Fewer Horses, But Same Quality at Texas Sale
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Although the number of horses cataloged is down this year from last at the Texas 2-year-olds in training sale that will be held April 4, sales director Tim Boyce said the auction will still likely have as many quality horses.
"Our numbers are down, but I think we still have as many good horses," Boyce said of the sale that begins at noon CDT at Lone Star Park in Grand Prairie, Texas. "I think buyers will be pleased with their ability to select a quality horse out of the sale."
From an original catalog of 85, there are about a dozen horses that have been withdrawn. In 2015, the last year in which the sale was managed by Fasig-Tipton in partnership with the Texas Thoroughbred Association and Lone Star, 62 of 94 2-year-olds offered sold for a total of $1,127,200, an $18,181 average and $13,000 median.
Boyce also directed the sale, now presented by the TTA and the track, under Fasig-Tipton's management.
Every horse that goes through the ring at the 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 each with a $100,000 purse—one for fillies and the other for males—for graduates of the sale and all accredited Texas-bred horses.
In addition to the usual array of horses bred in Texas, Louisiana, and Oklahoma, there are about a dozen Kentucky-breds in the catalog, as well as two New York-breds, and one bred in Arkansas.
During the April 2 under tack show, the fastest furlong work of :10 1/5 was turned in by Hip 40, a Texas-bred daughter of Too Much Bling consigned by Asmussen Training Center, agent. Hip 11, a Kentucky-bred filly from the first crop of Gemologist , had the fastest quarter-mile workout time of :22 3/5 for consignor Brody Veal, agent.
MITCHELL: Too Much Bling Filly Tops Texas Sale Works
Among the most expensive horses when they were previously purchased at public auction are Hip 48, a Louisiana-bred son of Closing Argument from the female family of champion Action This Day, and Hip 24, a Kentucky-bred Henny Hughes filly consigned by Oak Haven Farm.
Consigned by Twin Oaks Training Center, the Closing Argument colt was purchased by Carl R. Moore Management for $43,000 at the Breeders' Sales Company of Louisiana yearling sale.
The Henny Hughes filly, a daughter of the stakes-winning Saratoga Six mare Playcaller and a half sister to grade I winner Diplomat Lady and grade II winner and grade II producer Dream Play, was bought by Oak Haven for $30,000 at the Keeneland September yearling sale.
The catalog, videos of the breeze show, and live streaming of the sale are available at www.texasthoroughbred.com.