Myers Offerings Popular On the Bayou

A little over a year ago, Keith and Ginger Myers, who operate the Louisiana-based Coteau Grove Farms, announced that they would be paring back their racing operation in favor of a focus on becoming a leading breeder in the state, and a pair of Coteau Grove-breds topped the proceedings during Tuesday’s Breeders’ Sales Company of Louisiana’s September Yearling Sale in West Monroe. 

Hip 9 got the afternoon off to a positive start, when Dale Ladner went to an even $100,000 for the son of Yankee Gentleman out of Highest Class (Mineshaft), multiple graded-stakes placed at three in 2008. Select Sales acted as agent for the Coteau Grove draft. The Myerses acquired Highest Class for $320,000 in foal to Candy Ride (Arg) at the 2012 Keeneland January sale, and that produce–a colt–was bought back on a bid of $140,000 when offered by Select Sales at the recent BSC “Stars of Tomorrow” 2-Year-Old Sale at Evangeline Downs. Hip 9 hails from a very live female family, as Highest Class is a half-sister to Moyne Abbey (Charismatic), the dam of GI Wood Memorial S. and GII Jim Dandy S. hero Wicked Strong (Hard Spun), who is ticketed for this Saturday’s GI Jockey Club Gold Cup at Belmont Park. The winning bidder has had his fair share of success at this event, having purchased Sittin at the Bar, a filly from the first crop of Into Mischief), for $30,000 in 2011. Conditioned by Brett Brinkman, the bay has won 11 of her 19 career starts for Ladner, including nine black-type events, with earnings to date of $705,896. 

Prominent owners Wayne Sanders and Larry Hirsch were the successful bidders on hip 33, an Elusive Quality filly out Lady Alexander (Exchange Rate). A five-time stakes winner of $371,408, the 8-year-old mare was purchased by Coteau Grove for $410,000 as a racing prospect at Keeneland November in 2010 and remained in training into early 2012 before being bred to the Darley stallion. Hip 33 is the mare’s first foal. 

There were a pair of reasonably high-profile buybacks from the Coteau Grove draft late in the session. Hip 181, a colt by Mineshaft, was led out unsold on a bid of $90,000, while hip 184, another son of the Lane’s End sire, failed to meet his reserve when bidding stopped at $122,000. 

In all, 120 horses were listed as sold for gross receipts of $1,544,900, down 22.8% from 2013, when 140 horses were sold for an even $2 million. The average of $12,874 was off by 9.9% from last September, when a $210,000 son of Awesome Again–Clear Sailing topped the proceedings. The buyback rate was 30.2%. Of the 10 Coteau Grove horses consigned to the sale, six horses accounted for gross receipts of $254,000 for an average of $42,333. 

“The sale was well-attended, the quality of horses was good, but lot of horses didn’t vet as well as we’d have liked, so the average and gross were down,” commented director of sales Daren English. “It’s like any sale–if the horses don’t vet, it’s a tough sale. We were pleased with the turnout, but there are certain things that happen that are out of our control.” 

English is nonetheless pleased with the reception the sale has received. 

“Gradually we’re getting more and more people from a national scale,” English stated. “Kip Elser was here and we had pretty good group from Ocala and plenty trainers from out of state or their representatives. It’s gaining momentum, but it’s got a ways to go.” 

English also gave credit to the Myerses for their support of the event and the Louisiana-bred program. 

“Keith [Myers] is a very big supporter of the LTBA and when you get that quality of horse, it makes life easier for everyone,” English submitted. “Those are the ones easy to sell and it’s great to have the support from an operation like theirs.” 

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