who is out of the Carr de Naskra mare Camptown Miss. A half-brother to winners Campground and Campus King, College Honor posted the under-tack show's fastest work of 33.40 seconds for three furlongs.

The opening session sold 122 lots for total receipts of $2,597,600, up 28 percent from last year, when 108 lots brought $2,029,600.

On Wednesday, a $180,000 Grand Slam colt out of the Turkoman mare Turk's Flirt rang up the second session's top price. Frank Calabrese purchased the colt from Ciaran Dunne's Wavertree Stables consignment.

The June auction also sold eight older horses for a total of $40,000 and an average price of $5,000. Last year, the auction sold four horses of racing age for a total of $32,500 and an average of $8,125.