Wygod dispersal tops first day of California Cup sale

The West Coast dispersal of broodmares, weanlings, and yearlings owned by Marty and Pam Wygod dominated Tuesday’s first day of the California Cup Yearling Sale at Barretts in Pomona, Calif.

The Wygods sold 88 broodmares and weanlings for $823,100, an average of $9,353, in an afternoon dispersal that started the two-day sale. During the first session of the yearling sale on Tuesday evening, a yearling Bertrando colt from the Wygod consignment sold for $105,000, the most expensive hip on the first day.

The most expensive hip during the Wygod dispersal of broodmares and weanlings was the stakes-placed 4-year-old filly Digestivo, who sold for $52,000 to H & E Ranch. She sold in foal to Dixie Chatter.

The yearling session, which included Wygod-bred yearlings and other consignments, saw 53 horses sell for $961,500, an average of $18,142. There were 11 withdrawals and 14 listed as not sold.

The session-leading Bertrando colt was purchased by Arnold Zetcher, the president of the Thoroughbred Owners of California. The colt is out of River Gold, an 11-year-old unraced Seeking the Gold mares.

Bertrando, a leading stallion in California on two occasions, most recently in 2005, stood at the Wygod’s River Edge Farm in Buellton, Calif., until the 2010 breeding season. He will stand the 2011 season at Ballena Vista Farm, in Ramona, Calif. The Wygods intend to keep broodmares in Kentucky and race a limited number of horses in California.

During the yearling session, three other horses sold for $50,000 or more, including a Bertrando filly for $87,000, a Southern Image filly for $60,000, and a Vindication colt for $50,000. The Southern Image filly is a half-sister to Caracortado, the winner of the Grade 2 Robert Lewis Stakes at Santa Anita earlier this year.