Minnesota yearling auction down from last year's record, but still strong

The Minnesota Thoroughbred Association yearling sale took a step back from an all-time performance last year, but returns remained strong for the auction, led by a $37,000 Astrology colt.

Monday’s auction saw 46 yearlings sold for $399,600, a decline of 23 percent from last year’s record gross of $517,310 from 49 horses sold. While the year-to-year drop was rather steep, the gross still finished as the third-highest in the sale’s history.

The average sale price declined 18 percent to $8,687 from $10,558, while the median dipped 20 percent to $5,200 from $6,500. The buyback rate closed at 22 percent, keeping steady with last year’s figure of 21 percent.

Paul Schaffer bought the sale-topping Astrology colt, named Notte Oscura.

The bay colt is the first foal out of the stakes-winning Quick Cut mare Bella Notte, who hails from the family of Grade 3 winner Salty Strike and stakes winners Border Cat, Salty Response, Eishin Lombard, and Delancy.

The colt was bred in Minnesota by John and Kay King, and Art and Gretchen Eaton. The Kings consigned the colt as agent for the partnership of breeders. Bella Notte was also a Minnesota-bred product of the Eaton’s breeding program.

Dove Hill Farm finished the sale as the leading consignor by gross, with five horses sold for $80,000. The most expensive offering from the Dove Hill shedrow was a Horse Greeley colt who sold to Barry and Joni Butzow for $31,000.

The Butzows were the sale’s top buyers for a second straight year, with two purchase totaling $64,000.