Record opener at Ocala sale

A filly by first-crop sire Whywhywhy who sold for $105,000 looked likely to be the session-topper as of 5:30 p.m. Tuesday at the Ocala Breeders' Sales Company's August yearling sale. The Tuesday session was the first of four open sessions that followed a record-breaking select opener on Monday at the Ocala, Fla., auction house.

A $300,000 Smart Strike-Cent Nouvelles colt topped the select session. Ken McPeek, agent, bought the colt from Martin Stables South. The session-topper was one of 31 yearlings to fetch $100,000 or more, a run that helped the session bring record returns. The session sold 176 yearlings for $10,427,500, a sale record that beat the 2004 mark of $9,252,000. The average price of $59,247 was also a sale record, toppling 2004's mark of $52,271. The median price of $45,000 equaled the 2004 record.

On Tuesday, agent Buzz Chace signed for the $105,000 session-leader. The Whywhywhy filly is out of the winning Prized mare Helen Cordelia. The Perrone Sales agency consigned the $105,000 Kentucky-bred filly.

The sale was to continue through Aug. 25 at the OBS facility in Ocala.