Multiple dispersals swell catalog for Barretts sale

ARCADIA, Calif. - A massive catalog of 714 horses of all ages will be offered at the January mixed sale at Barretts in Pomona on Monday and Tuesday, the largest such sale the company has offered.

The sale includes dispersals by Lakeview Thoroughbred Farm, Helen Smith, and Black Oak Farm, and a large consignment of horses of racing age owned by The Thoroughbred Corporation.

Two notable horses of racing age entered in the sale are Taste of Paradise, the winner of the Grade 2 San Diego Handicap in August, and This n That, an impressive winner of a maiden-claiming race at Hollywood Park last month.

Taste of Paradise has been consigned to dissolve a partnership.

The large catalog is likely to lead to a lower average than the 2003 average of $8,456, according to Barretts president Gerald McMahon. The 2003 average was an increase of 18 percent from 2002. The 2003 sale included 524 horses.

McMahon said the large selection will make the sale "a buyer's market," giving people ample selections among broodmares, horses of racing age, yearlings, and 2-year-olds.

"The averages will be lower than last year. I'm fairly certain," he said. "It doesn't mean the sale would be weaker. I think racehorses will sell pretty well."

The sale, which begins each day at 10:30 a.m., features 113 horses of racing age, 113 2-year-olds, with the remainder broodmares, stallions, and yearlings.

The Lakeview dispersal consists of 27 broodmares, 19 yearlings, 10 horses of racing age, and seven 2-year-olds.

Last month, Lakeview owners Carl and Olivia Cannata announced they will end an involvement in racing that has stretched more than two decades. The most notable horse they bred is Gourmet Girl, the Eclipse Award winner as the champion older female of 2001.

The Cannatas were named the 2001 California Breeders of the Year by the California Thoroughbred Breeders Association.

The Cannatas said the decision to sell was reached when real estate developers made an offer on their Riverside County property.

McMahon said the Lakeview dispersal, which is handled by Sue Hubbard, fits well within the overall sale.

"The consignment is reflective of a mixed market," he said. "The whole sale is a California breeders' production sale. The volume will attract a lot of people here and from outside the region. There is a lot of interest from western Canada and New Mexico.

"I expect a lot of horses will be moving out of state. There is interest in breeding stock and young stock, just turned yearlings, and just turned 2-year-olds."

The 27 broodmares that are part of the Lakeview dispersal will sell with a free breeding to Category Five.

Category Five, by Storm Cat, is owned by the Cannatas and will stand at Sue Hubbard's farm in Paso Robles this year.

With his first crop in 2003, Category Five had 4 winners from 7 starters, including Edgerrin, a two-time stakes winner at Hoosier Park.

Some of the mares offered at the mixed sale have been bred to Category Five.

McMahon is skeptical as to the level of support the sale will achieve from California breeders and racehorse owners, who are struggling with purse cuts and high costs to operate stables.

"The volume of newly turned yearlings and broodmares will dictate a buyer's market," he said. "The local industry is suffering. We don't have a lot of momentum. I'd love to the see the workers' compensation [issue] get solved, because it will get us past one element. It seems to touch everybody."

One hip has become more attractive in the last week. Yearly Copy, Hip No. 52, is a half-sister to Yearly Report, the winner of the Santa Ynez Stakes last Monday. Yearly Copy has 2 wins in 10 starts. She raced in $32,000 claimers last spring.