Minnesota yearling and mixed sale posts record returns

The Minnesota Thoroughbred Association hosted a banner renewal of its yearling and mixed sale on Monday, posting new records in gross and average sale price.

The one-day sale, held at the Scott Co. Fairgrounds in Jordan, Minn., saw 43 horses sold for revenues of $454,100. Monday’s returns marked a 47 percent increase compared with last year’s returns of $308,100 from 47 horses sold and surpassed the record gross of $434,600 set in 2007.

The average sale price rose 61 percent to a record $10,560 after finishing at $6,555 last year. The previous record average of $10,332 was set in 2012. The median price jumped 43 percent, from $4,000 to $5,700. The buyback rate was 36 percent, up fairly significantly from 25 percent in 2013.

Five broodmares were offered during the sale, but none reached bids high enough to meet their reserves.

The partnership of Mac Robertson, John Mentz, Jeff Larson, and Gary Chanen purchased the sale-topper, a yearling Yes It’s True filly named Girlatwerk, for $52,000.

The chestnut filly is the first foal out of the multiple stakes-winning Straight Man mare Dee’s Rose, and hails from the family of Italian champion Esprit Du Nord, French Group 3 winner Rayonnante, and Japanese Group 3 winner Ibuki New Star.

Girlatwerk was bred in Minnesota by Wildcat Ranch, which also consigned the filly as agent.

Prairie Hill Farms led all consignors by gross with five horses sold for a combined $85,100. A $31,000 Paddy O’Prado colt out of the Dehere mare Annacious led the Aberdeen, S.D., operation, selling to Wayne Simon.

Bred in Minnesota by Jim Thares, the colt is a sibling to four winners from five foals to race. He is from the family of Grade 1 winner and sire Salt Lake.

Simon was the sale’s leading buyer, with three purchases totaling $61,800.

For hip-by-hip results, click here.