The Equine Sales Co. of Louisiana consignor select yearling sale dodges Harvey

The Equine Sales Co. of Louisiana consignor select yearling sale moved forward as scheduled on Thursday despite concerns caused by the lingering effects of Hurricane Harvey, and turned in across-the-board gains, topped by a $97,000 Mineshaft colt.

According to figures reported by the sales company as of Friday morning, 143 yearlings changed hands, compared to 138 last year. According to the figures, the sale grossed $1,663,600, up 11 percent from last year, and the average sale price rose 7 percent to $11,634. The buyback rate finished at 27 percent, improving from 34 percent during the previous auction.

Hurricane Harvey was downgraded to a tropical storm when it passed through Louisiana on Wednesday, with the direct path about 70 miles from the sale pavilion in Opelousas.

Equine Sales Co. announced on Tuesday that the auction would go on as planned, after consulting with consignors and the company’s sales committee. At the time of the announcement, the bulk of the auction’s yearlings were already on the grounds, and the facility had not been seriously affected by the storm.

A Mineshaft colt topped this year’s auction, going to trainer Louie Roussel III for $97,000.

The chestnut colt is the third foal out of the stakes-winning Cat Thief mare Noble Bandit, who has one foal to race. He is from the extended family of Grade 2 winner Washington Bridge, stakes winners Stirling Bridge and Jose Sea View, and Grade 3-placed Fire Path.

Bred in Louisiana and consigned as agent by 4M Ranch, the colt is the first foal out of Noble Bandit to sell at public auction. Her first two foals went through the ring, but both finished under their reserves, topped by Take Charge Indy colt Federal Walk, who was offered as a short yearling at the 2016 Ocala Breeders’ Sales Co. winter mixed sale and hammered at $30,000.

The 4M Ranch consigned Noble Bandit to last year’s Equine Sales Co. of Louisiana open yearling and mixed sale, and sold her in foal to Louisiana stallion Guilt Trip for $2,500. The mare was offered with Thursday’s sale-topper in-utero at the 2016 OBS winter mixed sale, but she hammered under her reserve at $37,000.