In all, 205 horses were sold during the session, and they grossed $7,116,800, up 5.3% from 2005. Last year, the gross was $6,757,100 for 207 horses sold. This year's average was $34,716, a 6.4% increase from $32,643 in 2005.The figures through two sessions were 392 horses sold for a gross of $13,398,500 and an average of $34,181. Last year, at the same point, 412 horses had been sold for a gross of $12,080,600 and an average price of $29,322.The sale continues through Friday, with each session starting at 10:30 a.m. (EDT).
Western Gambler, a son of Storm Cat, was the top-priced horse at $275,000 during Wednesday's second session of the Ocala Breeders' Sales Co. spring sale of 2-year-olds in training in Central Florida. Stinson & Farr Farms was the buyer of the dark bay or brown colt, which worked an eighth of a mile in :10 3/5 prior to the auction.Consigned by Woodside Ranch, agent, Western Gambler is the second live foal out of the 9-year-old Gone West mare Western Eternity. The mare is a half-sister to Eternity Star, winner of the 1991 Hollywood Derby (gr. IT) and an added-money winner in France. Western Eternity also is a half-sister to stakes winners Eternal Reve (in France and Ireland) and Eternity Range. Eternal Reve finished second both the 1994 Queen Elizabeth Challenge Cup Stakes (gr. IT) and the Coronation Stakes (Eng-I).Overbrook Farm bred Western Gambler in Kentucky. The colt was a $490,000 buy-back at last year's Keeneland September yearling sale when consigned by Eaton Sales, agent.