A Cape Town colt brought $310,000 to top the third session of the Ocala Breeders' Sales Co.'s spring 2-year-olds in training sale April 26. Consigned by Barry and Shari Eisaman's Eisaman Equine, agent, the colt was purchased over the phone by George Coleman, a New Mexico oilman, and is the sale topper thus far.
Last year, Coleman purchased Song of Navarone from the Eisamans during the OBS spring sale for $190,000, and the Sultry Song colt went on to win the March 18 WinStar Derby.
The Cape Town colt drew attention when he ran the sale's co-fastest quarter mile, getting the distance in :21 1/5. The Eisamans bred the bay colt out of the Gate Dancer mare On Top of That, who is a half-sister to Draw Again, a grade III winner by Roman Diplomat.
"We are very pleased," Barry Eisaman said. "He was always a healthy, correct, playful, and attractive colt. You hope that everything will work out, but there are a lot of things that have to happen in order to get to this point."
The Eisamans no longer own On Top of That, who was sold at the 2006 Keeneland November mixed sale. Consigned by Lantern Hill Farm, agent, she was sold in foal to Put it Back to Neal Maharaj, agent, for $10,000. On Top of That was sent to Trinidad and Tobago earlier this year.
C C’s Best Wishes, the session's top selling filly, went to Fox Hill Farm, Tom McGreevy, agent, for $160,000. The Best of the Rest filly was consigned by Paul Sharp, agent, and is out of Margie’s Wish, by Jeblar.
During the session, 198 horses grossed $5,293,800. In 2006, 186 juveniles brought a total of $6,543,100 at the corresponding session. The average price of $26,736 was down compared to $35,178 in 2006, and the median price of $16,000 was also down from $17,000 a year ago. The buyback percentage was 26.1%. Last year it was 21.8%.
The auction concludes Friday, April 27. Selling begins at 10:30 a.m. (EDT).