Too Much Bling filly tops Texas Thoroughbred Association juvenile sale

The Texas Thoroughbred Association proved itself to be an able steward of the Texas 2-year-olds in training sale on Monday at Lone Star Park, after taking over the reins from a departing Fasig-Tipton.

While returns generally trailed those seen in 2015, the market did see some bright spots, including a higher average, significantly improved buyback rate and an active upper market, led by a $95,000 Too Much Bling filly.

A total of 53 horses changed hands on Monday for revenues of $981,300, marking a 16 percent decrease from the final Fasig-Tipton sale in 2015, when 66 juveniles brought $1,161,900.

The average sale price rose 5 percent, from $17,605 to $18,515, while the median declined 15 percent from $13,000 to $11,000. The buyback rate fell to 20 percent after finishing at 33 percent in 2015.

“Especially considering we got a bit of a late start in putting this sale together, we could not be more pleased with the results and the increase in average over last year,” said Mary Ruyle, executive director of the Texas Thoroughbred Association. “With a Texas-bred topping the sale and a very low buyback rate, I think that proves there is still strength in the industry here.”

Two horses on Monday outsold the $75,000 sale-topper of the 2015 renewal. Six horses brought $40,000 or more, trailing the nine to do so last year, but it is important to note that last year’s Texas sale saw 33 percent more horses go through the ring.

Texas-based owner Danny Keene proved to be an active buyer at the top of the market, highlighted by his purchase of the sale-topper, a $95,000 filly by Too Much Bling.

The gray or roan filly clocked the fastest time for an eighth of a mile during the pre-sale under-tack show on Saturday, covering the distance in :10 1/5 seconds. She was one of just two horses to turn in a time faster than :10 3/5 seconds over the Lone Star Park surface.

A product from the Texas branch of William S. Farish’s breeding program, the filly is out of the winning Action This Day mare Soft Music, whose first two foals to race are both winners. She is from the family of stakes winner Flippable, Grade 2-placed Laddie Boy, and stakes-placed Fivetwentyone, Lil’s Lassie, and Sal’s Daughter.

Asmussen Horse Center consigned the filly, as agent. Too Much Bling stands at Farish’s Lane’s End Texas in Hempstead.

Keene made four purchases on Monday, also including the auction’s third-most-expensive offering, a $65,000 filly by Texas sire Intimidator, out of the Candy Ride mare Trifolium. The filly was the second of the two horses to turn in a sub-:10 3/5 workout on Saturday, stopping the clock in :10 2/5 seconds.

For full auction results, click here.