$70K filly tops Barretts mixed sale

A full-sister to Chocolate Candy was the top seller Monday at the Barretts January mixed sale, bringing $70,000 at a session that had across-the-board declines.

The Rancho Paseana agency sold Smoothe as Candy, a 4-year-old Candy Ride-Crownette filly, to Narvick International. The Kentucky-bred filly went through the ring as a broodmare prospect.

The one-day auction in Pomona, Calif., sold 257 horses for $1,361,600, resulting in an average price of $5,298 and a $2,500 median. As compared to last year’s sale, gross was down 32 percent, average was off by 28 percent, and median dropped 22 percent. But the buyback rate improved dramatically, falling from 38 percent in 2010 to this year’s 26 percent.

Mixed sales are difficult to compare year to year, due to broad fluctuations in the bloodstock quality on offer. Last year’s auction featured a substantial draft from Chocolate Candy’s breeder and owner, Jenny Craig, which was credited with lifting 2010 figures.