By Jessica Martini
The Barretts May Sale of 2-Year-Olds in Training and Horses of Racing Age made its second appearance at Del Mar Friday afternoon, with a colt by Candy Ride (Arg) (hip 117) bringing top price of $290,000 from Kaleem and Sophie Shah, as overall results dipped from 2015 figures.
In all 63 juveniles sold for a total of $2,597,400. The average of $41,299 fell 9.7% from a year ago, when 92 2-year-olds sold for $4,199,000 and an average of $45,641. With 42 horses failing to meet their reserves Friday, the buy-back rate was 40%. It was 24.2% a year ago.
“We had a decent turnout,” commented Barretts General Manager Kim Lloyd. “Two of the top horses sold super well, we just had too many buy-backs. I thought the prices were ok. The horses that were marketable sold well and brought the money they should, but I was surprised by the buy-backs.”
Consignors continued to remark on a polarized market which has been a common theme at the 2016 juvenile sales.
“It's like all sales,” said John Stephens, who consigned Friday's top-priced lot. “The ones they want, they pay for and if you don't make that list, it's tough.”
Sean McCarthy, whose McCarthy Bloodstock consigned three of the sale's top five lots, agreed.
“All in all, I think it has improved and it's seems to be running along in line with all the other sales,” McCarthy said. “The horses at the top end are pretty strong and we would sure like to see a bit more help in the middle–it would be good, obviously, for the market.”
The sale, usually held the week after the GI Kentucky Derby, was pushed back later in the month to accommodate the National Horse Show and was held Friday as racing was going on at Santa Anita, but Lloyd is hoping for improved results with a return to the auction's traditional date.
“Even though we didn't have the sale on a preferred date, we still had people show up,” Lloyd commented. “It's just a matter of trying to get a date lined up with the National Horse Show. We'll look next year to have a date between the Derby and the Preakness, like we always had. That will help us to have a better fit with the non-racing days.”
BIDDING A FAMILY AFFAIR FOR SHAHS
With trainer Bob Baffert unable to make it to Del Mar for Friday's sale, bidding duties on hip 117, a dark bay colt by Candy Ride (Arg), fell to owner Kaleem Shah and his daughter Sophie. The 20-year-old Sophie Shah soon took charge of proceedings, going to a sale-topping $290,000 to secure the juvenile from the Stephens Thoroughbreds consignment.
“Bob liked the horse,” Kaleem Shah said of the juvenile. “He thought he was a good one, so we hope he is a good one. We had to go a little bit more than I expected, but he was a good-looking horse. I guess you have to pay a little bit more for the good ones.”
Of Baffert, Shah explained, “Bob couldn't make it, but he has been watching the videos and getting all the vet reports. He's been monitoring everything out here.”
The sale-topper is out of multiple stakes winner She's Sensational (Point Given), a half-sister to Grade I winner Lady of Shamrock (Scat Daddy). John Stephens purchased the youngster, a half-brother to stakes placed Our Way (Tizway), for $140,000 at last year's Keeneland September Sale. The colt RNA'd for $245,000 after working :10 2/5 at OBS April and again worked in :10 2/5 before selling Friday.
“We've been high on him all year,” Stephens said. “The horse does everything right. He's very professional. He worked good, he galloped out super and he was well-received.”
CREATIVE CAUSE COLT JOINS O'NEILL BARN
Bloodstock agent Dennis O'Neill acquired maiden winner Milton Freewater (Creative Cause), on behalf of owners Danny Kramer and Sol Kumin, for $250,000 during Friday's Barretts May sale.
Racing for breeder and trainer Patricia Harrington, Milton Freewater became his freshman sire's first winner while setting a track record in his debut at Los Alamitos Apr. 22 (video), covering the 4 1/2 furlongs in :51.37.
“We are big fans of Creative Cause and we loved his first race,” O'Neill said after signing the ticket on the gray colt. “He vetted really well and we thought it was worth taking a shot.”
Out of stakes placed Lovehi (Swiss Yodeler), Milton Freewater is from the family of Grade I winner Dancing in Silks, as well as graded stakes winning 'TDN Rising Star' Super Majesty.
“He was a wonderful horse,” said Andy Havens, whose Havens Bloodstock consigned the youngster. “He does everything right. He won at 4 1/2 furlongs, but he doesn't look like a 4 1/2 horse. He is a wonderful-acting horse with a good temperament–a lovely horse to be around. Sometimes these winning 2-year-olds don't get the attention that they should in these sales, so I'm just glad it worked out because I thought he was a horse worth having.”
(With additional reporting by Jonathan Murrietta)
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