Sci Fi Kin, the dam of El Encino Stakes (gr. II) winner Pretty Unusual, topped the Barretts mixed sale Jan. 23 in Pomona, Calif. Carrying a full sibling to her graded winner, Sci Fi Kin sold for $60,000.
Barretts sold 162 for $982,500, an average of $6,065.That average rose 14.2% from last year, when 256 grossed $1,359,400 and averaged $5,310. A total of 81 did not sell for a buy-back rate of 33%.
“The sale exceeded our expectations,” said William Baker, vice president and controller of Barretts. “We were very pleased with the increase in average. There is a real demand for racing prospects and quality broodmares. In addition, there were people looking for yearlings and 2-year-olds.”
Broodmares or broodmare prospects dominated the top prices. The sales company listed 49 broodmares as grossing $254,500 and averaging $5,194.
Longtime California breeder Ron Stolich bought the sale topper, who was consigned by Harris Farms as agent for Madeline Auerbach. Auerbach raced perennial leading California sire Unusual Heat, who stands at Harris and is the sire of Pretty Unusual.
“Sci Fi Kin is a lovely mare, big-bodied with solid bone,” said Dave McGlothlin, horse division manager of Harris Farms. “The catalog page sold her.”
In addition to Pretty Unusual, Sci Fi Kin has produced stakes-placed Jax El. A 13-year-old daughter of Siphon, the mare is out of another El Encino winner, Akinemod, who earned $231,625.
The sale’s top colt was a 2-year-old son of Awesome Gambler out of the stakes-placed Ascot Knight mare Rachel’s Edition. Loveacres Farm as agent sold the colt to trainer Doug O’Neill.
A broodmare prospect and two horses of racing age each brought $30,000. Havens Bloodstock Agency, the sale’s leading consignor, sold Alaya, a recent maiden winner at Hollywood Park. Car-Den Racing Stable bought the 4-year-old daughter of Salt Lake—Sceptre’s Own, by Green Dancer. Brown Bros. Racing Stable paid $30,000 for Smart Striking from the consignment of Adrian Gonzalez. The 5-year-old winning mare is by Smart Strike—Jellett, by Green Desert.
Unraced Miss Nicole, a 4-year-old daughter of Street Cry—Dot Dot Dash, by Nureyev, brought $30,000 from Michael Riordan. Consigned by Sam Hendricks as agent, Miss Nicole is a half sister to multiple stakes winner Dash of Humor and from the family of Unusual Heat.