The Ocala March 2YO Sale in Florida posted a 10% rise in average during two sessions of trade on Tuesday and Wednesday.  Turnover was $18.34 million and the average for 171 sales was $107,257.

Vinery sire More Than Ready topped proceedings at $525,000 for a chestnut filly purchased by agent Steve Young.  The half sister to G2 winner Star Dabbler breezed 200m in 10.20s prior to the sale.  “We tried to find a good filly at the Calder 2YO Sale but we fell in on a bunch of colts,” said Young.  “I think she’s very special.”

The sale’s highest-priced colt was a $425,000 son of Giant’s Causeway out of Twenty Eight Carat (Alydar) purchased by Paul Poma Jr. from the draft of Hidden Brook.  He had been pin-hooked for $220,000 at the 2009 Keeneland September yearling sale.

The youngster is a half brother to G1 winner A P Valentine.  “He’s a classic-looking kind of colt, a two-turn horse,” said Dan Hall of Hidden Brook.  “Paul’s goal is to get back to the Derby.”

Pompa bought 2008 Kentucky Derby winner Big Brown through Hidden Brook for $190,000 at the 2007 Keeneland April 2YO Sale.  He sold a controlling interest to IEAH Stables after winning his maiden.  Vinery has just announced Big Brown will shuttle to Australia this year.

A Smart Strike colt topped Tuesday’s opening session at $400,000.  He is a son of the Dixieland Band mare Dixie Holiday and is a half-brother to the dam of G1 winner Seventh Street.  She topped Fasig-Tipton’s 2009 November Sale at $2.15 million when in foal to Tiznow. 

“We’re very pleased with the results,” said Ocala director Tom Ventura.  “All the numbers went in the right direction.  More importantly, there was a deeper buyer’s base here than we’ve seen at the first two juvenile sales.  And they weren’t just kicking tires, they were buying horses.”