Spanish Steps colt highlights second OBS open session

Hip No. 870, a bay colt by Spanish Steps, brought a final bid of $95,000 from

Ken and Sarah Ramsey to top Wednesday's second open session of the Ocala

Breeders' Sales Company's August Yearling Sale. Consigned by Cutting Edge

Equine, agent, the colt is out of the unraced Entre Nous (Meadowlake), who is a

half-sister to dual stakes victress On Safari (Lion Cavern).

Wednesday's topper comes from the same family as 1994 Forego H. (G2) hero

American Chance (Cure the Blues) and Grade 3-placed stakes winner Ophidian (Ogygian)

as well as 1979 Travers S. (G1) king General Assembly (Secretariat), who ran

second in that year's Kentucky Derby (G1).

The most expensive filly during the session was purchased for $70,000. Hip

624, a Northern Afleet lass, also came from the Cutting Edge Equine, agent, and

sold to Riley James. The bay filly is out of Apt to Star (Aptitude), herself a

daughter of stakes winner Sweeping (End Sweep).

On Wednesday, 226 yearlings brought a total $2,036,000, an average of $9,009

and a median of $5,500. Those numbers represent decreases of 18.5 percent, 30.4

percent and 26.7 percent, respectively over last year when 193 horses sold for a

gross $2,498,500, a $12,946 average and a $7,500 median.

The August Yearling Sales concludes Thursday, with the final session

beginning at 10:30 a.m. (EDT).