Harbor the Gold Colt Leads Washington Sale
Description:
A Harbor the Gold colt led trade Aug. 23 at Emerald Downs during the Washington Thoroughbred Breeders and Owners Association's summer yearling and mixed sale. Although the average for the session was down a bit there was a significant gain in median.
WTBOA reported 80 yearlings sold for an average of $17,649, which marked a 6% decline from last year, while median rose 55% to $15,500. At the three previous sales, median price hovered between $9,500 and $10,500.
Gross sales were nearly on par with last year, coming in at $1,411,900, compared with $1,413,900 in 2015, when 76 yearlings sold. The buyback rate slipped from 23.7% last year to 22.8%.
The sale-topping Harbor the Gold colt brought $78,000 from the partnership of One Horse Will Do Corp. and Jack Arnold.
Bred in Washington by Ron Crockett and Carnation Racing Stables, and consigned by William and Mary Lou Griffin's Griffin Place, agent, the colt is out of the Majesterian mare Dark Diva, a full sister to three stakes winners, including grade III-placed Mr. Makah, and a half sister to stakes winner and $247,867-earner Highland Games. Dark Diva is the dam of two winners from as many starters.
One Horse Will Do Corp. also bought a half brother to three-time grade III winner Summer Hit, for $50,000, one of two yearlings to sell at that price. The Washington-bred colt from the final crop of leading California sire Tribal Rule is out of multiple stakes producer Mia F Eighteen, by Tough Knight. He was bred and consigned by Griffin Place.
Southern California trainer Mark Glatt also signed a $50,000 ticket for a Kentucky-bred Exchange Rate colt, the first foal out of Washington horse of the year and multiple state champion E Z Kitty. The gray or roan colt was bred by Highlander Racing Stables, who sold him via Nina and Ron Hagen's El Dorado Farms agency.
Eight horses sold in the mixed session for a total receipts of $7,100.