Average steady at Texas auction

An unnamed colt by Valid Expectations brought $100,000 to top the Fasig-Tipton Texas 2-year-olds in training sale at Lone Star Park near Dallas on Tuesday. Jerry Durant of Weatherford, Texas, purchased the horse from Pike Racing, agent.

The Valid Expectations colt was one of two high-end purchases by Durant, who also paid $80,000 for a Wildcat Heir colt who ranked as the fastest worker during the under-tack preview for the sale on Sunday.

In all, 139 horses sold for $2,371,900, or an average of $17,064. There were 53 horses who did not sell. The numbers are down less than 1 percent from 2009, when 144 horses sold for $2,477,000, or an average of $17,201. There were 63 horses who did not sell in 2009.

"We were happy with the sale," said Tim Boyce, director of sales for Fasig-Tipton Texas. "It was nice to have the sale maintain its average here three years in a row. When the rest of the economy was taking a step back, we were able to maintain our ground here. That shows some strength. I'm happy to see that sign of strength."

The Valid Expectations sale-topper is out of the unraced Mr. Greeley mare Excellent Review. She has three foals to race, and all are winners. The colt was bred in Louisiana. Valid Expectations is one of the leading sires in the Southwest.