A filly from the first crop of Spendthrift Farm’s stallion Free Drop Billy led the way at the 2022 Texas Two-Year-Olds in Training Sale, with the hammer dropping at $200,000.
The Louisiana-bred filly, consigned by Carl Deville as Hip 134, was purchased by Mansfield Racing. She was a supplement to the sale and she didn’t disappoint, breezing a quick 10.2 over the Lone Star Park dirt Monday afternoon. Out of the Half Ours mare Solo Buena, she’s a half-sister to stakes-placed Swot Analysis, who was second in the Louisiana Futurity at two.
Hip 72, a colt by first crop stallion McCraken, standing at Airdrie Stud, was the second highest priced two-year-old to sell and the highest priced colt with a final bid of $125,000. Mansfield Racing signed the ticket for the dark bay or brown colt. He’s a half-brother to seven winners from seven to race, including stakes-winner Magic Tale. Pike Racing consigned the colt.
Wednesday’s sale outpaced last year’s sale in total sales, average price, and median price. Eighty-eight horses sold for $3,050,700 in total sales. The average price was $34,667 this year; last year, the average price was $32,671. The median jumped to $28,000, compared to $20,000 in 2021.
“We’re obviously thrilled to see such strong trade in our two-year-old market,” TTA Sales Director Foster Bridewell said. “We can’t thank the owners and consignors enough for sending us quality horses to sell and we’re fortunate that so many buyers showed up in a big way. I think it’s a sign of just how strong racing is in Texas, thanks to the increased purses and incentives for owners and breeders.”
Pike Racing, agent, was the leading consignor by total sales at $664,000.