by Cynthia McFarland

Led by a $400,000 Storm Cat colt, the third session of the Ocala Breeders’ Sales Co. spring sale of two-year-olds in training concluded with double-digit increases in total receipts and average price.

The sale company reported 193 horses as sold from 269 offered for total receipts of $6,407,000, a 21% increase compared with the corresponding 2007 session. Average price rose 24.2% to $33,197, and median increased 6.3% to $17,000. The buy-back rate rose to 28.3%, compared with 26.1% at the third session in 2007.

John Fort went to $400,000 to take home the only two-year-old by Storm Cat in the sale. A May foal, the dark bay or brown colt is out of Grade 1 winner Nany’s Sweep, by End Sweep, and is a half brother to graded stakes winner She’s Indy Money.

“The pedigree speaks for itself,” said Fort, who added that the horse’s potential value as a stallion prospect was definitely a factor in his purchase.

The Storm Cat colt breezed one furlong in :10.20 at the under-tack show.

“John Fort worked hard and bought a nice horse,” said John Stephens of Stephens Thoroughbreds, which consigned the colt as agent for Vision Sales. “I don’t know where you can buy another horse like this for $400,000 with his pedigree and his athleticism.”

Spring Valley Farm paid $275,000 for a racy filly by hot second-crop sire Posse out of the winning Crafty Prospector mare Real Crafty Belle, a half sister to stakes winner Infield Shift. Consigned by Terry Oliver’s and Bo Hunt’s O & H Bloodstock, agent, the chestnut filly zipped a quarter-mile in :21.

Journeyman Bloodstock, agent, went to $260,000 on behalf of client Savoy Stable of Chicago for a filly by Langfuhr. The dark bay or brown filly attracted attention with an eighth-mile drill in :10 at the under-tack show. Out of the stakes-placed Honour and Glory mare Race to Glory, the filly was consigned by Niall Brennan Stables, agent.

“Besides the fact that she was good-looking and very fast, her being an Illinois- bred made her a premium horse,” said Brent Fernung of Journeyman Bloodstock.

 The sale concludes Thursday with the fourth session, beginning at 10:30 EDT.

For hip-by-hip results, click here.

Cynthia McFarland is a Florida-based Thoroughbred Times correspondent