Texas 2-Year-Old Sale Topped by Filly

A Texas-bred daughter of Too Much Bling   was purchased by Danny Keene for $95,000 to top the Texas 2-year-olds in training sale conducted by the Texas Thoroughbred Association April 4 at Lone Star Park.



The sale was the first since Fasig-Tipton Co. left the Texas market where it had previously conducted the auction in conjunction with TTA and Lone Star, and at one point there was uncertainty whether Texas sales would continue without F-T's management.



Although the number of horses offered was considerably fewer than in 2015, the sale was a commercial success in every measure.



TTA reported 53 horses were sold for gross receipts of $981,300, with 13 horses not sold for an RNA rate of 16.7%. With a larger catalog a year ago, 66 horses grossed $1,161,900, with 33 not sold for an RNA rate of 33%.



This year's average of $18,515 exceeded the $17,605 figure a year ago. This year's median was $12,000, compared with $13,000 in 2015.



The sale topper, a daughter of the Lane's End Texas stallion Too Much Bling bred by W. S. Farish, was consigned as Hip 40 by Asmussen Horse Center. The filly was produced from the winning Action This Day mare Soft Music and is from the female family of grade II-placed Laddie Boy.



Second-highest price of $80,000 was paid by Hebert Bloodstock, agent, for Hip 24, a Kentucky-bred Henny Hughes filly consigned by Oak Haven Farm. A daughter of the stakes-winning Saratoga Six mare Playcaller, the filly is a half sister to grade I winner Diplomat Lady and grade II winner and grade II producer Dream Play. She was bought by Oak Haven for $30,000 at the Keeneland September yearling sale.



Sales director Tim Boyce and TTA representatives were pleased with the outcome of the sale and announced that a yearling sale in late August has been added to the sale calendar in Texas.



"The buyback rate going down is what I like best," said Boyce, who also directed the sale when F-T managed it. "The consignors brought some good horses. The sale topper worked the fastest and was the best-looking horse on the grounds."



"Especially considering we got a bit of a late start in putting this sale together, we could not be more pleased with the results and the increase in average over last year," said Mary Ruyle, TTA executive director. "With a Texas-bred topping the sale and a very low buyback rate, I think that proves there is still strength in the industry here."



The yearling sale will also be held at Lone Star and take the place of the auction formerly operated in partnership with Fasig-Tipton.



"The TTA is committed to advancing the Texas racing and breeding industry, and part of that commitment includes giving horsemen a venue to buy and sell horses in this state," said Ruyle. "In advance of this decision, we found significant interest from Texas breeders with yearlings to consign, and with the central location and quality facility at Lone Star we also expect to attract quality consignments from around the region. We were lucky to have Tim Boyce on board to manage this sale for us, and he will do the same for the yearling sale."

Every horse that went through the ring at the 2-year-old sale, regardless of where they were bred, will be nominated to the Texas Thoroughbred Futurity. The Futurity at Lone Star will consist of two divisions of $100,000 each—one for fillies and the other for males—for graduates of the sale and all accredited Texas-bred horses.