Harbor the Gold Colt Tops Washington Sale

A full brother to two-time Washington State Horse of the Year Noosa Beach was sold for $55,000 to top the Washington Thoroughbred Breeders and Owners Association's summer yearling and mixed sale. The Sept. 4 auction was conducted at the Morris J. Alhadeff Sales Pavilion at Emerald Downs in Auburn, Wash.

Consigned by Pam and Neal Christopherson's Bar C Racing Stables, the sale-topping son of Harbor the Gold—Julia Rose was purchased by Doris Harwood, who trained Noosa Beach. Noosa Beach was bred and raced by the trainer with her husband, Jeff.

WTBOA reported 74 yearlings were sold for a gross of $894,216. The $12,084 average represented a 2.1% decline from the $12,347 average for 75 yearlings sold at the 2011 auction and the yearling median fell 12.3% from $5,700 to $5,000.

Three other yearlings that brought co-highest second price of $50,000 were: a Cahill RoadHarbor the GoldPrado's Joy colt, bought by Patrick Sheeley from the Griffin Place LLC consignment; Bluegrass Cat—Reinfree filly, bought by Winfield Farm from El Dorado Farms LLC; and a Harbor the GoldHarbor the GoldCarrie's a Jewel filly, sold by Griffin Place LLD, agent for Critter Creek Farm to Glen Todd.

In the mixed portion of the sale, 14 horses were sold for a gross of $16,200 and average price of $1,157.

For the entire sale, the 45 horses that did not sell represented 33.8% of the total through the ring.