Record-setting end to Ocala Breeders’ Sales Company June juvenile sale

The Ocala Breeders’ Sales Company’s June juvenile sale enjoyed a record-breaking final session Wednesday when the sale-topping Elusive Quality colt set a new sale mark of $350,000 and gross and average both also set records.

The session closed out the auction with impressive across-the-board gains as 395 horses fetched a sale-record gross of $10,249,100, well up from last year’s $7,141,700 for 344 horses and handily beating the previous 2008 record of $7,720,700. This year’s average price of $25,947 was up 25 percent from the 2011 figure and also edged out the previous sale record of $23,550 set in 2004. The overall median, $15,000, was up 58 percent from last year’s $9,500. Buybacks fell from last season’s 27 percent to 25 percent.

Hill ‘n’ Dale Bloodstock, agent, picked up the sale-topping Elusive Quality colt out of Gypsy Hollow, by Dixieland Band. Offered as Hip No. 653, the dark bay or brown colt breezed a quarter-mile in 21.2 seconds and is a half-brother to stakes winners Gipson Desert and Dixie Emperor. Niall Brennan, agent, was the consignor.

The previous mark was $310,000, set in 2004 by a Double Honor colt.

Earlier in the day, a $320,000 Spring At Last filly also broke the 2004 mark. The auction’s highest-priced filly this year, she sold to agent Justin Casse from the Eisaman Equine consignment. The chestnut daughter of graded-placed Zahwah, by Rahy, had worked a quarter-mile in 20.8 seconds, the best time for the distance at her under-tack session last week.

Wednesday’s second session ended with more large gains, following a buoyant opening session Tuesday. Wednesday’s session sold 181 juveniles for $5,273,800, an increase of 52 percent from last year’s total for 168 horses. Average climbed 41 percent, from $20,710 last season to $29,137, and median fared best of all with a 54 percent boost from $9,750 to $15,000. But buybacks also increased, rising from 26 percent a year ago to 31 percent Wednesday.

Fourteen racing-age horses also sold for a combined $112,900, producing an $8,064 average and $7,000 median.