OBS April Day 3 wrap: Average and median fall between Days 1 and 2; my tastes get more expensive

A Whywhywhy filly bred in Illinois brought the top price of the day Wednesday at the Ocala Breeders' Sales Co.'s April sale of 2-year-olds in training.

The $150,000 juvenile was one of my selections (I obviously was not alone) after she blistered the Ocala Training Center track with a 32 4/5 work for three furlongs, fastest of the session. Tommy and Bonnie Hamilton of Kentucky's Silverton Hill operation purchased the chestnut filly from Shadybrook Farm, agent.

She was bred in Illinois by T/C stable is out of a Canadian stakes-placed Boundary mare, Vermilion Sea, and has a half-sibling who is thrice stakes-placed in Big Lou (Malibu Moon). Michael Yates of Shadybrook had bought her for just $37,000 in September at the Keeneland yearling sale.

The session showed upticks vs. Day 3 of 2009, with the number of horses sold (174) declining 7.9 percent, but the gross revenues increasing by the tiniest of margins -- $6,500 over last year, to $4.751 million. The average horse to sell Wednesday brought $27,305 and the median was $18,500. The average and median price both were up 8.8 percent vs. Day 3 in 2009, while the buy-back rate of horses that did not bring their reserve price increased slightly, to 28.4 percent from 27 percent last year.

The average horse to sell during Monday's first session of the sale brought just $23,363 and the median $18,000, lowest of the three days thus far despite the current sales-topper, a $260,000 Pleasantly Perfect colt. Tuesday's prices were highest thus far, with the average horse bringing $30,818 and the median sale price hitting $20,000.

Thursday's final session of the sale kicks off at 10:30 a.m. and can be viewed online.

I selected 18 horses from Monday's session and 22 from Tuesday's, with 16 actually selling each day. I was apparently more fond of Wednesday's offerings as a whole, tipping a whopping 34 as good bets for buyers.

Here's how they fared:

Hip 620: Bay filly by Concorde's Tune-Uppa Hughie, by Secret Prince. Dam has two stakes winners from five older foals, one of them by this sire. The other was a three-times champion after finding his friends in the Dominican Republic. Florida-bred filly breezed a decent 21.4. ... $37,000 to Bruce Brown, agent.

Hip 629: Bay filly by Toccet-Valid Silk, by Valid Appeal. This girl worked a brisk 21.2 and is half to stakes winner ROCKY RIVER (Concorde's Tune), and half to a stakes-producer. Thought this FL-bred could bring more. ... $28,000 to Harry Benson.

Hip 630: Vanity Light, bay filly by Congrats-Vanline, by Pass the Line. Dam won nine times and has two MI-bred stakes winners. This FL-bred worked 10.4, which isn't awful, but won't get a chance in the States; at least not right away. She's headed to Puerto Rico. ... $6,000 to Camarero Race Track.

Hip 632: Chestnut filly by Whywhywhy-Vermilion Sea, by Boundary. Her credentials have been detailed above. I'm not usually into trying to find the stratospheric-sellers, but it isn't like she was from a top Kentucky farm; she's an IL-bred, yet she was hard not to tip. ...$150,000 to Silverton Hill LLC.

Hip 634: Vital Victory, chestnut filly by Bwana Charlie-Victory Chime, by Polish Numbers. Filly by a sophomore sire on whom the jury is still quite out nevertheless managed a 10.2 breeze and is out of a G3-winning and G2-placed dam who has thrown a stakes winner in GLORIFICATION (Buddah) from five winners out of six older foals. I wrote that I hoped this FL-bred would come cheap and I honestly think she has. ... $20,000 to Jim Steil.

Hip 643: Chestnut filly by Songandaprayer-Wage a Penny, by Valid Wager. Dam was a juvenile stakes winner who has produced a stakes winner, VOW TO WAGER (Broken Vow), who recently took the John Battaglia Memorial at Turfway. Kentucky-bred breezed 10.1. ...$45,000 to Ronald Nicholson.

Hip 671: Bay colt by Speightstown-Willie's Luv, by Williamstown. I wonder how this FL-bred vetted or how crooked he might look, because he worked 10.2 for an eighth, his dam won the Pennsylvania Oaks and he has a half-sister by Street Cry, FREEDOM STAR, who recently won the Azeri Breeders' Cup S.-G3 at Oaklawn for her second added-money win. ...$12,000 Not Sold.

