PLEASANTON, Calif. (Aug. 14, 2012) – A colt by new California stallion Rocky Bar out of the stakes-winning mare Iza Bon Bon was the $55,000 topper at Tuesday’s 2012 Northern California Yearling Sale, fueling a 50 percent leap in the sale average from last year and the highest since 2006.
In Tuesday’s sale, the ninth presented in Northern California in its current format by CTBA, 69 hips brought gross sales of $528,200, an average of $7,655 and a median price of $4,000. Last year’s sale had 70 hips bringing gross sales of $357,900, an average of $5,113 and a median price of $2,700.
“The sale’s success this year is a direct reflection on the increased demand for Thoroughbreds conceived or bred in California,” said Doug Burge, executive vice president and general manager of CTBA. “Buyers understand the value of the current purse structure and the lucrative bonuses and incentives available.”
Woodbridge Farm consigned the sale topper for the second consecutive year. The colt, named Boston Charley, was bred by Gerald Redman and purchased by Double Kee LLC of Yarnell, Az. The colt is a half-brother to Candy Pull, a stakes-placed winner of $298,363.
That $55,000 sale-topping price for a yearling was a 37.5 percent increase from last year’s high sale and is the highest price at the sale since a $72,000 purchase in 2006.
The next highest sale was Zenn Again, a colt by Kafwain, out of the stakes-winning Zen mare Ms Zenna, was bred and consigned by Cheryl Bigon, Agent, and purchased for $50,000 by Mersad Metanovic and Jeff Bonde.
Not far behind was a colt by Time To Get Even, out of the mare Robotica, was bred by Terry Lovingier, consigned by Lovacres Ranch, Agent, and purchased for $42,000 by Gary Sherlock, Agent. The colt is a half-brother to the stakes winner Unhitchthetrailor.
The highest-priced filly was by Lucky J. H., is the first foal out of the unraced Jump Start mare Jump, was bred and consigned by Harris Farms, Agent, and purchased for $26,000 by Art Sherman.