Stay Thirsty Colts Top Northern California Sale
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Photo: Courtesy Ashford Stud
Stay Thirsty stands at Lovacres Ranch in California
Stay Thirsty scored a sales trifecta when three of his 2019 foals brought the top prices at the California Thoroughbred Breeders Association's Northern California Yearling and Horses of Racing Age Sale. The auction took place Aug. 11 at the Alameda County Fairgrounds in Pleasanton.
The sale toppers were each bred in California by Terry Lovingier and consigned by the breeder's Lovacres Ranch, agent. Stay Thirsty, the Travers Stakes (G1) winner, Belmont Stakes (G1) runner-up, and leading California sire in 2018, stands at Lovacres near Warner Springs, Calif., where his 2020 fee was $10,000.
Topping the auction was Hip 25, a colt produced from the Forest Wildcat mare Clawpuccino purchased by Craig Warren for $50,000. The colt's extended female family includes grade 1 winner and sire Behrens and grade 3 winner and grade 1-placed Called to Serve.
Not far behind was Hip 94, a colt produced from the Speightstown mare Reign bought by Robert Jones for $47,000. The colt's dam won or placed in 11 of 25 starts and earned $95,990. The mare is out of grade 3 winner Angela's Love, also the dam of California Distaff Handicap winner Love a Honeybadger.
Completing the trio was Hip 82, a colt out of the Rock Hard Ten mare Pebble Beach Baby acquired by Templeton Horses for $40,000. During four seasons on the track, Pebble Beach Baby won seven of 31 starts, including the non-black-type Sis City Stakes, with 10 placings, and earnings of $218,166.
Pebble Beach Baby is a half sister to grade 2 and grade 3 stakes-placed Yacht Spotter and stakes-placed Stealth Attack and Skyrider.
CTBA reported 69 yearlings sold for gross receipts of $561,800, an average price of $8,142, and a $3,700 median. There were 22 yearlings that went unsold. During the 2019 sale, 92 yearlings averaged $6,073 on a $558,700 gross, with a $2,850 median price and 48 RNAs.
The non-yearlings section this year resulted in all five offered selling for a total $13,800, an average $2,760, and a $1,200 median. Last year, 13 of 20 offered sold for $49,800, with a $3,831 average price and $3,700 median.