NEWS
Total sales, average jump
at Texas yearling sale
Posted: Monday, August 30, 2010 10:34 PM
by Denis Blake
The Fasig-Tipton Texas summer yearling sale on Monday at Lone Star Park posted significant gains in both total sales and average price compared with last year.
Fasig-Tipton reported 214 yearlings as sold from 322 offered for total receipts of $2,379,400, up 25.9% from last year, when 185 yearlings sold for $1,889,400. Average price increased by 8.9% from $10,213 to $11,119, and the buy-back rate improved from 42% last year to 33.3% this year. The median was unchanged from last year at $5,000.
“The average is up and the gross is up, so I’m pleased with it,” said Tim Boyce, director of sales for Fasig-Tipton Texas. “In this market, there were a lot of questions about whether we could hold steady.
“Overall, I think the sale represented what’s happening in the Southwest,” he added. “The region is healthy here, even though Texas has dropped.”
A Louisiana-bred colt by the late stallion Wildcat Shoes was purchased for $111,000 to easily top the sale. Named Evon’s Wildcat, the February 1 foal was secured by Keith and Ginger Myers’ Coteau Grove Farms, with trainer Glenn Delahoussaye signing the ticket.
“I really liked him because I had a lot of luck with his brother, who is three for three with a stakes win,” Delahoussaye said.
Delahoussaye bought his half brother, Toro Bravo, for $58,000 at the same sale last year and has trained the Holy Bull gelding to three wins and earnings of $96,840 for Coteau Grove Farms.
“He looked good in the catalog, and then I liked him ever more when I saw him,” Delahoussaye said. “He’s just a really good physical specimen.”
Evon’s Wildcat is out of the unraced Gold Care mare Little Evon, who in addition to Toro Bravo has produced stakes-placed winner Reckon and multiple winner Storm Evon from her three starters.
Bennett Powell’s Oak Tree Stables consigned the bay through his Newport Innage Farm, agent.
“He’s mature for his age and is ready to start breaking,” farm manager Ron Aime said about the only yearling that Newport Innage consigned to the sale. “He looks like a man among boys.”
The highest-priced filly at the sale was a Louisiana-bred Closing Argument filly who is a half sister to Grade 1 winner E Z’s Gentleman. Rufus Patin bought the filly from the consignment of Scott Mallory, agent.
For hip-by-hip results, click here.
Denis Blake is a Texas-based Thoroughbred Times correspondent
