The two-day Barretts October mixed sale, held earlier this week in Pomona, Calif., had slight gains in gross, average, and median prices over the corresponding sale in 2004.
Comprising broodmares and weanlings, the sale saw 440 horses sell for $2,529,400, a gain in gross price of 11 percent over the 419 horses sold last year. This year's sale averaged $5,749, a gain of 6 percent, and the median of $3,000 marked a gain of 20 percent.
"Gone West" are two words with much meaning for Manuel Andrade, one of the Ocala, Fla., area's newer Thoroughbred farm owners. A former resident of the Azores Islands who did indeed go west crossing the Atlantic to make his fortune, Andrade bought Breakaway Farm from Randy and Linda Mills some months ago and renamed it Get Away Farm. Just this past week, Andrade bought the Gone West stallion Double Honor from Farnsworth Farms.
Buying and operating a Thoroughbred farm and purchasing a leading sire are not what Andrade had in mind when he bought the 100-acre property.
A pair of juveniles took steps toward state championships on New York Showcase Day.
Sharp Humor won the $100,000 Sleepy Hollow Stakes over Parkhimonbroadway, with New York Breeders Futurity winner Classic Pack finishing third.
Sharp Humor previously had won the Bertram Bongard, and on Showcase Day avenged a loss to Classic Pack in the Futurity.
Sharp Humor is by Distorted Humor, the sire of New York-bred Kentucky Derby winner Funny Cide, out of Bellona, a daughter of former state sire Hansel.
With the news that Canadian champion Mobil has been retired and will enter stud in Ontario at Windfields Farm in Oshawa next spring, broodmare owners will certainly be clamoring to send their mares his way.
Mobil, or "Mo" as he was known during his career, is an impressive-looking dark bay by Langfuhr out of Kinetigal, by Naskra.
LAS VEGAS - Many handicappers think pedigree is useful only for handcapping maiden races, but it has, in fact, pointed the way to some lucrative Breeders' Cup paydays, notably in the two juvenile races, as would be expected. Pedigree handicapping has also helped to decipher how European turf horses will handle dirt.
Fasig-Tipton Kentucky's fall yearling sale ended Wednesday with strong gains across the board.
Expanded this year from two days to three, the auction at Newtown Paddocks in Lexington, Ky., had a flashy $600,000 sale-topper, a Distorted Humor colt that Jess Jackson purchased from James Keogh's Grovendale agency. The colt is out of Happy Nation, a Lear Fan mare who also is the dam of the winner Noshameinmygame.
A day after producing a $600,000 session-topper, Fasig-Tipton's Kentucky fall yearling sale continued its series of six-figure horses at its final session Wednesday, when a $200,000 Giant's Causeway colt helped maintain the upper market's strength.
The British Bloodstock Agency (Ireland) purchased the $200,000 colt from the Hill 'n' Dale agency. Sold as Hip No. 749, he is out of the Grade 2-winning Mining mare Prospectress and is her second foal.
The Giant's Causeway colt was one of three to sell for six figures, and the session's most expensive lot, as of 5 p.m.
LEXINGTON, Ky. - Fasig-Tipton Kentucky's three-day fall yearling sale in Lexington kicked off Monday with some early fireworks that proved regional markets are capable of attracting some big buyers.
As of 5 p.m., the opening session's top price was $160,000 for a Silver Deputy-Hedge Ratio filly consigned by James Keogh's Grovendale agency. Respite Farm, agent, purchased the filly, who is a half-sister to Grade 3-placed Mary Alex and to stakes-placed Save the Profit.
Mobil, Canada's champion older horse last year, has been retired and will go to stud next year at Windfields Farm in Oshawa, Ontario.
Mobil will stand for $6,500 as the property of his owner and breeder, Gustav Schickedanz.
, 5, had 11 stakes victories with a 12-9-1 record from 29 starts. Trained by Mike Keogh throughout his career, he earned $1,951,384.
Mobil, by Langfuhr out of the Naskra mare Kinetigal, had been slated for one more campaign but developed a minor throat problem after finishing second in the Grade 1 Atto Mile at Woodbine on Sept. 18.
