by John P. Sparkman

Trainer Cam Gambolati purchased an A.P. Indy colt for $380,000 to top the seventh annual Adena Springs sale of two-year-olds in training at Adena Springs South in Williston, Florida, on Monday night.

Gambolati was bidding on behalf of the Ol Memorial Stable partnership headed by University of Louisville basketball coach Rick Pitino.

“He's a big, magnificent colt,” said Gambolati, who purchased 2008 Appleton Handicap (G3) winner Buffalo Man for $190,000 for Ol Memorial at the 2006 Adena Springs sale. “How else can you get a pedigree like that for that kind of money? If he'd breezed even in :10.60 in Miami he'd bring a lot more than he did here, and a lot of those horses you have to stop on.

“You get tired of buying horses and having to stop on them, or at least I do,” said Gambolati, who trained 1985 Kentucky Derby (G1) winner and Horse of the Year Spend a Buck. “They take care of them here. That's why we love this sale.”

The massively built gray or roan colt is the second foal of the multiple Grade 2-winning Smoke Glacken mare Smoke'n Frolic, a career earner of $1,534,720.

Adena Springs reported 97 horses as sold from 126 offered for $5,283,500, an 8% increase compared with $4,892,000 in total sales at the 2007 sale. Average remained stable at $54,469, just $113 higher than last year, while median price dipped 30% to $28,000.

A striking colt by Awesome Again out of the winning Holy Bull mare Taxible, a half sister to Peruvian champion Islam, brought the second highest price of $340,000 on a bid by Chris Brothers of Hidden Brook Farm, agent for Paul Pompa Jr.

“I wasn't real happy early because I felt like it got off to a slow start, but it picked up a lot of steam after awhile,” said Mark Roberts, manager of Adena Springs South. “It was just the way the horses fell, and you know how it is, no consignor wants to be in the first 50 horses at any sale.

“We had a good turnout with a lot of new faces as well as a lot of familiar faces, and we're grateful for all of them.”

John P. Sparkman is bloodstock editor of Thoroughbred Times