California sale average up

A colt by Bertrando sold for $50,000 to top Tuesday's northern California yearling sale in Pleasanton, helping the sale, in its second year, to establish increases in gross and average over last year. The median declined, however.

The sale-topping colt was consigned by River Edge Farm, agent, and was purchased by Super Horse Inc. He is out of the unraced Storm Cat mare Sweet Paradise. The colt's second dam is the California champion mare Bountiful Native.

Six other males sold for $30,000 or more at the auction, conducted by the California Thoroughbred Breeders Association.

Overall, 164 yearlings sold for $1,243,500, an average price of $7,582 and a median of $4,000. There were 63 horses who were not sold, and 22 were withdrawn.

The average price rose 10 percent, while the the median was down 8 percent. Last year, 130 yearlings sold for gross receipts of $893,600. The 2004 sale-topper was a colt who sold for $47,000.