Arrogate colt brings $1.45 million to top 1st Ocala session

Hip No. 253, a colt by Arrogate consigned by Hartley / DeRenzo Thoroughbreds, agent, went to Donato Lanni, agent, for $1,450,000 Tuesday to top the first session of the Ocala Breeders’ Sales 2023 spring sale of 2-year-olds in training.

The bay colt, who breezed an eighth of a mile in 10.0 seconds at Monday’s under-tack session, is a half-brother to stakes-placed Sunset Promise out of Destine, by War Front from the family of champion Smoke Glacken.

Two others went for $800,000 or more.

Hip No. 215, a daughter of Bolt d’Oro consigned by de Meric Sales, agent, was sold to Lael Stable for $850,000. The dark bay or brown filly, who turned in an under-tack eighth a mile mile in 10.0 seconds Monday, is out of Creative Contessa, by Creative Cause, a half-sister to stakes winner Amiable Grace.

Hip No. 192, a son of Twirling Candy consigned by S G V Thoroughbreds (Steven Venosa), agent, went to Oliver St. Lawrence Bloodstock for $800,000. The dark bay or brown colt, whose eighth of a mile Monday in 9.8 seconds was the day’s co-fastest at the distance, is out of graded stakes-placed Conquest Babayaga, by Uncle Mo, from the family of Grade 1 stakes winner and OBS graduate Negligee.

For the session, 161 horses brought a total of $22,003,000, compared with 180 selling for a total of $22,793,000 at last year’s opening session. The average price was $136,665, up 7.9 percent from $126,628 in 2022. The median price was $75,000, up 20 percent from $62,500 a year ago. The buyback percentage was 21.8 percent. It was 15.1 percent last year.