by Dan Ross & Jessica Martini
POMONA, CA – The Fasig-Tipton California Fall Yearlings Sale, held Tuesday at Fairplex in Pomona, produced figures largely in line with its 2023 renewal, which given the uncertainties in the state's racing industry, was satisfactory, according to Fasig-Tipton President Boyd Browning, Jr.
“I thought the sale was fine,” said Browning. “The median is the same and the average is basically down slightly. All things considered, it was a productive exercise. It got the vast majority of the horses sold and there will be brisk post-sale activity tonight and tomorrow as well.”
A total of 163 yearlings sold during the one-session auction for a gross of $4,781,400. The average was $29,334 and the median was $15,000. From a catalogue of 279 head, 250 went through the ring with 87 failing to meet their reserves for a buy-back rate of 34.8%.
During last year's auction, which included a horses of racing age section, 185 head grossed $5,751,500 for an average of $31,089 and median of $15,000.
A colt by Stay Thirsty brought Tuesday's top price of $250,000 when purchased by John Moroney from the Lovacres Ranch consignment. The sale topper was one of eight to bring six figures–down from 12 a year ago–and one of three to top $200,000.
With the California racing industry dealing with the closure of Golden Gate Fields and questions about the viability of racing in the northern part of the state, the sale's steady results offered some positives, according to Browning.
“There were certainly some bright spots and there were certainly some areas of concern going forward for the entire industry in California,” Browning said. “For you to tell me that we would be this close to last year given the state of things, I would probably have been satisfied with that. You always want to have increases in your averages and medians and so forth, but I think that would have been unrealistic to expect that at this sale. It was similar and consistent to what we have seen in recent years in the California marketplace.”
Moroney Makes a Run for Stay Thirsty Colt
John Moroney, who owns several Taco Bell franchises in St. Louis, made good use of a trip to the West Coast with the purchase of a colt by Stay Thirsty (hip 96) for $250,000 during the Fasig-Tipton California sale Tuesday.
“This colt looked really, really good to us, so we decided it was a good opportunity to try and get him,” Moroney said after signing the ticket on the youngster. “So we did.”
The yearling is out of My Fiona (Ghostzapper) and is a full-brother to stakes winner and Grade I-placed Finneus and a half to stakes winner Fi Fi Pharoah (American Pharoah).
Moroney said Terry Lovingier, who bred the colt and consigned him under his Lovacres Ranch banner, recommended the yearling to him and he will likely be part of the partnership that will campaign him.
“I've been in the [racing] business about 25 years,” Moroney said. “And I've been with Terry about five years. It's been a great partnership. They are just great people.”
Of his trip out west, Moroney admitted, “I am in the Taco Bell business back home. I have 23 franchises. My son is kind of running the show now, which is kind of nice. So I can come out here and play.”
McKinzie Filly to Blinkers On
Scott Sherwood of Blinkers on Racing Stable was underbidder on a filly earlier in the auction, but would not be denied for a daughter of McKinzie (hip 180), going to $200,000 to acquire the yearling from the Barton Thoroughbreds consignment Tuesday in Pomona.
“Greg Gilchrist is my bloodstock advisor and he short listed the horse for me,” Sherwood said. “She's a big pretty filly with a big walk, by the right sire. The dam is pretty strong, too, with a couple of runners.”
The yearling is out of Tap Tap Ur It (Tapit), who is also the dam of stakes winner Tap Back (Einstein {Brz}) and multiple stakes placed Cholly (Mo Town).
From his first crop to hit the track this year, Gainesway stallion McKinzie is already the sire of GI Hopeful Stakes winner Chancer McPatrick and GI Del Mar Futurity runner-up McKinzie Street.
Sherwood admitted he had missed out on a filly earlier in the sale, with the $190,000 daughter of City of Light selling to Slugo Racing.
“We put this filly in the same category [as hip 86],” Sherwood said. “I was the underbidder on that horse. We actually liked this one a little better, but if I could get that one, that was the one I was going to take. I didn't know if I would be able to get this one. We actually liked this horse's physical a little more, there was a little more to her.”
Of his Blinkers On partnership, Sherwood added, “I've been doing it for so long, now it's just a private partnership. There are about 11 or 12 people that are automatically just in on the horse.”
Brocklebanks Stay Busy at Fairplex
John and Tari Brocklebank, just back from the Keeneland September sale, hit the ground running at the Fasig-Tipton California sale Tuesday, with Tari Brocklebank ultimately signing for 15 yearlings. While most of the group may be destined for resale next year, three of the yearlings were signed for on behalf of a racing partnership.
“There is a partnership that we are forming right now,” Tari Brocklebank said. “There are about three or four people in a partnership that John has put together. They got four or five horses in the partnership and hopefully they will do well.”
Leading the Brocklebanks purchases for the partnership was a colt by Mitole (hip 104) purchased for $130,000 from the Woodbridge Farm consignment. The yearling is out of stakes winner Obey (Desert Code). Also on behalf of the partnership, Brocklebank signed for a colt by Army Mule (hip 98) from the Rancho San Miguel consignment for $120,000.
All of the Brocklebanks' yearling purchases will head to the couple's base in Utah and will be trained by Luis Mendez.
“They will train there until the races start in March or April,” Brocklebank confirmed.
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