b'sales t w o -Y e a r - o L d S| FAsig-tipton photosThe workouts are integral to the juvenile sales, with the most eye-catching efforts drawing attention.A little offthe topBy Ron MitchellTwo-year-olds in training sales retreated from the record heights of 2017, with slight declines in gross and average prices, but it was nonetheless a robust and vibrant segment of the equine auction landscape in 2018.By the numbers, there were 2,094 juveniles sold at auction this year, gross-ing $187.5 million, down 4.3% from the $196.1 million gross a year ago. The cumu-lative average declined 6.3% from $95,542 photos by Zto $89,549 while the median remained constant at $40,000.The market downturn was most no- A Pioneerof the Nile was the top-priced colt at the Ocala Breeders Sales March auction, selling to OXO Equine ticeable at the top, with five seven-figurefor $850,000.transactions this year, compared with a dozen such individuals in 2017. This years toppers were three juveniles thatAt the very top of the market by av- Browning Jr. said. It is hard to value a horse brought $1.2 million each; in 2017, theerage with $385,164 was The Gulfstreamwhether you are a buyer or a seller. (As a top price was $2.45 million. Sale, Fasig-Tiptons boutique select auctionseller) you have to be realistic with yourself The market was again dominated byat Gulfstream Park that was repositionedin how your horse has performed on the Ocala Breeders Sales, which held a 67.8%on the calendar to coincide with Floridaracetrack, (its) physical conformation, ap-share of the market, followed by Fasig-Tip- Derby (G1) week. pearance in the barn area, and how it vets. tons 26% share and 3% for Barretts, whichIt was an extremely strong market- The largest grossing sale of the year ended its 20-year existence effective withplace at the upper end with tremendouswas OBS April auction, which was ex-this years auctions. competition, Fasig-Tipton president Boydpanded in size and took in $69.4 million.8911_Sales_use.indd 89 3/21/19 3:00 PM'