Hip 673: Bay filly by Omega Code-Windjammin Lady by Helmsman. Withdrawn.

Hip 696: Hold Still, bay filly by Include-Zitlaly, by Emancipator. As noted prior, 10.3 breeze is only fair, but the female family wins. Dam was stakes-placed among IL-breds for $212K; this is her first foal. Second dam produced only three foals, but all were winners including $199K stakes winner LA JOYERIA (Dove Hunt). Third dam Rapid Raja (Darby Creek Road) a minor stakes winner and half to G2 winner NATIVE RAJA and 24-race winner Naroctive. Have to think this is a good price on the KY-bred. ... $18,000 to Guillermo Berrios.

Hip 702: Gray or roan colt by Hook and Ladder-Absolutely Lovely, by Silver Ghost.Pretty good 21.3 breeze for this NY-bred, plus he's full to a pair of winners including LOOKIN AT HER ($160K). I commented negatively on his action from the under-tack video, but he should at least knock a few heads at Finger Lakes if he can't compete at New York's "big three." ... $22,000 to Edwin Mundo Rios.

Hip 707: Chestnut filly by Best of the Bests-Adinaha, by With Approval. Withdrawn.

Hip 716: Boy Toy Cowboy, bay colt by Pure Prize-Aisle Seeya, by Gulch. Kentucky-bred colt made 10-flat look as easy as any horse has all sale, and has a winning full sibling, plus a 100 percent-producing dam who is half to G2-placed C. C.'s RETURN. Second dam a four-times graded winner. Close female family of POSSIBLY PERFECT (champion grass mare, $1.377 million) and G1 millionaire EDDINGTON. Noted trainer liked him, too, and bought him for somebody, and for plenty. ... $75,000 to Linda Rice, agent.

Hip 718: Chestnut colt by Sweetsouthernsaint-Aleutian Gold, by Prospector's Gamble. Surprised that this one didn't bring a little more, being a 21.3-breezing Florida-bred out of a producer of 80 percent winners from 10 foals, and the colt's full brother Seniors Pride just hit the board in the G3 Excelsior Breeders' Cup S. Also half to New Jersey Futurity winner RIVER POWER. Dam half to 21-win stakes horse JELLIED MADRILENE. ...$30,000 to Nathaniel Green, Green Grass.

Hip 719: Dark bay or brown filly by Rock Hard Ten-Alienated, by Gone West. Thought this one could go kinda high. Kentucky bred who flew 21-flat through a quarter, out of a minor stakes winner who is half to four other stakes horses. Third dam a Canadian champion turf horse; female family of JUDGE ANGELUCCI (Californian S.-G1), WAR (Blue Grass S.-G1) and PEACE (John Henry H.-G1). If this filly earns any blacktype of her own, or if her very young dam produces like her female ancestors, this price looks very reasonable down the road. In fact, it already does. ... $60,000 to Navigator Stables.

Hip 726: Bay filly by Concerto-Almost Aprom Queen, by Montbrook. Dam half to a pair of nice stakes horses in SEA OF GREEN ($651K) and LADY GIN ($227K), and has already produced a stakes-placed full sibling to this filly in sophomore Evening Concerto (3rd OBS Sprint S.-R, now $40,390). Florida-bred blew through the quarter in 21-flat. Could have brought more. ... $35,000 to Dan Hendricks, agent for Eric & Paula Nygaard.

Hip 728: Dark bay or brown colt by West Acre-Always a Belle, by Always a Classic. I don't like unraced sires and dams, but this duo has already worked for two winners, including stakes-placed sophomore Forty Nine Acres (now $53K), and this FL-bred colt breezed a brisk 10-flat. Sire has scored time and again with this immediate female family, including G2 winner of $647K IVANAVINALOT from this mare's half-sister Beaty Sark, and $310K stakes winner WEST COAST FLYER from one of Beaty Sark's daughters. If this immediate female family were big enough to give West Acre a hundred mares a year, he'd look like another Storm Cat. ... $28,000 to Ruben Valdes.

