By DRF.com
DEL MAR, Calif. (July 23, 2016) — California Diamond, the undefeated California-bred winner of the Santa Anita Juvenile Stakes for 2-year-olds earlier this month, sold for $125,000 at Saturday’s Paddock Sale at Del Mar of horses of racing age. California Diamond was the most expensive hip of seven horses sold at the brief sale.
California Diamond was purchased by Rockingham Ranch and is expected to be trained by Peter Miller, according to Rafael Becerra, Jr., who signed the ticket. California Diamond was consigned by John Brocklebank, who trained California Diamond in both of his starts. California Diamond raced for the Brocklebank family’s Twin V Farm when he won the Santa Anita Juvenile on July 9, his most recent start.
The California-bred California Diamond was the only horse to change hands for $100,000 or more.
Only 21 horses were catalogued in the sale, which was held after a 10-race program that included California Chrome’s popular win in the Grade 2 San Diego Handicap. Of the 21 offered, three were withdrawn, seven were listed as sold and 11 were listed as not sold.
The sale grossed $296,000. A 2-year-old filly by Stay Thirsty was purchased for $82,000 by trainer Jeff Bonde.
The most prominent buyback was Dis Smart Cat, a 3-year-old filly by Square Eddie. She was bought back for $260,000. Consigned by Matt Chew, agent, Dis Smart Cat has won 2 of 4 starts and earned $62,720, all this year. She was third in an optional claimer at Santa Anita on July 10. Dis Smart Cat is trained by Chew for Papagallo Racing Stables.