Serving the Washington Thoroughbred Industry for over 65 years

2010 WTBOA Summer Yearling Session Average Rebounds
with Nearly 30% Increase

COMPLETE RESULTS

Many breeders were wearing smiles and felt hopeful that maybe things are starting to come around in the Thoroughbred industry after the 44th annual Washington Thoroughbred Breeders and Owners Summer Yearling and Mixed Sale held on Tuesday, September 7 at the Morris J. Alhadeff Sales Pavilion. Though the summer yearling session sold only 80 yearlings, down from 102 offered in 2009, the average and median were significantly up from the previous year. Another good sign was that the percentage of RNAs (reserves not attained) and outs both dropped. This year’s summer yearling session showed an average increase of 25.1% ($10,405), while the median gained 27.8% to $5,750. The session only had four (3.4%) outs, down from the 7.3% in 2009. The RNA figure, at 30.4%, was the lowest in three years.

Topping the sale was Hip 105, a lovely chestnut filly from the first crop of champion grass horse and $5.3-million earner English Channel which was purchased by Todd and Shawn Hansen for $80,000. Longtime industry members, the Hansens own Scatter Creek Training Center in Tenino. The filly was consigned by Griffin Place LLC, as agent. Based in Buckley, Terry and Mary Lou Griffin’s Griffin Place consigned three of the six top-selling yearlings.

Hip 71, a powerful-looking full brother to 2009 Washington champion two-year-old colt or gelding Hollywood Harbor was the highest-priced colt. Consigned by his breeders, Pam and Neal Christopherson’s Bar C Racing Stables Inc. out of Hermiston, Oregon, the son of Harbor the Gold out of stakes winner Miss Slewette was purchased by Frank L. Gaunt of Eatonville for $56,000.

The third highest-priced yearling, Hip 99, is a son of champion and leading sire Bertrando who was consigned by the Spokane-based Char Clark Thoroughbreds, as agent. From the immediate family of Washington champion Schoolin You, the striking colt was purchased for $45,000 by Mona Hour of Bellevue.

It has been a banner year for former WTBOA-sold yearlings, led by the exploits of Grade 1-winning three-year-old Smiling Tiger and Grade 2 stakes winners Atta Boy Roy and City to City. Both Smiling Tiger and Atta Boy Roy are being geared for further action in the Breeders’ Cup Sprint (G1), which will be held at Churchill Downs in early November.

Top Yearlings Sold

Hip, Sex, Pedigree, (Consignor), Buyer, Price
105, Filly, English Channel—Time for Magic, (Griffin Place LLC, Agent), Shawn & Todd Hansen, $80,000
71, Colt, Harbor the Gold—Miss Slewette, (Bar C Racing Stables Inc., Agent), Frank L. Gaunt, $56,000
99, Colt, Bertrando—Striking Scholar, (Char Clark Thoroughbreds, Agent), Mona Hour, $45,000 Hip
56, Filly, Smarty Jones—Lasting Code, (Northwest Farms LLC, Agent), Lane’s End Bloodstock, $37,000
6, Filly, Delineator—Best Judgement, (Griffin Place LLC, Agent), Ron Crockett Inc., $36,000
26, Colt, Holy Bull—Courtroom Charmer, (Griffin Place LLC, Agent), John & Janene Maryanksi, $34,000

This year for the first time the summer yearling and former winter mixed sale sessions were combined into one sale. Following the 115 summer yearlings through the auction ring were 37 mixed and paddock session yearlings, nine mares, two weanlings, four horses of racing age and one stallion share. Two yearlings, which each brought $8,000, topped the mixed portion of the sale. Hip 120, a half-sister to two-time 2010 Emerald Downs stakes-winning two-year-old Couldabenthewhisky, also from the Bar C consignment, was purchased by Joe Kitchen of Sumner; and late entry, Island Rainbow – a daughter of Ministers Wildcat who sold as Hip 175 – was purchased by John and Janene Maryanski of Auburn.

The WTBOA is located on the grounds of Emerald Downs racetrack in Auburn, Washington.