Hip No. 185, a dark bay colt by Touch Gold, brought the high price at the
opening session of the Ocala Breeders’ Sales Company’s Spring Two-Year-Olds in
Training Sale on Tuesday when Tom McCrocklin, agent for Robert and Lawana Low,
purchased the Florida-bred for $325,000. Consigned by True South, the March 18
colt is out of the Star de Naskra mare Star de Mint, who is a half-sister to the
multiple Grade 1-winning millionaire and 2003 Breeders’ Cup Distaff (G1) queen
Adoration (Honor Grades). The top seller worked three furlongs in :33 3/5 during
the first under tack show on April 19.
The second-highest price of the day went to Hip 38, a bay colt named HEWITTS
(Concerto), who sold to Bob Hess Jr. for $225,000. Consigned by Ocala Stud
Farms, agent, the Florida-bred is out of the Cozzene mare Romance Me and comes
from the female family of 1986 champion sprinter Smile. The March 29 juvenile
clocked a quarter-mile in :21 3/5 at the under tack show.
A total of 187 two-year-olds sold on Tuesday for an aggregate of $6,282,000.
This was up 18 percent from last year when 205 horses were purchased for
$5,323,500. The average price increased 29.3 percent, from $25,968 in 2005 to
$33,594 this year. The median price was $19,000, up 11.7 percent from $17,000 at
last year’s opening session.
The second session of the sale begins Wednesday at 10:30 a.m. (EDT).