Average Jumps at Del Mar Yearling Sale

DEL MAR, Calif. (Aug. 16, 2004) – A colt out of broodmare of the year Rio Tejo sold for $250,000 and a full sister of Grade I winner Silent Sighs sold for $225,000, fueling a record average at Monday night’s Del Mar Yearling Sale.

Of the 56 yearlings sold, six went for more than $100,000, contributing to a record sales average of $48,589, which was up nearly $14,000 from last year’s average.

The sale-topper, by Bertrando, is a half-brother to stakes winners Rio Oro, Giovannetti and Guillermo and was purchased by John Sadler, Agent. He was consigned by Berkey Bloodstock Services as Hip No. 59.

The full sister to Silent Sighs is by Benchmark, out of the Bertrando mare Quiet Romance, and was purchased by Laura Stone, Agent. The filly was consigned by River Edge Farm as Hip No. 54.

A Valid Wager filly, out of the multiple stakes-producing mare Silver Symphony, sold for $165,000 to Bruno DeBerdt. She is a half-sister to stakes winner San Mont Andreas and was consigned by Tommy Town Thoroughbreds as Hip No. 69.

A filly by Awesome Again sold for $150,000 to Bruno DeBerdt, Agent. The filly is out of the stakes-placed mare Way Up and was consigned by Pegasus Ranch as Hip No. 87.

Hip No. 70, a colt by Bertrando, sold for $130,000 to Laura Stone, Agent. He is out of the Pirate’s Bounty stakes-winning mare Sound Wisdom and was consigned by River Edge Farm.

A colt by Elusive Quality, sire of double-classic winner Smarty Jones, sold for $125,000 to Pro Preferred Racing. He was out of the graded winner Sheesham and was consigned by Pepper Oaks Farm as Hip No. 67.

This year’s totals: 57 head sold for a gross of $2,749,000, an average of $48,228 and a median of $31,000, with 53 buybacks and 12 outs.

In last year’s sale, 90 head sold for a gross of $3,105,500, an average of $34,506 and a median of $25,500, with 50 buybacks and 19 outs.

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