Wednesday's session results were 175 horses sold, a gross of $3,492,500, and an average price of $19,957. The numbers all declined from 2005's corresponding session, when the 182 horses sold grossed $3,654,200 and averaged $20,078.For this year's three consignor-preferred sessions combined, 592 horses were sold for a gross of $12,765,900. Their average was $21,564. Compared to last year, the number sold and gross were up, but the average was down. The 2005 results were 559 horses sold, a gross of $12,458,500, and an average of $22,287.The auction continues through Friday with open sessions. Selling begins at 10 a.m. (EDT) each day.
A colt from the first crop of Smarty Jones became the highest-priced horse sold so far this year at the Ocala Breeders' Sales Co.'s fall mixed sale when he brought $170,000 Wednesday. Clear Sky Stable purchased the chestnut weanling from Caballo Grande, agent, during the third and final consignor-preferred session of the five-day sale in Central Florida. James E. Culver bred the colt in Florida.Produced from the 16-year-old winning Green Dancer mare Dance On the Green, the weanling is a half-brother to Formal Miss (by Formal Dinner), who has won eight added-money events, including this year's Capital Request Stakes at Calder Race Course. The colt also is a half-brother to another stakes winner, Gold Pirate (by Gold Water), and to the winner Green Riches (by Rizzi), who finished second in the 2000 Dr. Fager division of the Florida Stallion Stakes.Closing Prayer, a Songandaprayer -- Finale Hopper weanling colt, brought the session's second-highest price of $160,000. Westwood Thoroughbreds was the buyer, and Crowe's Nest Farm, agent, was the consignor.