Washington yearling and mixed sale posts higher gross, average

The 2015 Washington Thoroughbreds Breeders and Owners Association concluded a positive renewal on Tuesday, improving its gross and average sale prices from last year while posting a negligible drop in median.

A total of 74 horses changed hands during the yearling portion of the WTBOA sale for revenues of $1,389,900, up 7 percent from last year’s gross of $1,300,500 from 81 yearlings sold.

The average sale price finished at $18,782, a 17 percent improvement from $16,056 in 2014, while the median fell 5 percent from $10,500 to $10,000. The buyback rate finished at 24 percent, up six percentage points from 18 percent last year.

Fillies were in high demand during the yearling portion of the sale, accounting for the top five prices of the day. Leading the charge was an Into Mischief filly, who sold to John Brocklebank, as agent, for $80,000.

Bred in California by Mr. and Mrs. William T. Griffin, the filly is out of the Griffin-bred winning Son of Briartic mare Campanita, who is the dam of four winners from eight foals to race. The filly is a sibling to Washington stakes-placed runners Bell Adieu, Bella Campana, and Rain Shadow.

Griffin Place consigned the filly, whose extended family includes Grade 1 winners Rings a Chime and Country Star.

Utah-based horseman Brocklebank was the yearling session’s leading buyer, with 10 purchases totaling $383,000.

The small mixed portion of the sale moved eight horses for $28,000, improving 11 percent from 2014, when 28 horses brought $25,300. The average sale price rose 287 percent from $904 to $3,500, while the median grew 280 percent from $500 to $1,900. The buyback rate fell from 19 percent to 11 percent.

Laurie Lukas purchased the mixed session-topper, Unbridled Quality, an unraced 2-year-old Grindstone filly, for $13,000.

Bred in Oregon by Gordon Tallman, the filly is out of the unplaced Elusive Quality mare Talent Queen, who is the dam of one winner from two foals to race. She is from the family of Untouched Talent, the dam of Grade 1 winner Bodemeister and Grade 1-placed Fascinating; as well as Grade 3 winner Parade Queen, Grade 2-placed Top Billing, and Saudi Arabian champion Obay.

Oakhurst Thoroughbreds consigned Unbridled Quality for Tallman and Margaret Root.