California auction slips

Prices fell sharply in all major categories at Tuesday's Northern California yearling sale in Santa Rosa.

The one-day sale saw 104 horses sell for a gross of $471,700, an average of $4,536 - a decline of 22 percent from last year's average - and a median of $2,500. There were 83 horses listed as not sold. The 2007 sale saw 154 horses sell for $899,200, an average price of $5,839, and a median of $4,000.

There was concern among sale organizers before the sale that the economy and the uncertainty of racing in Northern California following the recent closing of Bay Meadows would hurt the sale.

Tuesday's sale topper was a Salt Lake filly sold for $37,000 from the consignment of Green Acres Stable, agent for Lercari Thoroughbreds. The filly was purchased by Super Horse, Inc., and is out of Dear Lady, an unraced Avenue of Flags mare.

The filly was purchased for $7,200 as a weanling at the 2007 November Barretts sale.

Dear Lady is the dam of Ladies Souvenir, a winner of $45,339.

Last year, the sale topper was a Siberian Summer colt that sold for $40,000.

This was the first year that the sale was conducted in Santa Rosa, having previously been held at the Alameda County fair grounds in Pleasanton.