Following a Midlantic sale at the Maryland State Fairgrounds in Timonium that saw figures on par with the pre-pandemic 2019 auction, the Fasig-Tipton regional sale circuit now moves west with the Oct. 19 one-day California Fall Yearlings Sale.
The auction has been relocated to Los Alamitos Race Course in Orange County rather than Fairplex in Pomona due to COVID-19 restrictions on large gatherings at Los Angeles County facilities.
The new venue was announced in late September after it became apparent the auction could not be held at the location where Fasig-Tipton conducted its inaugural California yearling sale a year ago after Barretts Equine was dissolved.
Fasig-Tipton has cataloged 298 entries for the fall yearling sale that will begin at noon PT. The catalog has a local flavor, with all but 10 of those entered foaled in California. As of Oct. 17, there were 32 horses withdrawn from the sale.
"This is an important sale for the California marketplace, and we are very appreciative of (owner) Dr. (Ed) Allred and Los Alamitos for accommodating us when it became clear we could not hold the sale in Pomona," Fasig-Tipton president Boyd Browning Jr. said. "There is a good mix of both regional and national sire power, and graduates of last year's sale are off to a flying start."
Gracing the catalog cover is Positivity, the winner of this year's Graduation Stakes for 2-year-olds at Del Mar who was purchased for $20,000 at last year's sale. Another 2019 sale graduate, Exchange Vows, a $6,000 purchase, finished third in the Sorrento Stakes (G2) at Del Mar.
Topped by a Goldencents colt sold for $150,000, last year's sale resulted in 137 horses sold for $3,667,800, an average of $26,772, and a median of $13,000, with an RNA rate of 46%.
One offering with a significant recent catalog update is Hip 287, a colt from the first crop of Danzing Candy that is a half brother to Swiss Skydiver, the filly who upset males in the rescheduled Preakness Stakes (G1) this month. Offered by Adrian Gonzalez's Checkmate Thoroughbreds, the California-bred colt went unsold on a final bid of $145,000 at last month's Fasig-Tipton Selected Yearlings Showcase.
Among consignors appreciative of the efforts by Fasig-Tipton and Los Alamitos to allow the sale to go forward is Stormy Hull, whose Reardan, Wash.-based Critter Creek Farms has a sizable group entered in the sale.
"I am glad that this sale is happening," said Hull, who has been breeding and selling in California for some six years. "Hats off to Fasig-Tipton for hanging in there. It could have easily not happened at all. We're always grateful to be here, but especially this year."
Hull said the additional efforts by Fasig-Tipton to help market horses via the Internet by expanding the use of online bidding and the amount of information available to off-site buyers has been an asset.
"It has opened up some different avenues, and hopefully people are becoming comfortable with using agents and buying on the internet," he said.
Like many consignors, Hull usually tries to temper his enthusiasm for the individuals in his consignment while remaining optimistic he will do well. But one horse in Monday's auction that he is excited about is Hip 234, a colt from the first crop of Practical Joke , a multiple grade 1-winning son of leading sire Into Mischief who stands at Ashford Stud and has been represented by 79 yearlings sold at public auction this year for an average price of $120,392.
Bred in California by Phil Lebherz's Premier Thoroughbreds, the colt consigned on behalf of PT Syndicate #1 is out of the stakes-placed Dixieland Band mare Bandora, who has also produced Graduation Stakes winner Continental Divide.
"Although I have had some sale toppers, I have never gone to the sale thinking I had a sale topper," the horseman said. "But this is the first time I have come to a sale thinking I had a legitimate shot at it. He is a remarkable individual. He is powerful and moves nice. I know there are some other nice colts here, there always are, but I would stack him up against anything. He is so correct with a great disposition. I feel fortunate to have a Cal-bred of this caliber and to have the opportunity to sell him."
Bloodstock agent Mersad Metanovic, who advises Premier Thoroughbreds, said breeders are hopeful there will be solid demand from Californians, particularly trainers, who did not participate in the September auctions in Kentucky due to the coronavirus.
"I think it is going to be a good sale because I believe that other than some of the major California trainers, 90% of them weren't in Kentucky," the agent said. "I think there is a little anticipation they are going to show up with guns loaded. I think overall everybody should be very happy with what they see. Breeders have been able to take their time and get them physically ready and do the right thing.
Nyquist and Not This Time , the two leading freshman sires in North America, each have one yearling in the sale (following withdrawals through Saturday).
Consigned by Fairview, agent, Hip 75 is a Nyquist filly bred in California by Thomas Bachman. Bachman purchased the filly's dam, the winning Malibu Moon mare Moon River Gal, for $270,000 at the 2018 Keeneland November Breeding Stock Sale while carrying the filly in utero.
Hip 64 (Checkmate Thoroughbreds, agent) is a Not This Time filly that is a half sister to multiple stakes winner Avanti Bello. The filly was bred in California by Lou Neve.
Prominent California sire Square Eddie, who was pensioned this year, is represented by five yearlings in the sale. Other California sires with yearlings on offer include Stay Thirsty , Smiling Tiger , Clubhouse Ride, and Grazen.
