Bahia Beach topped the ninth annual Adena Springs sale of 2-year-olds in training, bringing $115,000 April 18 in Central Florida. Tommy and Bonnie Hamilton’s Kentucky-based Silverton Hill operation purchased the gray or roan daughter of Awesome Again .
Bred in Kentucky, Bahia Beach is out of the 10-year-old winning Alphabet Soup mare Pop Princess, a half-sister to 2008 Rampart Handicap (gr. II) winner Spring Waltz (by Silver Charm). Bahia Beach’s second dam, Relaxing Rhythm (by Easy Goer), captured the 1998 Molly Pitcher Breeders’ Cup Handicap (gr. II).
Bahia Beach was a $65,000 buy-back when offered by Adena Springs, agent, during the 2009 Keeneland September yearling auction.
The Ocala Breeders’ Sales Co. conducted the Adena Springs juvenile sale at Adena Springs South near Williston. Adena Springs owner Frank Stronach has won three Eclipse Awards (1998-2000) as outstanding owner, and his Stronach Stables was honored with an owner Eclipse in 2008. Stronach received an Eclipse Award as outstanding breeder in 2000, and Adena Springs won the breeder’s honor for five consecutive years (2004-2008).
The sale grossed $723,500 for the 23 horses that sold. The average price was $31,457, and the median price was $18,000. Compared to 2009, the number sold declined 52.1% while the gross dropped 66.3%. The average was down 29.7%, and the median fell 50%.
The buy-back rate rose to 46.5% from 26.2% in 2009.
