Average, median prices up at Barretts sale

The California Cup yearling sale at Barretts in Pomona, Calif., ended two days of sales on Wednesday with increases in average and median prices compared with 2009.

Overall, 160 yearlings sold for $2,260,400, an average of $14,128, an increase of 13.8 percent from a one-day sale in 2009. This year’s median price was $9,000, a gain of 80 percent over 2009. At this year’s sale, there were 38 horses listed as not sold, and 47 withdrawn.

The sale had a different format this year. The first day featured the dispersal of West Coast-based broodmares and weanlings owned by Marty and Pam Wygod, followed by the first yearling session later that day. Wednesday’s sale was the second and final session of yearlings.

During Wednesday’s session, the top seller was a filly by Unusual Heat who sold for $70,000 to James Abel. The filly was one of four horses during Wednesday’s session to sell for $50,000 or more, including a Tribal Rule colt for $59,000, an Exchange Rate colt for $57,000, and an Officer colt for $50,000.

The sale-topper was a Bertrando colt who sold for $105,000 at Tuesday’s yearling session to Arnold Zetcher, the president of the Thoroughbred Owners of California.

The Bertrando colt was consigned by the Wygods, who led all consignors during the yearling sale with 31 yearlings selling for $489,000, an average of $15,774. The WygodS’ yearling consignment was described by the sale company as a major reduction of West Coast yearlings.

Tuesday, the Wygods sold 88 broodmares and weanlings for $823,100, an average of $9,353.