Derby Wish Colt, Precocity Filly Top Fair Grounds Juvenile Sale

A Derby Wish colt and a Precocity filly shared the honors for top-priced horse, bringing $27,000 apiece Tuesday during the Fair Grounds Sales Company's select sale of 2-year-olds in training in Louisiana.

Named Derby Tri, the Derby Wish colt is the second foal out of the 8-year-old Gold Alert mare Golden Tri and is from the family of grade II winner Word Pirate. Kathy Hornsby purchased Derby Tri from TnT, agent for the estate of John Franks.

Precious Aggie, the Precocity filly, also was consigned by TnT for the Franks estate. A member of her sire's first crop, she is out of the 12-year-old Secret Slew mare Miss Aggie Slew, who is a half-sister to stakes winners Lue My Lue and Sone of a Lue. John M. Guidry purchased Precious Aggie, who is a half-sister to the stakes-placed winner Slewhome.

In all, 42 horses were sold for a gross of $453,400 and an average price of $10,795. Compared to a year ago, when 31 horses were sold, the gross was up 8.4%. But the average declined 20.0% from $13,497. This year's buy-back rate was 51.2%, with 44 of the 86 horses offered failing to find new homes.