Frank Stronach’s Adena Springs operation is changing its auction strategy for the young horses it breeds. This year, 217 of Adena Springs’ yearlings will be offered, with Hidden Brook as agent, at sales conducted by Fasig-Tipton, Keeneland, and the Ocala Breeders’ Sales Co. (OBS).
Adena Springs has canceled its sale of 2-year-olds in training in 2009. It had been held each year since 2002 in Florida, with OBS providing the auction staff.
"We've elected to go the yearling route with the current crop and forego our annual 2-year-old auction entirely," Stronach said in a prepared statement. "We've decided to open our breaking and training facility at Adena Springs South (in Florida) to the public and this change in strategy will free up valuable stall space there. Our training center is a world-class facility with a gifted staff that includes Randy Bradshaw. We'll treat clients' horses as if they are our own and offer very competitive rates."
Adena Springs has three fillies and four colts in the Fasig-Tipton Saratoga select yearling sale, which is scheduled for Aug. 4 and 5. The consignment includes a pair of colts by Awesome Again , as well as a colt and a filly from the first crop of Horse of the Year Ghostzapper.
Adena Springs is scheduled to offer 37 horses at the OBS yearling sale later this month, and 173 head at the Keeneland September yearling sale.
The horses in the Adena Springs juvenile sale had a different format from the industry norm. There were no timed workouts before the auction; its 2-year-olds were limited to galloping during under tack shows. While many buyers praised that practice, there was a general feeling among shoppers that the horses didn’t bring as much money as they would have if they had worked.
“I thought the sale had made good progress,” said Tom Ventura, the general manager and director of sales for OBS. “It had produced nice horses, and it was gradually improving. It and our March sale complemented each other very well.”
The 2008 Adena Springs auction generated a sale record gross of $5,283,500 for the 97 juveniles sold at Adena Springs South. The average price was $54,469, and the median price was $28,000. An A.P. Indy colt out of grade II winner Smok’n Frolic brought topped the sale, bringing $380,000.