Hip 740: Christmas Angel, bay filly by Cetewayo-Andy's Bonus, by Conquistador Cielo. I adore this filly's inbreeding 3x5 to legendary couple Ribot and Flower Bowl through their sons His Majesty and Graustark. Female family is thick with black type under the G3-winning second dam, including dual-surface G1 horse CHRISTMAS KID, G1 winner/sireGRAND SLAM, $322K stakes winner and sire LEESTOWN and several others. Dam of this one has seven winners from nine prior foals, including stakes-placed Easter Bonus. Yet I knew, because of run-all-day G1 turf horse Cetewayo who has done little so far as a sire, this leggy filly would bring little or nothing. I'd be proud to have her, and her sellers still do. ...$8,000 Not Sold.

Hip 743: Dark bay or brown colt by Montbrook-Another Treasure, by Tasso.Montbrook 2-year-olds frequently do well and this FL-bred looks like another, breezing an easy 21.3. Full sister earned $189K non-blacktype. Dam a hit-and-miss producer from female family of dual G1 winner RUHLMANN ($1.8 million) and CODY JONES (18 wins in Italy). ...$41,000 to Caroni Stable Inc.

Hip 766: Bernardus, dark bay or brown colt by Pleasantly Perfect-Aunt Dot, by Capote. Several Pleasantly Perfects only galloped in the under-tack show, and this was one of them. I liked his looks the most and he brought the least. In fact, I'm shocked Niall Brennan Stables as agent sold him for this price, so obviously something's amiss. ... $3,000 to Cronin Bloodstock.

Hip 770: Lucky's Revenge, bay colt by Smart Strike-Avenging Tomisue, by Belong to Me. Full brother to $195K Tampa stakes winner STRIKING TOMISUE entered the ring with announced notification of a vet report on an injured, but "healing," leg. Might have had something to do with him only breezing 10.4. Seemed to be confusion in selling him, too, as he was in the ring, out with what I thought was a sale at $20K, and then back for bid to bring the final price, which wasn't enough. .. $19,000 Not Sold.

Hip 779: Bay filly by Trippi-Backtothebooks, by Notebook. Another pretty nice Trippi from this sale, she breezed 21.1, is half to three winners from four of racing age, and her dam was half to multiple G3 winner SHARP APPEAL. Huge family under Schuylerville Stakes-winning fourth dam Bold Princess, including WHAT A PLEASURE, dual champion MISTY MORN, MISTY FLIGHT and others, though granted, that's a bit far back. ... $25,000 to Phyllis M. Susini LLC.

Hip 784: Bay filly by Quiet American-Bangled, by Alysheba. Slow-breezer (11.0) with an unraced dam who has produced only 50 percent winners from 10 foals. But the ones who run, really run, and produce, including half-sisters to this filly in ANKLET (Florida Oaks-G3, placed Ashland S.-G1, stakes-producer), SPANGLED (1st Criterium de Lyon) and Awe That(dam of G2-winner BEL AIR BEAUTY). Dam a half-sister to Acorn S.-G1 winner GRECIAN FLIGHT (21 wins), GRECIAN COMEDY (16 wins) and EVZONE (16 wins). I think this one will want two turns and potentially turf or synthetic, and I wondered whether buyers would pay for the blacktype or knock her for the breeze. They knocked her. ... $24,000 Not Sold.

Hip 788: Bay colt by Omega Code-Basque N the Storm, by Mystery Storm. FL-bred full brother to CODE RUNNER and half-brother to Wish Me Success breezed 10.1. That did the trick. ... $43,000 to Dan Hendricks, agent for Cecil Peacock.

Hip 801: Bay filly by Wildcat Heir-Betty's Courage, by Montbrook. In addition to the session-topper, I took a shining to this one, who almost beat her out. Unraced dam has one good, but non-blacktype, runner from two prior foals. This girl breezed a nice 10.0 eighth and has very good female family under stakes-placed second dam Grand Betty (Copelan). I thought she might bring a little less than the average Wildcat Heir, but she brought much more. ...$140,000 to Patrice Miller, EQB Inc., agent.

Hip 807: Gray or roan colt by Wildcat Heir-Blue Kat, by Blue Ensign. Darn that Wildcat Heir; he keeps catching my eye with fleet 2-year-olds. This one wasn't all that pretty on video, though, ran just a tick slower at 10.1, and came from a family with less blacktype than the one above. ... $33,000 to Kuehne Racing.

