Expectations for Barretts sale in line with market

A weak equine sales market and a poor economy will lead to a quiet two days at the Barretts October mixed sale in Pomona, Calif., on Monday and Tuesday, according to sale management.

"My guess is that it will be a buyer's market," Barretts president Gerald McMahon said. "The breeding stock market on the lower end is very soft. It might be a good time to get some value."

The October mixed sale has frequently been one of the lesser sales at Barretts, but last year's sale was boosted by two major consignments - a reduction from Golden Eagle Farm and a dispersal by owner Stan Fulton. The two-day sale saw 392 horses sell for $3,818,200, an average of $9,740. The gross increased 85 percent from 2006, while the average was up 74 percent.

At the 2007 sale, six horses sold for $100,000 or more. The sale-topper was Tenga Cat, a 4-year-old colt who was purchased for $250,000 by Grant Truman. In four starts this year, all in stakes, Tenga Cat's best finish is a second in the Joe Hernandez Stakes at Santa Anita in March. Tenga Cat has not started since July.

This year, the sale offers a catalog of 513 broodmares, horses of racing age, stallions, weanlings, and yearlings. There are two dispersals - Shields Thoroughbreds, which offers 18 broodmares and weanlings through consignor Andy Havens, and Tricar Investment Inc., which offers six broodmares and two stallions.

Overall, there is a large concentration of broodmares and yearlings.

"I think people will want to sell," McMahon said.

The October sale is the final sale of the year at Barretts. The company launches its 2009 sale calendar with the January mixed sale of horses of racing age on Jan. 26-27.

No change to March sale dates

McMahon said that Barretts will hold its annual March sale of selected 2-year-olds in training on March 10, 2009, and not later that month as had been previously discussed.

The sale is typically held on the second Tuesday of the month. McMahon said the March 10 date puts Barretts between two major Florida 2-year-olds in training sales. While that may put stress on consignors who need stable staff for sales in California and Florida simultaneously, McMahon said a late March date could leave Barretts with fewer buyers if they had already completed their 2-year-old acquisitions.

Feisty Suances gives sire first winner

Feisty Suances gave the stallion Suances his first winner, when he won at Del Mar in August. Thursday at Santa Anita, Feisty Suances won again, in a starter allowance over a mile for 2-year-olds.

Owned by the Cohen family's Red Baron's Stable, Feisty Suances has earned $30,420. He is the stallion's lone winner from his first crop. Suances stands at the Cohen family's Rancho Temescal in Piru, Calif.

Suances stood for $2,500 during the 2008 breeding season. The stallion has had three starters to date.

* The Hollywood Park fall meeting that runs from Wednesday to Dec. 21 has two $100,000 stakes for California-breds over 7 1/2 furlongs - the On Trust Handicap on Dec. 14 and the Cat's Cradle Handicap for fillies and mares on Dec. 20.