New date for Louisiana 2-year-old sale

The Equine Sales Co. will put on its annual 2-year-olds in training sale a month earlier next year, on April 2 in Opelousas, La., with the breeze show set for March 31.

The change was made after hearing input from both buyers and consignors, sales director Foster Bridewell said.

“Many 2-year-olds in this region have traditionally been prepared to race opening weekends at Evangeline Downs, Louisiana Downs, and Lone Star Park,” he said in a press release. “This shift in date will allow buyers and their trainers to purchase horses that will hopefully be ready to run in the early summer races.”

Evangeline and Lone Star open in April, and Louisiana Downs starts its season in May.

Filly tops sale in New Mexico

A filly by Attila’s Storm brought $62,000 to top the New Mexico-bred yearling sale of Thoroughbreds and Quarter Horses last weekend at Ruidoso Downs. The unnamed filly helped drive a 56 percent increase in average for the Thoroughbred side of the sale, according to a press release from Ruidoso. The average was $12,677.

The sale-topper is out of Ritzy Dam, a stakes-placed daughter of Distorted Humor. She was purchased by the partnership of Norman Allen, Joe Dee Brooks, Scott Bryant, and Suzanne Kirby and was consigned by A & A Ranch.

Super Derby, All American draw

Entries for some of the most notable races in the region will be drawn Monday.

Louisiana Downs will take entries for the Grade 3, $300,000 Super Derby, a 1 1/16-mile race to be run Sept. 2.

Ruidoso Downs will draw post positions for the Grade 1, $3 million All American Futurity for Quarter Horses during a 2 p.m. ceremony at its sales pavilion. The race is Sept. 3. At the same ceremonial draw, the field will be set for the Grade 1, $1.2 million All American Derby for Quarter Horses. It runs Sept. 2.

◗ The Louisiana Racing Commission meets Monday.