In all, 160 horses were sold for a gross of $3,127,200, an average of $19,545, and a median of $14,000. Compared to the first session a year ago, the number sold plunged 19.2%, but the gross fell only 2.0%. The average and median rose 21.2% and 9.8%, respectively. This year's buy-back rate was 27.3%, with 60 of the 220 horses offered failing to find new homes.Monday's session was the first of two consignor-preferred sessions. The sale continues through Thurdsay, with each session beginning at 11 a.m. (EST).
A yearling Deputy Commander filly and the Gulch mare Natkeeta sold for $95,000 apiece Monday in Florida to top the opening session of the Ocala Breeders' Sales Company's winter mixed auction. Sandy Creek Farm purchased the Deputy Commander yearling from Nancy Bauman, agent. Sally Andersen bought Natkeeta from Kaizen Sales, agent.The Deputy Commander filly is from the family of grade II winner Highland Park. Her dam, O K Three Wire, is a 9-year-old daughter of Relaunch. The filly's second dam, Main Topic (by Topsider), was an added-money winner in Canada.Natkeeta, an 11-year-old, sold in foal to Johannesburg. She is the dam of stakes winner Interminable Gold (by Gilded Time). Produced from the unraced In Reality mare Orchesis, Natkeeta is a half-sister to grade III-placed Majestic Sunlight (by Majestic Light) and to stakes-placed Swoop City (by Carson City).
