By J.N. Campbell
GRAND PRAIRIE, TX – With a winning virtual bid of $95,000 a Louisiana-bred colt by Red River Farms sire Aurelius Maximus topped the Texas Thoroughbred Association's (TTA) single-session Summer Yearling Sale at Lone Star Park's Mary Ruyle Thoroughbred Pavilion on Tuesday, Aug. 26.
During the sale, which included Texas, Oklahoma, Arkansas and Louisiana-bred yearlings, 181 grossed $2,892,600 for an average of $15,981, a median of $7,500 and 53 were listed as not sold.
With a larger catalogue this year, the gross increased from a year ago when 143 yearlings sold for $2,686,000. Those figures also represented a decrease from 2023 when 175 head sold for $3,240,000.
“We want to thank our consignors who really showed up in force, and the crowd we had on Monday was equally strong as the one today,” said Foster Bridewell, director of horse sales for the TTA. “We had some new faces here this year, which was very gratifying to see. I thought our quality offerings came through well, and the sales topper certainly drew attention all week.”
Mallory Consigns Texas Topper
Bred by Jim Montgomery, Natalie Montgomery & Jay Adcock, the colt that led the TTA Sale (hip 130) initially went to PRP Bloodstock for $50,000 during the 2025 OBS Winter Sale before he RNA'd for $70,000 at the Fasig-Tipton July Sale. Out of SP Too Much to Bear (Too Much Bling), the bay is one of six foals, four of whom have raced and his dam has a pair of winners, plus she handed this topper a full-brother in the spring. Too Much to Bear is a half-sister to MSW I'm a Bear (Touch Tone).
Scott Mallory, agent, consigned the colt, which was purchased online by Charles Allen.
“They tried this colt in July, but that's kinda a tough sale especially because this is an Aurelius Maximus,” said Mallory. “Not a ton of people know who that is. He's a Louisiana stallion with a $2,000 stud fee, but he throws some beautiful babies. I had two of them in the sale. But that colt had a big walk on him and everybody that saw him, liked him. It's the walk.”
The second highest price at the auction was a filly by Yaupon (hip 188), consigned by Colin Brennan Bloodstock at Highlander Training Center, agent. The Arkansas-bred was purchased at the sale for $87,000 by OCL (Abdul-Keer Okab).
After the yearling sale a mixed session capped the day.
Click here for complete sales results.
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