By Alan Carasso
In the span of just three years, the Barretts Paddock Sale at Del Mar has not only grown in popularity among local horsemen, but has also gotten increasingly stronger. Sales officials have taken the step of moving the Paddock Sale from a post-racing affair on Sunday in each of the first three years of its existence to Saturday, and optimism abounds that the decision will be well received at the seaside oval.
“Not only did we move it from a Sunday to a Saturday, but we also moved it from the first week to second, so we could get Saturday night,” explained Kim Lloyd, the general manager of Barretts Sales and Racing. “Most people stay over Saturday into Sunday and we thought that it would give us a better crowd. It was good on Sunday, but this seems better for everyone.”
After realizing a top price of $200,000 at the inaugural Paddock Sale in 2012, the following year's renewal saw Deron Pearson stretch to $510,000 to acquire then 3-year-old filly Oscar Party (Dixie Union), and she immediately enhanced her value with a runner-up effort in the GII Indiana Oaks. Last year's proceedings were led by Heir Kitty (Wildcat Heir), the 13-1 upsetter of the GI La Brea S. in late 2013, who fetched a sales-topping bid of $750,000 from Narvick International on behalf of Japanese interests. Lloyd is pleased with the 34 horses (with three withdrawals) that are set to go under the hammer in the late afternoon hours Saturday.
“We have some real depth to the catalogue,” Lloyd offered. “I don't think we have a blowout horse like Heir Kitty or Oscar Party, but it's a good sale for any kind of a buyer.”
The catalog is comprised mostly of 2- and 3-year-olds in training, with a smattering of older horses, including the French-bred GSP Sofast (Fr) (Rock of Gibraltar {Ire}). The 6-year-old is consigned by trainer Gary Mandella, agent for Wertheimer et Frere, as hip 27. One potentially very interesting offering is hip 14, the 2-year-old Mr Notorious (Fr) (Myboycharlie {Ire}). Consigned by McCarthy Bloodstock, agent, the black colt was impressive and professional in breaking his maiden at first asking at Marseille-Borely June 19 (video) and followed up with a solid runner-up effort in a June 30 conditions event at that venue. Though both those efforts came over six furlongs, the colt's second dam, Trampoli (Trempolino), won the G3 Prix Penelope going 10 panels early in her career–besting the recently deceased Daltawa–and was a five-time graded winner at 11 and 12 furlongs while under the care of Christophe Clement in the mid-1990s. Mr Notorious is engaged to the Breeders' Cup.
Other horses of note could include hip 8, Grace to Glory, a California-bred 3-year-old daughter of Sky Mesa who breezed five furlongs in :59 2/5 at Santa Anita July 11; hip 16, John's Success (Colonel John), who closed a four-race juvenile campaign with a third-place effort in the grassy Zuma Beach S. last fall; and hip 19, the 3-year-old filly Moons Over Me (Majesticperfection), produced by a Gone West half-sister to MGISW Urbane (Citidancer), who was beaten a head in the May 1 Ultrafleet S. down the hill at Santa Anita.
Bidding begins following Saturday's last race at Del Mar. For the entire catalogue, visit www.barretts.com.
Not a subscriber? Click here to sign up for the daily PDF or alerts.
