2001 Cal-bred News

Del Mar Yearling Sale Breaks Records

DEL MAR, Calif. (Aug. 14, 2001) - The Del Mar Yearling Sale concluded Tuesday night with a record per-sale average of $43,663, more than 18 percent higher than the previous best of $36,798 set in 1999.

The high per-sale average resulted in a record for gross sales of $4,541,000, surpassing by 10 percent the previous mark of $4,117,000 set last year. The record was set despite selling 27 yearlings fewer this year than last, as the conformation and pedigree criteria for selection to the sale was toughened. Only 149 yearlings were catalogued and 102 were sold this year compared to 201 catalogued and 129 sold last year.

Totals for the second session were not as strong as the record opening night, yet the second-session average of $35,418 per sale was up 15 percent from last year.

"It's very gratifying to see the continued growth of this sale," said Doug Burge, general manager of the California Thoroughbred Breeders Association Sales. "The records we set are a clear sign that the thoroughbred breeding program in California is healthy and strong and we will continue our work to keep it that way."

The top sellers in the second session went for $100,000 each, bringing the two-day total of six-figure sales to nine, nearly double last year's total of five.

Of the two Tuesday night, one was a California-bred End Sweep colt, out of the Vigors mare Tamworth Lass, consigned by Mary Knight for owner Romajuby Thoroughbred and purchased by craig Lewis, agent for Al and Sandee Kirkwood.

The other was an In Excess (Ire) colt, out of the multiple stakes-winning Never Tabled mare Above The Table, consigned by Yearsley Bloodstock for owners Bob Gilbert and Nancy Goodman and purchased by Stanley Fulton.

There also was a pair of $85,000 purchases: a filly by new stallion Swiss Yodeler, out of the Strawberry Road (Aus) mare Strawberry's Best. She was a pinhook by Julie Adair, who purchased the weanling for $13,500 and sold her to Ed and Natalie Friendly; and a California-bred Mr. Greeley filly, out of the Raja Baba mare Double Entry, from the family of graded stakes winner Feverish, consigned by Yearsley Bloodstock and sold to Laura Cotter, agent.

The sale topper was a Bertrando filly out of the Tsunami Slew mare Rio Tejo, and is a half-sister to stakes winners Rio Oro and Guillermo. She was consigned by Berkey Bloodstock, agent for Rick and Michael Arthur, and was purchased by Martha Bonde.

The second highest-priced was also a filly, a full sister to multiple graded stakes winner Go Go, by Falstaff, out of the Plugged Nickle mare Key Mist. She was consigned by Yearsley Bloodstock, agent for breeder Chris Ray, and was purchased for $165,000 by Stan Fulton.