Hip 810: Bay filly by Albert the Great-Blushing Native, by Blushing John. Unraced dam full to G2-winner BLUSHING HEIRESS and second dam was a G2 inner herself who also produced G3-winner REALLY FANCY. Seemingly classy NY-bred breezed a capable 10.2. But not many Albert the Greats go through the auction ring, and maybe this is why. ... $10,000 to Data Track Int'l.

Hip 812: Gray or roan filly by Suave-Boggs Eyes, by Miesque's Son. New York-bred made 33 3/5 for three furlongs look easy, convincing me to ignore the freshman sire. Dam was a minor Arlington stakes winner and has produced Meadowlands stakes-placed Behavioral Finance (Touch Gold). Second dam won 10 times, four in stakes company, and produced G3 winner of 15 races TORCH (Risen Star) who cranked out 20-race winner MORINE'S VICTORY (Victory Gallop). A potentially exceptional NY-bred. ... $60,000 to Genmar LLC.

Hip 814: Silver Jo, dark bay or brown filly by Silver Train-Bolsa, by Mr. Prospector.Freshman sire has been mostly ignored by me, but this filly breezed a nice 21.4 and is out of a mare by a legendary sire who so far has produced only four modest winners from as many to race, but might have finally found her good one. Second dam a multiple stakes winner who was half to turf champion and top sire COZZENE and others. Went cheap. ... $12,000 to Midwest Thoroughbreds.

Hip 816: Doasisay Notasisay, chestnut colt by Delaware Township-Bonjove, by Caracolero. It would be hard for a stallion to look better than DT, and he gets a few good ones. His sire got a G2 winner in SCRATCH PAD out of this mare, a good sign, and the 21.2 breeze was nice. Everybody tried to steal him. ... $19,000 Not Sold.

Hip 839: Bay filly by Sweetsouthernsaint-Call Me Dancer, by Gate Dancer. Dam has produced Oaklawn stakes winner DANCE CALLER (Concorde's Tune) and foreign stakes-placer Gin's Dancer (Slew Gin Fizz). Filly breezed an average 22.1. Could be one of the sale's better deals. ... $15,000 to Tim Kegel, agent.

Hip 849: Pulgarcito, bay colt by Greatness-Cat Attack, by Storm Cat. Name is Spanish for "Tom Thumb" (seriously), but this fellow ran quick enough (10.0) to again get me to ignore the lightly raced sire. Of course, a G3-winning dam who has already produced stakes horses in PICK OF THE PACK ($107K) and Power Pack ($76K), both by Lil's Lad, doesn't hurt. Not surprised by the price offered; a little surprised that it wasn't enough. ... $37,000 Not Sold.

Hip 871: Dark bay or brown filly by Silver Deputy-Christmas Rose, by Private Terms. Speed to burn with a 9.4 eighth, filly also comes from some blacktype, including $116K stakes-winning half-sis CHRISTMAS LILY (Marquetry). Crossing my fingers that this KY-bred is among the winning 50 percent of her hit-and-miss female family. But she sure has others convinced. ... $110,000 to Arnold Zetcher.

Hip 876: Chestnut filly by Posse-Clarksburg Queen, by Sea of Secrets. What's the most money ever offered for a Wyoming-bred TB? This price would usually buy 10 of them. But not this quick-draw cowgirl who ran 21.1 and has a stakes-placed sophomore brother in Dahlgren Chapel (Chapel Royal, $173K earned). ... $49,000 Not Sold.

Hip 895: Gray or roan filly by Stormy Atlantic-Coquettish, by Not For Love. A good 10.1 breeze and a stakes-winning dam from a good Maryland family. This one is a KY-bred whose relatively young dam has already produced a juvenile stakes-placer in Taking a Chance (Stephen Got Even). Really like this price. ... $18,000 to Rayzin the Bar Stable.

So, seven of my 30 tips were RNAs today, and two were "outs," leaving 21 sold. Three of those went for six figures, contributing to a total price of $938,000 and an average of $44,667 which is much higher than both the sales average and the price of the average runner I've been recommending.