By Jessica Martini
Bidding returns to Fairplex for the one-session Fasig-Tipton California Fall Yearlings Sale, which begins in Pomona at 11 a.m. PT Tuesday.
“It got pretty busy throughout the day yesterday and it's really busy this morning,” Fasig-Tipton California representative Mike Machowsky said from the sales grounds Monday morning. “We have a bunch of trainers and owners out here looking this morning, so that's a good sign.
“I would expect anyone who races in California to be here. This is where you go to buy your premium Cal-breds, most likely, and if you race here, it's a luxury to have them.”
A total of 279 yearlings–dominated largely by California-breds–have been catalogued for the auction.
“It's strong,” Machowsky said of the catalogue. “The breeders out here have done a big-time job, stepping up and buying mares. We have a lot of Kentucky-sired Cal-breds in the sale, which always brings people out looking. We have both pedigree and sire power in a lot of these horses.”
The catalogue includes a supplemental offering from Harris Farm. The filly (hip 278) is a full-sister to six-time stakes winner Kings River Knight (Acclamation) and she is a half-sister to last year's sale-topping son of Vronsky, who sold for $250,000 to West Point Thoroughbreds.
“I think it will be a good, solid sale,” Machowsky said. “We will have some horses bring some pretty good money. And so far, it seems like all the right people are here looking.”
During last year's auction, which included a section of horses of racing age, 185 horses grossed $5,751,500 for an average of $31,089 and a median of $15,000. Twelve yearlings sold for six figures, with four bringing at least $200,000.
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