The catalog for the Barretts May sale of 2-year-olds is leaner than in 2009, with 166 head, including 12 supplemental entries, but nevertheless will offer variety in pedigree, consignor, and price range at the May 10 auction. As usual, a mix of California and Florida sellers dominate the pages, and the sire power features leaders from Kentucky and California. The sale had 263 cataloged in 2009.
Runners come out of the sale, as evidenced by 2007 graduate Kinsale King capturing the 2010 Dubai Golden Shaheen (UAE-I) and four individuals in this year’s sale already have won.
Giant's Causeway and Tiznow , the one-two national leading sires from 2009, have one apiece in the sale. Hartley/De Renzo Thoroughbreds LLC, as agent, has consigned Hip No. 47, a son of Giant’s Causeway—Getaway Girl, by Silver Deputy, from the family of Horse of the Year Ghostzapper . Stephens Thoroughbreds LLC, agent for Vision Sales 2008 LLC, offers Hip No. 67, a filly by Tiznow—Lit’l Rose, by Mr. Prospector, who is a half-sister to two stakes winners.
Hartley/De Renzo has six others slated to sell. They include Brannigan, a son of Yes It's True from the family of champion Flanders cataloged as Hip No. 56, and Hip No. 137, a daughter of Dixie Union from the family of champion Gilded Time.
Stephens’ other four in its consignment also includes a daughter of Dixie Union, Hip No. 125. Hip No. 91 from the Stephens group is a son of champion Speightstown and a half-brother to graded winner Proceed Bee.
Murray Smith, who led consignors at the 2010 March sale, returns with six youngsters. Among them is Hip No. 33, a son of Santa Anita Handicap (gr. I) winner Southern Image and a half-brother to Generous Stakes (gr. IIIT) winner Who's Up.
Another who had led sellers at Barretts in the past, Jerry Bailey, brings six. They are by such stallions as Unbridled's Song (Hip No. 22, a colt out of stakes winner Classic Elegance), More Than Ready (Hip No. 104, a filly out of stakes winner Saratoga Humor), and Silver Train (Hip No. 27, a half-brother to two stakes winners). The More Than Ready filly breezed a furlong in :09 4/5 at the May 7 preview, the fastest time at the distance.
A son of Unbridled’s Song topped this year’s March sale at $475,000. Becky Thomas’ Sequel Bloodstock also has a colt by Unbridled’s Song, and Hank Bird’s Steephollow Farms has a filly by the stallion.
Several California-breds will be on display by such sires as Bertrando, Benchmark, Tribal Rule,In Excess, and Swiss Yodeler. John Brocklebank and Shane Chipman of BC3 Throughbreds have Hip No. 77, a full sister to Santa Anita Derby (gr. I) winner Brother Derek . Named Sister Kate, she is by Benchmark—Miss Soft Sell, by Siyah Kalem.
California agent Andy Havens has a large consignment, several of them Cal-breds. Moose Shootin Moma, Hip No. 101, is by In Excess—Ruth’s Match Trick, by Clever Trick, and Hip No. 124 is a half-brother to stakes winner Shining Nuggets, by Tribal Rule.
Two youngsters from the Havens consignment have already won on the racetrack. Bronster, Hip No. 54, captured a 4 1/2-furlong race at Hollywood Park April 28. A week later, Spark City won at the same distance at Hollywood.
Michael Talbot’s MTM Training also has two winners in his group. On consecutive days late in the Santa Anita meeting, Auntie Maud and Candied Hearts won two-furlong races.
The sale begins at 2 p.m. (PDT) May 10. It will be held in the Hinds Pavilion at Fairplex Park in Pomona, Calif.