Songandaprayer colt tops first OBS Open session

Hip No. 549, a bay colt by Songandaprayer named SONG OF ARABIA, brought the

top price at Tuesday's first session of the Ocala Breeders' Sale's Company's Open Sale

of Yearlings at the OBS Sales Complex in Ocala, Florida. Purchased by Joseph Brocklebank, agent, for $160,000, the February 17 yearling was consigned by

Nancy Bauman, agent. The Florida-bred is out of the unraced mare Memory Rock

(Sheikh Albadou), a half-sister to stakes winner Mountain Range (Mountain Cat),

and hails from the same female line as Grade/Group 3 winners Swing and Miss (Housebuster)

and Seeker's Gold (Mr. Prospector).

The second-highest price was purchased early in the sale when Buzz Chace,

agent, went to $105,000 for Hip 304, a gray filly by WhyWhyWhy. Consigned by

Perrone Sales, agent, the April 20 youngster is out of the winning mare Helen

Cordelia (Prized), who is a half-sister to stakes winner Lucky Lauren (Red

Ransom). The Kentucky-bred also comes from the female line as multiple stakes

winners Grimm (Hansel) and Resolve (Future Storm).

Gross and average both showed improvements from the comparative session last

year. There were 216 yearlings which sold Tuesday for an aggregate $2,943,600,

up 12.2 percent from 2005 when 212 horses were purchased for $2,622,600. Average

price increased 10.2 percent, from $12,371 to $13,628. The median price of

$8,000 represented a 16.9 percent hike from $6,850 last year. The buyback

rate was 24.5 percent, compared to 19.1 percent 12 months earlier.

For complete results, visit www.obssales.com.

The second session of the OBS Open Yearlings Sale begins Wednesday at 11 a.m. (EST)