Yearling sale makes slight gains

EDMONTON, Alberta - Monday's annual yearling sale of the Alberta division of the Canadian Thoroughbred Horse Society marginally continued its upward trend of recent years.

The average price for the sale's 196 yearlings was $8,368, up slightly over the 2003 average of $8,114, according to Rennie Gellner, CTHS general manager.

"The 2003 sale jumped 10 percent over 2002," Gellner said. "In recent years, we have regained some ground that we lost in the late 1980's."

This year, Gellner said, "It was a familiar story in that yearlings with good pedigrees and good conformation sold well."

The sale-topper was a filly by Belmont Stakes winner Editor's Note out of a Game Plan mare, Preparing. Consigned by Calmar Stable and Ranch, she was purchased for $42,000 by agent Debbie Clary. The second-highest price was $39,000 for a Pole Position gelding, bought by Bar None Ranches from a consignment by Central Valley Ranches.

A Rebmec filly and an Incinderator colt each sold for $28,000. Met Set Consulting, with trainer Dale Saunders, selected the filly out of Dave Kapchinsky's Paddockhurst Stable consignment. Her dam is Miss Tiki, who produced a multiple stakes winner in Miki Blue Eyes.

Central City Stables and Bar None Ranches teamed up to buy the colt from the Horizon Farm consignment. He is out of Sharanda's Candy (Siyah Kalem).