Ocala yearling sale average jumps 30%

A Lemon Drop Kid colt headed the leader board during the first non-select session of the Ocala Breeders’ yearling sale in Florida on Wednesday.

Consigned by Beth Bayer, the colt was purchased by Sallusto / Albina as agent for $105,000.  He is out of stakes winner Secondary School (Honor Grades).

Lemon Drop Kid (Kingmambo) stands for a $35,000 fee at Lane’s End Farm.  He retired to stud in 2001 after a career that garnered G1 victories in the Belmont Stakes, Whitney Hcp, Travers Stakes and Woodward Stakes.

He has sired 6 Group 1 winners and has a staggering stakes winners to starters strike-rate of 13%.

A Political Force colt was next best at $100,000.  He was purchased by Mersad Metanovic and Jeff Bonde for $100,000. The latter trains multiple G1 winning sprinter Smiling Tiger (Hold That Tiger).  The roan colt is out of Pine Hill (Siphon) who is a half sister to the stakes performer Merger.

Day 1 of the Open session grossed $2.63 million at an average of $12,430.  That was up 30% from 2010 and the median also jumped 38%.  The clearance rate improved two points to 76%.