. N.W. Management was the leading buyer at the sale, purchasing three head for a total of $680,000. The group included Touch Silk, a filly by Touch Gold, who established a Barretts May record when she sold for $330,000. The consignor was Jerry Bailey Sales Agency, agent for Bailey Ellenberg Select.The Cavanaugh Trust dispersal, which was handled by Sam Hendricks, sold 26 horses that grossed $1,142,000 and averaged $43,923. The Estate of Barton Heller dispersal, which was handled by Cardiff Stud Farms, sold 11 head that grossed $642,800 and averaged $15,678.
Boosted by two dispersals that included older horses and the biggest catalogue in its history, Barretts established all-time highs for number sold and gross revenue at its May sale of 2-year-olds in training. At the end of the second and final session Tuesday in Southern California, 271 horses had been sold for a gross of $7,507,000, an average of $27,701, and a median of $16,000. Last year, when only 2-year-olds were offered, 164 horses grossed $4,460,400 and averaged $27,198. The median was $20,000. This year's figures for juveniles only were 226 head sold for a gross of $6,411,600 and an average of $28,370. The median was $17,000.The previous records were the 209 horses sold in 1996 and the gross of $6,718,500 in 1997.A Saint Ballado colt brought $300,000 to top Tuesday's session. Consigned by Jerry Bailey Sales Agency, agent for Bailey-Ellenberg Select, the colt was purchased by N.W. Management. Produced from the unraced Northern Jove mare Hearts of America, he is a half-brother to stakes winner American Champ (by Jolie's Halo) and to stakes-placed Short Engagement (by Skip Trial). Dry Creek Stable purchased the colt for $42,000 at last year's Fasig-Tipton July select yearling sale. He worked a quarter mile in :21.50 prior to the Barretts auction.
