by Pete Denk

The Ocala Breeders’ Sales Co. August yearling sale ended Thursday with a 34.6% decrease in total sales and double-digit decreases in average price and median.

Combining the one-day select session and three days of open sales, OBSC reported 751 yearlings from 1,150 offered as sold for $12,250,200. In 2007, 1,319 yearlings were offered with 945 reported as sold for $18,726,900 in the five-day sale.

Average price declined 17.7% to $16,312 and median dropped 26.3% to $7,000. The buy-back rate increased from 28.4% a year ago to 34.7%.

“The RNA rate was higher than you’d like it to be, and certainly we’re off from our highs in previous years, but I don’t think it’s an alarming decrease,” said Tom Ventura, director of sales for OBSC.

Until Thursday, Ocala avoided the effects of Tropical Storm Fay, which dumped dozens of inches of rain on some parts of Florida as she zig-zagged across the state. Steady rain soaked Ocala Thursday afternoon, and the area was predicted to receive heavy rain and strong wind gusts in the evening.

“For the majority of the day, the rain was more a nuisance than a problem,” Ventura said. “The activity today was pretty good. You would think it would have dropped off, but the average today was higher than it was yesterday. The good thing with the rain not starting until the afternoon was most of the barn work got done before.”

The sale topper was a $200,000 Macho Uno filly out of Top of the League, by Lite the Fuse, consigned by Hidden Brook, agent for Adena Springs. Dr. Robert Fishman of Wynnewood, Pennsylvania, purchased the sale topper during Monday’s select session via phone bidding.

The top colt also sold in the select session when Joe Greeley’s Sabine Stables went to $165,000 for Dream of Atlantis, a Stormy Atlantic out of City of Dreams, by Carson City. Summerfield, agent, consigned the colt.

For hip-by-hip results, click here.

Pete Denk is sales editor for Thoroughbred Times