$2.7 million juvenile tops Barretts

POMONA, Calif. - The record price for a juvenile bought at an in-training sale was shattered on Tuesday when Canadian owner Charles Fipke paid $2.7 million for a Sea of Secrets colt at the Barretts March Sale of 2-year-old's in training.

The colt was consigned by Becky Thomas's Sequel Bloodstock, who bought him for $30,000 at the 2002 Fasig-Tipton Kentucky July Sale.

Fipke, who is in the diamond mining business in Canada, outbid Aaron and Marie Jones for the colt. In the days before the sale, the colt had attracted considerable attention because of his pre-sale workouts and physical appearance.

Fipke, whose company is based in Kelowna, British Columbia, is an active owner and breeder, who started Perfect Soul in the 2002 Breeders' Cup Turf at Arlington Park.

The Sea of Secrets colt will be trained by Bob Baffert in California, but is not expected to begin serious training until late spring.

Overall, the one-day sale was marred by a significant number of buybacks. Of the 167 horses that went through the ring, only 86 were listed as sold. The sale average fell from $150,000 to $142,186, while the median plummeted from $90,000 to $60,000.