WinStar Farm stallion Colonel John headlined Day 1 of the Ocala yearling sale in Florida on Tuesday.  His colt from Bon Caro (Bon Point) made $220,000 to the bid of trainer Wesley Ward.

Colonel John (Tiznow) was a G1 winner of the 2008 Santa Anita Derby and Travers Stakes.  His first-crop yearlings have been in demand with a Saratoga Select colt selling for $250,000 earlier this month.  He stands for a $15,000 fee at Win Star.

Australian shuttlers with Top 10 yearlings included Street Sense and Congrats who were represented by the most expensive fillies on the leader-board.

A filly by Darley’s Street Sense from Lauren (Meadowlake) was purchased for $140,000 by William Schettine.  Her dam is a sister to G1 winner Greenwood Lake who has seen service at Racetree and Egmont Studs in Queensland.

The filly by Vinery shuttler Congrats was sold to agent Nick de Meric for $120,000.  She was consigned by Woodford Thoroughbreds and is out of Wasted Wisdom (Gold Fever).  The dam is a stakes placed half sister to Group winner Desert Code.

A strong storm swept Florida on Tuesday, however, turnover on Day 1 reached $5.68 million with six horses making $100,000 or more compared with two last year.  The average price was up 19% to $44,756 and the median rose 8% to $35,000.  The clearance rate dropped 5 points to 71%.

“It was a good day,” Ocala president Tom Ventura said.  “Our sale topper brought twice as much as last year’s.  Everything went well.  I am pleased with the good mix of buyers we had.  There were plenty of end users and pinhookers.”