Timing could be crucial for the Barretts March 2-year-old sale. Pushed back to March 22, two weeks later than the 2009 sale, the Southern California auction now follows the large Ocala Breeders’ Sales Company sale in Florida instead of preceding it.
“I think Barretts’ thinking was that always before with OBS following this, guys were kind of a little hesitant, thinking there are 500-600 next week,” said Ciaran Dunne, whose Wavertree Stables led all Barretts consignors last year.
The change did mean buyers and sellers had to hop on planes quickly, as the OBS sale concluded March 17, just two days before Barretts scheduled its training preview at Fairplex Park.
Kim Lloyd, Barretts’ vice president of sales, pointed out the extra two weeks gave consignors more training time. He also feels that after a couple of years of belt-tightening, the demand for horses will start to increase.
“We’re hoping to build on the momentum that got started at Ocala,” said Lloyd.
In line with the economy, Barretts in 2009 reduced its March catalog to 124 from the 191entered in 2008. This year, the catalog has increased slightly to 134.
Dunne is based in Ocala and was active at the Florida sales. He decided to come to Barretts not only because of his past success, but to bring a son of Unbridled's Song—King Shooting Star, by Storm Cat. Cataloged near the end of the sale as hip #130, the colt breezed an eighth-mile in :10 during the training preview. As a yearling, he sold for $225,000 to Dapple Bloodstock at the 2009 Fasig-Tipton Kentucky July sale.
“Hopefully, he’s going to justify the trip,” said Dunne. “We built a nice consignment around him. We’ve got a couple of California-breds that worked very well.”
Those two each breezed an eighth in :10 1/5. Hip #1 is a Cal-bred daughter of Lemon Drop Kid —Magic Broad, by Broad Brush, and hip #73 is a son ofE Dubai—With My Blessings, by Pulpit.
Becky Thomas’ Sequel Bloodstock is returning to the March sale after a year’s absence. Two from her consignment breezed a quarter-mile in :20 4/5 at the training preview, equaled fastest time at the distance. Truly Devoted is a daughter of Fusaichi Pegasus —Act Devoted, by A.P. Indy, and is cataloged as hip #76, while Why Do I (hip #80) is a filly by Roman Ruler—Bathsheba, by Dehere.
Murray Smith had the third horse to work a quarter in :20 4/5, hip #26, a son of Pure Prize—Prize Possession, by Prized. Hip #119 from Smith’s consignment went an eighth in :09 4/5, one of four who clocked the fastest time at that distance. That colt is by A.P. Warrior—Girl Gone Crazy, by Roar, and is a half brother to stakes winner She’s Our Annie.
One of the major March sale graduates, 2009 Wood Memorial Stakes (gr. I) winner I Want Revenge , has a half sister in this year’s sale. Named A Story of Revenge and consigned by California-based NexStar as agent, hip #6 is a daughter of the stallion Tale of the Cat . NexStar also has a half brother to 2010 Strub Stakes (gr. II) winner Jeranimo, a son of Henny Hughes cataloged as hip #126.
Tale of the Cat is represented by several other offerings, one of them a colt out of the Arch mare Lovers Bend. The youngster, hip #132, comes from Jerry Bailey Sales Agency as agent. Bailey’s group includes hip # 81, a son of Henny Hughes out of stakes-placed Beautiful Moment, and hip #104, a son of Silver Train and a half brother to two stakes winners.
Horse of the Year Tiznow is represented by two fillies in the Barretts sale. Tiz Time to Dream is a Cal-bred daughter of the stakes-winning and stakes-producing mare Dixie Daylight. Hank Bird’s Steephollow Farms as agent has consigned the filly, hip #107. Scott A. Bergsrud’s SAB Training as agent has consigned the other Tiznow, hip #9, who is out of stakes-winning No Reason.
Sky Mesa has a filly in the sale consigned by Scanlon Training Center as agent. Hip #63 is out of the Unbridled’s Song mare Unbridled’s Armor, and the youngster went an eighth in :10 at the training preview.
BC3 Thoroughbreds will offer the only horse by leading California sire Unusual Heat. Named Little Red Dress, the filly goes as hip #94 and is out of Carolina Lily, by Lil's Lad. Little Red Dress worked an eighth in :10 at the training preview.
Bruno De Berdt and Rudy Delgudice, who consign under Excel Bloodstock, have a group that includes a son of Wildcat Heir—Lose the Blues, by Pulpit. He previewed an eighth in :10 and is cataloged as hip #131.
The Barretts sale will begin at 2 p.m. March 22 at the Hinds Pavilion at Fairplex.