Equine Sales of Louisiana open yearling and mixed sale posts gains
The Equine Sales Co. of Louisiana’s open yearling and mixed sale closed Sunday with significant gains with fewer horses to go through the ring.
A total of 92 horses sold during Sunday’s one-day sale for revenues of $579,900, an increase of 149 percent over last year’s inaugural open yearling and mixed sale, which moved 98 horses for $232,700. The average sale price rose 166 percent, from $2,734 to $6,303, while the buyback rate fell from 44 percent to 25 percent.
“Obviously a smaller catalog helped to boost the average, but the fact that the gross more than doubled with a smaller offering this year speaks volumes about the quality of bloodstock at the sale,” said sales director Foster Bridewell. “We appreciate the support of all the consignors who have helped this sale grow, and it was gratifying to see so many buyers with money to spend.”
Topping the sale was Diva from Dixie, a 5-year-old Dixieland Band mare who sold to Steve Holliday for $32,000.
Diva from Dixie was placed in one of eight starts for earnings of $4,685 during her on-track career, and sold in foal for the first time to Tale of the Cat. She is out of the unplaced Mr. Prospector mare Prospective Wife, whose eight winners from 11 foals to race include stakes winner Political Wife, and she is from the family of Grade 2 winner Possible Mate, Fairy Garden, and Tap Day, as well as Grade 3 winners Paladin Bay and Euphony.
Diva From Dixie was bred in Kentucky by Dr. Joseph Hoffman and consigned by Energy Solutions Consultants.
That consignor also sold the sale’s highest-priced yearling, Mesidandmrpete, a colt from the first crop of sire Paddy O’Prado, who sold to Trackside Farm for $15,000.
Bred in Louisiana by Energy Solutions Consultants, LLC, Mesidandmrpete is out of the winning Pulpit mare Canopy, who is the dam of one winner from two foals to race. His second dam is the Grade 1 winner Missed the Storm, and his extended family includes champion Chris Evert and Grade 3 winners Green Means Go and Cloud Scapes.