The John Franks Memorial sale of 2-year-olds in training posted increases of 37.1% in gross and 14.9% in average price from a year ago at Evangeline Downs Racetrack & Casino in Louisiana March 25. The number sold grew 19.3% while the median price remained the same.
“Despite the turbulent national economy and the lack of a six-figure headline-grabbing sale-topper, we were very pleased with our results,” said Charlotte Stemmans Clavier, who is the president of Stemmans, the auction’s administrator. “We felt going into the sale that this year’s catalog featured many attractive racing prospects that we graded in the mid-level range of $15,000 to $30,000, and that indeed proved to be the case.”
The results included a gross of $903,500 for the 105 horses that were sold. The average was $8,605 and the median was $5,000. The buy-back rate was 15.3% compared to 22.1% in 2011.
Boston Boss commanded the sale’s highest price of $41,000. Rodney Verrett purchased the dark bay or brown juvenile from O.V. Moss, agent.
By Irish Road, Boston Boss is the first foal out of the winning Stormy Atlantic mare Adriatic Storm. The Louisiana-bred colt’s second dam, Adriatic Queen (by Silver Buck), captured the Landaura and Belair Stakes at Laurel Park in 1998.
Moss purchased Boston Boss for $1,000 as a weanling from Perrone Sales, agent, at the 2010 Ocala Breeders’ Sales Co. fall mixed sale.
A Sharp Humor colt brought the John Franks auction’s second-highest price of $40,000. Danny Brown and Keith Plaissance purchased the gray or roan juvenile from Ricky Courville, agent.
The Louisiana-bred colt is the first foal out of the unraced Teton Forest mare Chelonia. She is a half sister to the winner Putthebabiesdown (by Closing Argument), who finished third in the Darley Alcibiades Stakes (gr. I) at Keeneland and second in the Tippett Stakes at Colonial Downs, both in 2011.
La Masa acquired the juvenile for $10,000 from Highclere Sales, agent, at the 2011 Fasig-Tipton Texas summer yearling sale.
