LEXINGTON, Ky. – Sadler’s Wells, a globally influential sire and broodmare sire for the last two decades, has died at age 30, Coolmore Stud in Ireland announced Tuesday.

The Northern Dancer horse died of natural causes, according to the County Tipperary-based breeding conglomerate. Sadler’s Wells had stood at Coolmore Ireland since retiring to stud in 1984. He was pensioned in 2008.

Results from the Ocala Breeders’ Sales Company’s April 2-year-old auction suggest that the juvenile market has turned the corner, OBS general manager Tom Ventura said Friday. The four-day sale ended Thursday night with sharp increases in gross and average and a median of $20,000 that was level with last year’s figure.

LEXINGTON, Ky. - Arkansas Thoroughbred owner Frank Fletcher created a stir Thursday in Ocala, Fla., when he spent $1.5 million for two horses in the first 90 minutes at the Ocala Breeders’ Sales Company’s April juvenile sale’s final session. Two Fletcher purchases, an $825,000 Macho Uno colt and a $675,000 Hard Spun colt, helped fuel gains in gross and median for the session and a record gross for the entire four-day auction.

The Ocala Breeders’ Sales Company’s April 2-year-old auction continued its pattern of gains Wednesday as the third session produced an 8 percent increase in average price and an 11 percent upswing in median.

A significantly larger number of horses sold helped boost gross by 30 percent. At Wednesday’s session, 207 horses grossed $6,054,200, up from the total for 172 horses at last year’s corresponding session. Average price rose from $27,087 in 2010 to $29,247, and median climbed from last year’s $18,000 to $20,000. Buybacks also dropped from 29 percent in 2010 to 23 percent.

After two days of increased gross and average, the Ocala Breeders’ Sales Company’s April 2-year-old sale was still seeing six-figure horses at its third session Wednesday.

At 3 p.m., Eastern, the highest price was the $170,000 EQB agent Patrice Miller paid for a Rock Hard Ten-Cute Cakes colt. Eddie Woods, agent, consigned the colt as Hip No. 710. The dark bay or brown colt worked an eighth-mile in 10.2 seconds at the April 14 under-tack preview.

LEXINGTON, Ky. - Kentucky Derby winner Monarchos underwent colic surgery Tuesday at the Hagyard Equine Medical Institute veterinary clinic in Lexington to correct a twisted bowel, according to the owner of the farm that stands the 13-year-old stallion.

Monarchos is the sire of 2009 champion female sprinter Informed Decision.

LEXINGTON, Ky. - A pair of $200,000-plus Mizzen Mast juveniles lifted the Ocala Breeders’ Sales Company’s April 2-year-old sale to a second consecutive day of significant gains Tuesday.

A $240,000 Mizzen Mast colt and a $210,000 Mizzen Mast filly were the top sellers Tuesday at the auction’s second of four sessions in Ocala, Fla.

LEXINGTON, Ky. - A $275,000 filly by successful young sire War Front topped Monday’s opening session at the Ocala Breeders’ Sales Company’s April 2-year-old sale in Ocala, Fla., on a day of big gains in gross, average, and median.

The opening session sold eight horses for $100,000 or more, including the session-topper and a Kafwain filly that went for $200,000.

A $200,000 Kafwain filly led selling Monday as the Ocala Breeders’ Sales Company’s April 2-year-old auction got under way in Ocala, Fla.

The opening session had sold four horses for $100,000 or more by 3 p.m, including the session-leading Kafwain daughter. Grace Stables purchased her. Eddie Woods, agent, consigned the dark bay or brown filly out of Seattle Splash. The filly breezed a quarter-mile in 21 seconds at the under-tack show last week and is from the family of Grade 3-placed stakes winners Splasha and Grand Splash.

Primal Force, the dam of Breeders’ Cup Classic winner Awesome Again and 2000 juvenile champion Macho Uno, died Sunday of complications from foaling, according to Adena Springs.

The 24-year-old Blushing Groom mare had just foaled a full sister to Macho Uno, who is doing well, a farm release said.