A son of Into Mischief topped the Barretts May 2-year-old sale at $320,000, one of the highlights of the auction that saw increases in all categories. A total of 85 juveniles averaged $56,079, an increase of 29.6% over last year.
Trainer Bob Baffert bought the sale topper from Richard and Connie Snyder of New Mexico, who sold the colt through Ciaran Dunne's Wavertree Stables Inc. Into Mischief is the sire of Santa Anita Derby (gr. I) winner Goldencents , and the colt is out of the French group II stakes winner Smolensk, by Danzig.
"I really liked this horse," said Baffert. "He looks a lot like Goldencents. He moved really well, and he looked like an athlete."
The sale price surpassed that of the 2012 May sale topper of $300,000. A total of 85 horses grossed $4,766,700, up 59.6% from last year, while the median of $30,000 increased 30.4% over 2012. Buybacks came in at 22%, with 24 of 109 through the ring not selling. Another 45 horses were withdrawn prior to the sale.
"We expected the market to be good this year, and it has been," said Kim Lloyd, general manager of Barretts Equine Limited. "I was glad to see a strong appetite for California-breds, which is giving our local guys confidence too. Our Florida consignors came out and sold their horses very, very well. There's more enthusiasm and health in the market."
The Snyders traveled to Barretts in Pomona, Calif., to see their youngster breeze a furlong in :10 at the May 10 under-tack preview. He was one of 11 horses to turn in the fastest time at that distance.
"We feel really blessed to have a horse of this caliber," said Richard Snyder. "We've been in this business a long time, and we've never had one this nice."
Malibu Farms bred the sale topper in Kentucky. The Snyders bought him for $40,000 through agent Gus Bell at the 2011 Keeneland November breeding stock sale.
"Gus Bell has been a great mentor to us and has helped us a lot," said Connie Snyder.
The Snyders bought the colt back for $60,000 at the 2012 Fasig-Tipton Kentucky July yearling sale, and he had to be withdrawn from the Fasig-Tipton Florida juvenile sale earlier this year through Wavertree.
"All of this is a product of how lucky we are with the clients and the infrastructure that we have," said Dunne. "This is the first horse we've had for the Snyders, and they were very patient. When the time came to make a decision to do the right thing for the horse, they were all for it."
Dunne's consignment also included a filly by Into Mischief —Capitola, by Maria's Mon, named Gwen G. She was one of the sale's home runs, bringing $140,000 from trainer Jim Cassidy after selling for $7,500 at the 2012 Barretts yearling sale.
Dunne said that Lewis Greenspan bought the Into Mischief filly, and he credited Greenspan's trainer, Keith Craigmyle, with doing most of the preparation work with her.
"All I did was hang a bridle on her and take her down the lane," said Dunne.
The sale's second-highest price was $300,000 for a son of Tale of the Cat —La Danielle, by Danehill, from the consignment of Hartley/De Renzo Thoroughbreds. Bloodstock agent Gayle Van Leer bought the youngster for Rustin and Juliana Kretz.
A $145,000 purchase at the 2012 Keeneland yearling sale, the colt was a $290,000 buyback at the Ocala Breeders' Sales Company March 2-year-old sale.
Van Leer said that Ron Ellis will train the colt for the Kretzes.
Four other horses brought in excess of $200,000, including the sale's top-priced filly. J. Paul Reddam bought the daughter of Indian Charlie—Stoic, by Forestry, from Eddie Woods. The filly is a half sister to Peruvian champion Ole Pegasus.
Hip 92, a colt by Into Mischief, out of the Danzig mare Smolensk, brought a final bid of $320,000.
Benoit Photography