Barretts sale figures down

California's fall selected yearling sale at Barretts on Tuesday showed declines for the second consecutive year, with the average price falling 16 percent, to $16,689.

The one-day sale in Pomona, Calif., saw 149 horses sell for $2,486,600. There were 59 horses bought back and 26 withdrawn from a catalog of 234 horses. Last year, with a larger catalog, 169 horses were sold for $3,369,600, with 113 bought back and 35 withdrawn. The median fell from $11,000 in 2007 to $9,000 this year. The sale company reduced the catalog this year in an effort to increase quality. The sale is conducted as a partnership between Barretts and the California Thoroughbred Breeders Association.

The buy-back rate fell from 40 percent in 2007 to 28 percent this year.

The sale-topper was a California-bred Speightstown filly purchased for $135,000 by Patrick Sheehy's Super Horse Inc. The filly, consigned by Pegasus Ranch, is out of All the Moves, a 14-year-old A.P. Indy mare who was a stakes winner at Philadelphia Park. All the Moves is the dam of Hard Rock City, who was stakes-placed in Ireland.

Mike Harrington, the Southern California-based owner and trainer, led all buyers, acquiring five horses for $139,500, as agent. Andy Havens, through his Havens Bloodstock Agency, led all consignors, selling 19 horses for $368,000.