Barretts Sale Concludes With Gains

The Barretts Mixed Sale held Oct. 24-25 at the Hinds Pavilion at Fairplex Park in Pomona, Calif., saw solid across-the-board increases in gross receipts, average and median.

At the conclusion of the annual auction, a total of 440 horses passed through the ring as sold for a gross of $2,529,400, an 11.2% jump over a year ago when 419 horses of all ages sold for a total of $2,274,300. This year's average of $5,749 climbed 6.1% from the 2004 figure of $5,428 while the median of $3,000 soared by 20% from $2,500.

A total of 163 horses were listed as not sold and another 106 were withdrawn.

The highest price paid over the two-day sale was $82,000 for Ali Dancer, a 12-year-old Marshua's Dancer mare believed to be in foal to multiple grade I-winning millionaire Congaree  . Consigned by Havens Bloodstock Agency, Inc., agent for the complete dispersal of the breeding stock of Pegasus Ranch, Rancho San Miguel was the winning bidder for the dark bay or brown broodmare.

Multiple stakes-placed Ali's Dancer, who is out of the graded stakes-placed O'Hara mare One Night Affair, has produced six foals, including stakes winner Sweet Stepper, by Candy Stripes, and the multiple stakes-placed Winning Stripes, also by Candy Stripes.

Ali's Dancer's yearling colt by Peaks and Valleys, also consigned by Havens Bloodstock, was the highest-priced weanling of the auction, fetching a final bid of $40,000 from Tom Grether Farms.

On day two, 223 broodmares and weanlings brought $1,536,500, representing a 29.9% increase over the corresponding day in 2004 when the 215 horses of all ages sold for $1,182,800. The second-day average of $6,890 jumped slightly by 25% from $5,501 in 2004 though the median climbed by 40% from $2,500 to $3,500.

The 7-year-old mare Golden Shadows brought a final bid of $40,000 from John B. Cook to top the opening session of the auction. Consigned by Golden Eagle Farm, she is believed to be in foal to Event of the Year.

An unraced chestnut daughter of Dehere and the Slew o'Gold mare Promise of Gold, Golden Shadows has produced three foals, including Thrilling Victory (also by Event of the Year), who captured this year's Bay Meadows Oaks and Albany Handicap. Other notable names in the sale toppers female family include the recently pensioned stallion General Meeting and the graded winner Summertime Promise, who is the granddam of the deceased standout sire Carson City.

The most active buyer was Anucha Kiatkhajonklai, who purchased 21 horses for $131,200. Golden Eagle Farm led all consigners by selling 33 head for $363,000 while Havens Bloodstock was the top sales agent, sending 70 horses through the ring for a total of $618,200.