Harness: Chulo tops Preferred Equine Online sale at $178,000
Chulo, who last year won the $150,000 Next Generation Trot for 2-year-olds at Scioto Downs, then followed that up with a Sire Stakes win the following week, topped the April 25 Preferred Equine Online Mixed Sale when he sold for $178,000.
Trainer Per Engblom made the purchase as agent for an ownership group within his stable.
With the six-figure sale of Chulo, Preferred Equine Online's first five mixed sales have hammered down five lots for $100,000 and higher.
"Today's top seller showed how much demand there is for young, stakes-quality racehorses, especially if they're coming to the sale in great form," said manager David Reid.
Chulo, a 3-year-old colt by What The Hill, had just won a qualifier at the Meadowlands on April 16 in 1:55, defeating a quality field with a final quarter of 27 2/5.
"Since bidding opened last Friday, on Chulo alone there were 64 bids, and all it takes is a few locking horns to drive up the price. I thank Renee Spahr's Buckstone Land Livestock for entrusting us with his sale," Reid said.
Selling for $76,000 to Adriano Sorella was the Chapter Seven 4-year-old Vali Hanover, who came to the sale fresh off a career best 1:55 1/5 win on April 21 at Woodbine-Mohawk. The ultra-consistent trotter was sold by Preferred as agent for Dean Lockhart, T M Racing and trainer Ted MacDonnell.
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Another popular item at the April 25 sale was the Ontario-bred 3-year-old racing/broodmare prospect HP Rhapsody, who was sold for Jean Tourigny and purchased by Jim Casha for $36,000.
Eighteen of the 21 lots that were cataloged sold, with the three not attaining their reserve still available on a "make offer" basis.
"It's that time of year, as more tracks open and horses start to embark on their 2022 campaigns, when the market is ripe for selling quality racehorses," Reid said.
Preferred Equine Online's next mixed sale is scheduled for Monday, May 9. To enter horses or to sign up for an account, visit preferredequineonline.com.
-release (Preferred Equine Online)