WTBOA sale: yearling and mixed auction closes with gains

The Washington Thoroughbred Owners and Breeders’ Association yearling and mixed sale at Emerald Downs in Auburn, Wash., saw impressive gains on Aug. 20, reaching an average yearling sale price not seen in nearly a decade.

Focusing strictly on the yearling sale, WTBOA reported 77 horses sold for $1,211,600, an increase of 35 percent from the 83 yearlings sold last year for $894,700. The average price of $15,735 was the highest since 2006, and marked a 46 percent gain from $10,779 last year.

Glen Todd and Mark Dedomenico signed the ticket on the highest-priced horse of the sale, a yearling Harbor the Gold colt out of the unraced Horse Chestnut mare Bahati, for $70,000. The bay colt is a sibling to three winners from as many foals to race, all of them stakes winners – full brothers Couldabenthewhisky and Del Rio Harbor, and half-sister Bahati Gold.

Co-bred in Washington by Desert Rose Racing and consignor Bar C Racing Stables, the colt is from the family of stakes winners Drouth Willow and Type Ryder.

Overall, a total of 77 combined yearlings, 2-year-olds, and horses of racing age sold for revenues of $1,252,800 on Tuesday.

For complete results, click here.