Barretts Sees Strength in March Catalog

More than 20% of the horses in Barretts' March 2-year-old sale catalog have gone through a yearling sale for six figures. That could indicate strength in the company's first select juvenile auction at Del Mar, set for March 30 beginning at 2 p.m. PDT.

Unlike 2014, when Barretts held its select 2-year-old sale in late February as its Fairplex finale in Pomona, Barretts is completing its first year repositioning itself at Del Mar, just north of the San Diego area.

"This is a destination sale," said Kim Lloyd, general manager of Barretts Sales. "It's a nice place to come to relax, find a top horse, and enjoy your stay and unwind a little bit at Del Mar."

Lloyd said the March 30 date is "a good place for us," situated two weeks after the Ocala Breeders' Sales Co. March auction and three weeks before the OBS spring sale.

The original catalog included 121 hips, with another 10 supplemented. Many Florida consignors are sending horses, from regulars such as Ciaran Dunne's Wavertree Stables, Becky Thomas' Sequel Bloodstock, Steven Venosa's SGV Thoroughbreds, and Eddie Woods to newcomer Tami Bobo's Secure Investments.

Local consignors include Andy Havens' Havens Bloodstock Agency, Bruno DeBerdt's Excel Bloodstock, and Adrian Gonzalez's Checkmate Thoroughbreds.

Venosa brings the most expensive pinhook, Hip 101, who sold for $400,000 at the 2015 Fasig-Tipton Saratoga yearling sale. The colt is by Tapit   out of the millionaire Dance Floor mare Somethingaboutlaura.

Bobo has the other Tapit colt in the catalog, Hip 107. The first foal out of Too Shy Shy, a winning half sister to champion Lawyer Ron, the colt brought $130,000 at last year's Keeneland September yearling sale.

Bodemeister   has five from his first crop in the March sale. Thomas offers Hip 59, a Bodemeister colt who is a half brother to Lucky Pulpit  , sire of 2016 Dubai World Cup (UAE-I) winner California Chrome  .

Thomas' consignment includes Hip 95, a Smart Strike filly out of the winning Yes It's True mare Cautionary Tale; it's the family of champion My Miss Aurelia. Thomas has the only horse by Lookin At Lucky   in the catalog, Hip 68, who out of the stakes-winning Wolf Power mare Miss Wineshine.

Thomas also has an Exchange Rate   colt in the supplement, Hip 123. He is out of the unraced Elusive Quality mare Alwaan, already the dam of stakes winner Our Caravan.

Unbridled's Song, a graduate of the Barretts March sale, has two from his final crop in the catalog. John Brocklebank, as agent for Dickman Legacy Ranch, brings Hip 44, who's out of the winning Lion Heart mare Heartless Vixen. Dunne offers Hip 113, Monster Man, a son of the stakes-placed Yes It's True mare True Religion.

Uncle Mo  , sire of undefeated 2-year-old male champion Nyquist, has three colts and a filly in the catalog, though the filly, Hip 78, has been withdrawn. The colts include Hip 19, consigned by Raul Reyes' Kings Equine and out of the winning Vindication mare Circumstance, and Hip 72, from DeBerdt's consignment, out of the stakes-winning Dehere mare Her She Kisses.

Other stallions represented by 2-year-olds in the catalog include Candy Ride  , City Zip  , Ghostzapper  , Hansen, Kitten's Joy  , Malibu Moon  , The Factor  , Tiznow  , Union Rags  , and Unusual Heat.