Session leader brings $260K

A $260,000 Hook and Ladder colt led selling Wednesday at the second session of the Ocala Breeders' Sales Company's April 2-year-old auction in Ocala, Fla., one day after the auction's opener posted losses in gross and average.

The session leader at 5:30 p.m. Eastern was a son of the Pleasant Tap mare Expensive Tap. James Ventura, agent, purchased the colt from Ricky Leppala, agent.

At Tuesday's opening session, a $180,000 Double Honor-Clarabella colt bought by agent Buzz Chace was the top seller. The highest-priced filly attracted some celebrity attention: the $170,000 Is It True-Cielo's Dance filly was purchased by trainer Wesley Ward in partnership with actor Joe Pesci and actress Heather Locklear. The Hartley/De Renzo Thoroughbreds agency sold the Is It True filly. M & H Training and Sales, agent, sold the session-topping Double Honor colt, who had the under-tack preview's co-fastest eighth-mile breeze time of 10 seconds.

The Tuesday session, the first of four, grossed $5,952,000 for 203 horses, down 5 percent from last year's opener, which sold 187 horses. Average was $29,320, down 13 percent, and median was level with last year at $19,000. Buybacks increased slightly, from 28 percent last year to 29 percent.