Barretts: $300,000 colt tops 2-year-old auction

The Barretts May 2-year-old auction Monday night saw double-digit gains in gross, average, and median, in keeping with a general upward trend in the major juvenile market this season.

Topped by a $300,000 Master Command colt, the one-night sale in Pomona, Calif., sold 69 juveniles for $2,986,500, resulting in a $43,283 average and $23,000 median. The gross was up 12 percent, average gained 19 percent, and median advanced 15 percent when compared to total figures for last year’s auction, which also offered a single horse of racing age.

The buyback rate was 19 percent, down slightly from last year’s 20 percent.

The sale-topping colt sold to agent Brett Lindenbaum. Cataloged as Hip No. 9, the chestnut colt is out of Grinch, a stakes-placed Salt Lake mare. Ciaran Dunne’s Wavertree Stables consigned the April 16 foal, who worked an eighth-mile in 10 seconds at the under-tack preview.

Lindenbaum also bought the auction’s highest-priced filly, a $200,000 Rock Hard Ten daughter out of Grade 3-placed stakes winner Requesting More. Steve Venosa’s SGV Thoroughbreds agency was the consignor. The May 25 foal had breezed a furlong in 10.2 seconds at the preview.