Estradas' Head Into Sales Season Full of Promise

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Photo: Jetta Vaughns
Carlos and Sarah Estrada at their consignment in Barn 9 at Fasig-Tipton

Carlos Estrada and wife Sarah Estrada of C&S Thoroughbreds have been on a consistent rise in the sales industry since beginning together several years ago. Starting out pinhooking together to find the best bang for one's buck, the two have now become a dominant force at any sale that has their prospects on show.

The Pennsylvania native Sarah and Guadalajara-born Carlos took the time prior to the Fasig-Tipton July Sale to speak with BloodHorse MarketWatch about their introduction to horses, their meteoric rise, and what horses stand out from the rest in the upcoming sale from their five-horse consignment.

WATCH: Meet C & S Thoroughbreds

MarketWatch: How did the both of you get into Thoroughbreds and sales?

Sarah Estrada: My parents had a breeding farm in Pennsylvania, so I grew up with thoroughbreds. I also worked for Bloodstock agent Patty Miller for six to eight years. It was wild. From there we decided that we were going to pinhook on our own and see what we could do and it escalated from there.

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Carlos Estrada: When I was in Mexico I had horses, quarter horses with my dad, and when I came here to the U.S. I used to work for Four Star Sales. I worked for them for nine years as a showperson and after that you know I started getting curious. I met Sarah at the sales and we started pinhooking one or two mares and one baby. We decided to go out on our own with two horses, and here we are.

Carlos and Sarah Estrada, 2017 Fasig-Tipton  Winter Mixed Sale
Photo: Fasig-Tipton Photos
Carlos and Sarah Estrada at the 2017 Fasig-Tipton Winter Mixed Sale

MW: Can you talk about the quick evolution and what it has looked like for both of you?

SE: We used to look for a bargain, we still do, but we used to just look for horses that fit our price range and what we can do with them and see how we can change and improve on them and present the best horse that we could at the sale. But now consigners will see us and they say, 'No we're not gonna let you just steal this horse cheap.' Consignors know we will take a horse and turn it into a good-looking prospect.

MW: Let's dive into this upcoming sale. Why did you guys choose the Fasig-Tipton July Sale?

SE: We love the July Sale.

CE: This is our second year going to the July Sale. You know we kind of select our horses thinking this horse will fit in this sale and maybe one will go to a later sale, with more time. When the horses look ready and more mature, those are the ones we take to earlier sales. We have five good yearlings that we have for this year's July Sale.

SE: We have five very nice individuals, the majority of them are by first-year stallions. These horses stood out early, are good on radiographs, and are pretty correct. There is something that everybody should like at this sale.

Carlos Estrada at the C&S Sales consignment at Fasig-Tipton The July/HORA sale on July 9, 2023.
Photo: Jetta Vaughns
Carlos Estrada at the C&S Thoroughbreds consignment at Fasig-Tipton

MW: Two of your offerings are from the 2022 leading second crop sire, Bolt d'Oro  . How did they come into your consignment?

CE: Bolt d'Oro himself has been throwing really nice horses—he is getting great runners. Those two were actually purchased by (trainer) Gary Contessa for our client and I think they did a great job selecting them. Each of them are standouts at the sale and we like them quite a bit.

MW: The Rowayton   colt, Hip 204, and Hip 341, by Complexity   are both from freshmen sires, what are you seeing in these new sires?

CE: The Complexity colt is a fast-looking colt that should appeal to all pinhookers. I really like him, he is a straightforward horse who likes to work and doesn't skip a beat. I don't know how the rest of the Complexities are for the year that will be coming up, but if they're like him you know Complexity has a good future.

Rowayton actually started his stallion career at my parents' farm in Pennsylvania and since has moved to Taylor Made, he is owned by Larry Best. Our filly by Rowayton is a nice individual with good physical and a good body.