Northern California sale: $60K Sky Mesa colt leads as auction posts mixed results

Tuesday’s Northern California Sale at the Alameda County Fairgrounds in Pleasanton had a higher sale topper and an increase in median price from 2012, but a decline in average price.

According to figures released by the California Thoroughbred Breeders Association, 73 yearlings were sold for gross receipts of $438,500, a 17 percent decline compared with the 2012 sale, when 69 hips brought $528,200. The yearling average of $6,007 was down 22 percent from the 2012 average of $7,655, but was 17 percent higher than the 2011 average of $5,113.

The median price for yearlings at Tuesday’s sale was $4,000, an increase of 8 percent from the 2012 median of $3,700.This year’s sale featured 117 horses – 108 yearlings and nine horses of racing age. There were 79 horses sold, including six horses of racing age, 21 that were withdrawn and 17 listed as bought back.

The sale topper was a Kentucky-bred Sky Mesa colt who was sold for $60,000 to Del Playa Bloodstock, the sale’s highest price since a Benchmark colt sold for $72,000 in 2006.

“You like to exceed the average, but we didn’t have as many horses in the $30,000 to $40,000 range as last year,” said Doug Burge, the general manager of the CTBA. “The bottom was better.”

Burge noted that the buyback rate fell from 27 percent in 2012 to 18 percent this year.

The six horses of racing age sold for $13,200. Their prices were not reflected in the sale total, according to a statement from CTBA.

“More horses found homes,” Burge said. “Horses seem to sell fairly well.Some consignors were disappointed and others were happy. It’s an open sale. It’s not a select sale.”

The Sky Mesa colt who led the sale was consigned by H & E Ranch and is the first foal out of Serious Vow, an 8-year-old mare by Broken Vow who was third in the Andover Way Stakes at Aqueduct in 2008. She is from the family of Grade/Group 2 winners Classy Cara, Star Cutter, and Brian Boru.

The leading filly, a California-bred by Lucky J.H., was sold for $22,000 by Harris Farms, agent, to Chris Carpenter. The filly is out of No Peso No Dance, a 14-year-old mare by Emerald Jig who won 10 races in Northern California and earned $140,592.

For complete results, click here.