Practical Joke Colt Tops Texas Summer Yearling Sale

The hammer fell after a final bid of $110,000 on a Texas-bred Practical Joke   colt to lead the way at the 2023 Texas Summer Yearling Sale.

Cataloged as Hip 122, the colt out of the stakes-winning Imperialism  mare Jan's Perfect Star  was purchased by Al Pike as agent Aug. 28 at Lone Star Park. The colt is a half brother to four winners from as many to race from the dam, including the stakes-winning Road Bloc  (Street Sense  ), winner in the Jebel Ali Sprint in March this year in Dubai. Scott Mallory consigned the colt on behalf of the breeders, Michael and Linda Mazoch.

"We're grateful to Mike and Linda Mazoch and Scott Mallory for bringing the colt to our sale and we're proud that a Texas-bred topped our sale again this year," TTA sales director Foster Bridewell said. "He was quality and presented himself well to our buyers, so when the hammer dropped, it all made sense."

A Vekoma   colt, also consigned by Mallory as Hip 260, was the second highest-priced yearling sold at $90,000 on Monday at the sales pavilion at Lone Star Park. Scanlon Training and Sales signed the ticket for the Louisiana-bred colt out of the winning Tale of the Cat  mare Winning Saga . 

Three other yearlings reached the $80,000 or more mark. Hip 24, a Texas-bred Competitive Edge   colt consigned by Highlander Training Center, sold for $85,000 to KDE Equine. Hip 51, a Texas-bred Competitive Edge filly also consigned by Highlander Training Center, was purchased for $80,000 by Lone Star Thoroughbreds. Straight Line Equine Sales sold Hip 110, a Louisiana-bred Spun to Run   colt, for $80,000 to Whispering Oaks.

"We're grateful to our breeders, owners, consignors, and buyers for trusting in us and coming to Texas to buy or sell," Bridewell said. "We're looking forward to seeing how these athletes develop and are already looking forward to our 2-year-old sale in the spring of 2024."

In total, 175 horses sold Monday of the 252 on offer grossing $3,244,900. An average price of $18,542 and a median of $11,000 were recorded. The 77 yearlings who failed to meet their reserve represent a 30.6% RNA rate.

Full sale results can be found at TTAsales.com.