Loni's Appeal, a filly by Successful Appeal out of Loni Girl, by Future Storm, went to John Brocklebank for $55,000 to top the final open session of the Ocala Breeders' Sales Company's 2003 August Yearling Sale. Consigned by Wesfield Farm (Robert and Saronda Smith), agent, the chestnut filly is out of a half sister to stakes winner Sangam.For the session, 237 horses sold for a total of $2,193,400, compared with 193 yearlings grossing $1,462,400 in the corresponding session a year ago. The average price was $9,255, up 22.1% from $7,577 last year while the median price was $5,000, identical to last year. The buyback percentage was 23.3%; it was 32.2% last year.Overall, the three open sessions saw 681 yearlings gross $6,493,200, compared with 627 yearlings selling for a total of $5,521,400 last year. The Open Sale average was $9,535, an 8.2% increase from $8,806 in 2002. The median price was $6,000, a gain of 14.3% from last year's $5,250 and
the buyback percentage was 25.5% compared with 27.7% in 2002.
Narvick-Ital-Cal, agent led all Open buyers with 10 for $143,700. The Open Sale's highest price was $60,000 for \ a filly by Grand Slam consigned by Sez Who Thoroughbreds and sold to Carolyn Wilson. The chestnut filly is out of Blushing Native, by Blushing John, a full sister to graded stakes winner Blushing Heiress and a half sister to stakes winner Really Fancy. At the selected session, 144 yearlings grossed $6,367,000, compared with 135 yearlings bringing a total of $5,247,700 last year. The average price was $44,215, up 13.7% from 2002's $38,872 average and just shy of 1999's record $44,945. The median price was $35,000, a gain of 9.3% over the $32,000 figure last year, and the buyback percentage was 25.7%, down from 30.4% in 2002. Eight horses brought $100,000 or more, the same as in 2002. Nick de Meric, agent was the session's leading buyer, taking home six yearlings for a total of $334,000. The session topper was a bay colt by Breeders' Cup Juvenile (G1) winner and champion Anees out of Higher Earnings, by Corporate Report, consigned by Summerfield (Francis and Barbara Vanlangendonck), agent and sold to John F. Moynihan, agent for $190,000. The dam is a half sister to stakes winners Roguish Prince, Ascool and National Energy.