From WTBOA
A filly by California stallion Straight Fire brought $110,000 to top the Washington Thoroughbred Breeders and Owners Association Summer Yearling and Mixed Sale, held Aug. 26 at Emerald Downs. The filly, Hip 53, was purchased by Patrick Neary, of Rancho Palos Verdes, California, in the name of Hard Five Inc.
The purchase marked the second year in a row a yearling out of Washington champion Bella Mia from the Griffin Place consignment has topped the sale. Last year’s sale topper, Lead the Charge, by Take Charge Indy, has already placed in two stakes in his young career, while the mare’s first foal, Ship Cadet, is a Saratoga stakes winner of over $235,000.
Bringing a $67,000 final bid was Hip 17, which was purchased by trainer Andy Mathis of Walnut Creek, California. Another in the seven-horse offering from Terry and Mary Lou Griffin’s Buckley-based Griffin Place, the filly by California stallion Grazen is out of 2018 Washington champion older mare No Talking Back, by Flatter. The $170,504 earner’s first foal, He’s Not Talking, is a 2024-25 stakes winner. Not only is No Talking Back a Washington champion racemare, but so are all of her next three dams.
Of the stallions with two or more selling, California-based Straight Fire led with two sold for a $139,000 gross and $69,500 average. Another California sire, Grazen, had two fillies sell for a $87,000 gross and $43,500 average. Among the local stallions, the late Conveyance was represented by four yearlings bringing a $93,000 total and a $23,350 average. Coast Guard was second-ranked among the Washington sires with three yearlings bringing a $39,000 total and $13,000 average.
2025 Washington Racing Hall of Fame trainer inductee Mark Glatt signed for Hip 2 at the $37,000 level. Consigned by Griffin Place LLC, agent, the son of California stallion Clubhouse Ride is the second foal out of Jerre to Carrie, a $115,589 earner by Congrats. The January colt hails from the Northwest Farms’ family of Emerald Downs champions Bisbee’s Prospect, Taste the Passion, Smarty Deb, Stopshoppingdebbie and Shampoo.