Barretts is offering a trimmer catalog for its 2009 March select sale of 2-year-olds in training, which is in line with the belt-tightening mood throughout the country. The Southern California auction company has cataloged 124 horses for its March 10 auction, down from 191 in the 2008 book.
Barretts officials reduced the numbers partly by intent and partly by necessity. Several regular Florida consignors stayed home or cut back on the number of horses they sent to Barretts as an economizing measure. In addition, Barretts management also is hoping to make the company’s premier sale even more select in this, its 20th anniversary season.
The March sale will be the first event held at the revamped Hinds Pavilion at Fairplex. Immediately after the Barretts January mixed sale, work began on a $1.3-million improvement program that has turned the pavilion into a multi-use center for horse auctions and simulcast wagering.
Classroom-style seating has replaced the theater-style setting, with semi-circular tables that seat eight to 12 people per row. Each chair is next to an electrical outlet and data port for people who want to bring laptop computers, and the pavilion continues to have access to wireless Internet. Large high-definition video monitors have been installed, both in the pavilion and in the back, where the horses enter and exit.
“It’s gorgeous, and I think everybody will enjoy it,” said Kim Lloyd, Barretts’ vice president of sales. “It has a great feel to it, and I think it will be a real positive force.”
As at previous March sales, the consignments are primarily a mixture of California and Florida groups plus B.C.3. Thoroughbreds of Utah. California bloodstock agents with offerings include Excel Bloodstock, Havens Bloodstock Agency, Sam Hendricks, NexStar, and John O’Hara. The Florida participants include Jerry Bailey Sales Agency (the 2008 sale’s leading consignor) plus SAB Training, Scanlon Training Center, Wavertree Stables, and Eddie Woods.
Two offspring of champion Thunder Gulch are in the March catalog. NexStar has Hip No. 15, named I Want Noise. Out of stakes-winning Meguial, I Want Noise is a half-brother to I Want Revenge, who won the March 7 Gotham Stakes (gr. III) at Aqueduct and finished second to Pioneerof the Nile in the 2008 CashCall Futurity (gr. I). I Want Revenge went through last year’s Barretts May sale as a $95,000 buy-back. Bailey is offering the other Thunder Gulch, Hip No. 65, a filly out of multiple graded stakes winner Tricky Squaw, by Clever Trick.
Horse of the Year Tiznow will be represented by a colt and a filly. The filly, Hip No. 28 from the Scanlon consignment, is out of the Level Sands mare Misty Lee, while the colt, Hip No. 121 from the Wavertree group, is out of the Storm Cat mare Hurricane Judy.
Wavertree’s consignment includes Hip No. 26, a daughter of Giant’s Causeway—Miss Soft Sell, by Siyah Kalem. A half-sister to Barretts March graduate and millionaire Brother Derek, she sold at the 2008 Keeneland September yearling sale for $280,000. She worked an eighth of a mile in :10 2/5 on March 5 at Fairplex Park’s five-furlong oval.
Wavertree had two horses work in :10 1/5 at the preview—hip no. 76, a son of Indian Charlie—Young Star, by Capote, and hip no. 51, a daughter of Harlan’s Holiday—Song and Danz, by Unbridled’s Song. The Indian Charlie colt sold for $175,000 at the Keeneland yearling sale, and the Harlan’s Holiday filly sold for $160,000 at the Fasig-Tipton Kentucky July select yearling sale.
B.C.3.’s consignment includes Hip No. 67, a daughter of Distant View—Upgraded, by High Yield. She turned in the fastest time for an eighth during the under tack show, completing the distance in :9 4/5. Boorah, also from the B.C.3. group, previewed in :10 1/5. Cataloged as Hip No. 34, he is a son of Empire Maker—Rahy Dolly, by Rahy.
Another quick filly hails from the John O’Hara consignment. Hip No. 10, a daughter of Cactus Ridge—Lodden Blue, by Coronado’s Quest, worked a quarter-mile in :20 4/5, the fastest time at that distance. O’Hara also has the only Unbridled’s Song juvenile in the sale, Hip No. 44, a colt out of the Silver Deputy mare Scrambling, as well as Hip No. 112, a son of Consolidator—Funshine, by Deputy Commander.
The Havens consignment has another offspring of Consolidator. Hip No. 79 is out of the Alydar mare Aly’s Conquest.
The sale will start at 2 p.m. (PDT) March 10.