Record Price, $975,000, at OBS April Sale

The wild and wacky juvenile sale season continued Wednesday with yet another mark set, this time a record for the Ocala Breeders Sales Co.'s April auction.

For $975,000, John Ferguson, as agent for Sheikh Mohammed, purchased a colt by Distorted Humor   for $975,000. The colt, named Princely Humor, is the second foal produced form the graded stakes winning Zupparado Ardo mare Zuppardo's Prince. He was sold by Niall Brennan as agent for the estate of John Franks.

Sheikh Mohammed, who bought very few 2-year-olds last year, is the leading purchased of juveniles at auction so far in 2004.

Franks, a leading owner and breeder, died last December. Most of his horses are being sold at various auctions this year.

Zuppardo Ardo won 14 races, including the grade II Humana Distaff Handicap (gr. II) and earned $667,886.

The previous record was $550,000, paid by Kaaren and the late Hays Biggs for Etbauer in 1998 and equaled in 2001 when David J. Shimmon paid the same price for a filly by Grindstone.

The second highest price on Wednesday was on a bid from Kaaren Biggs. She went to $500,000 for a colt by West Acre out of the Singulate mare Y'All sing. Sold by Eisaman Equine as agent, he is a half-brother to stakes placed Maggie's Song.

The gross and average are both up over last year's figures. For the first three days of the four-day sale, 596 youngsters have been sold for $17,118,700, an average of $28,723. Another 140 juveniles, 23.5%, have been bought back.

Last year's first three sessions saw 528 sold for $10,933,000, an average of $20,706.