Opening session of the two-day sale grosses more than $3.6 million with the average just shy of $23,000.

by Dave Briggs

General manager Randy Manges said he was “very pleased” after the first day of the Ohio Selected Jug Sale Friday (Sept. 16) at the Eden Park Equestrian Complex in Sunbury, OH concluded with 159 yearlings grossing $3,653,500 for a solid average of $22,987.

“There was a great crowd and a lot of enthusiasm,” Manges said.

The sale will conclude today when some 160 mostly Ohio-sired horses will go through the ring. Manges said he is “looking for a good session” today based on Friday’s results.

“We averaged $23,000 which was great,” Manges said. “Pet Rock did well for his first year and Dragon Again had his first crop in Ohio and sold the sale topper at $80,000.”

Acting as an agent, James Dailey of Mechanicsburg, OH purchased the first day sale topper, a Dragon Again colt out of Spring Delight named Allgonowhoa. The colt was consigned by Spring Haven Farm as an agent for Sugar Valley Farm. Allgonowhoa is a half-brother to Santanna Blue Chip filly Zoe Ellasen who has earned $102,7000. Allgonowhoa is out of a mare that is a half-sister to $1.8 million winning gelding Bettor’s Edge.

Spring Haven consigned the second-highest yearling sold on day one when Gerald Denny of Gallipolis, OH purchased the Pet Rock filly out of Spark Lightning named Rockin Shark for $77,000.

Two $75,000 yearlings were next on the list — a McCardle filly out of You Thrill Me named Thrill Seeker sold to W.K. Donovan of Pompano Beach, FL by Hickory Lane Horse Farm and a Pet Rock colt out of Higher Standards named Rockin Away that trainer Brian Brown of Ostrander, OH bought from Spring Run Farm.

Dragon Again yearlings averaged $28,474; those sired by Pet Rock averaged $27,714; McArdle’s progeny brought an average of $26,813 and Dejarmbro’s offspring averaged $23,710.

Midland Acres Inc. led all consignors in gross on day one with 17 yearlings sold for $326,500 ($19,206 average), followed by Hickory Lane Horse Farm (11 for $296,000; $26,909); Hanover Shoe Farms (13 for $290,500; $22,346) and Spring Haven Farm (nine for $254,000; $28,222).

Trainer Virgil Morgan, Jr. of Grove City, OH, acting as an agent, led all buyers with seven yearlings purchased for a total of $250,000, followed by Donovan (three for $171,000) and the Burke Racing Stable of Pennsylvania that purchased five yearlings for a total of $149,000.

Complete results are available here.

Today’s sale session begins at noon.