California, 14 May 2008

The Barretts Equine May Sale of two-year-olds in training at Hinds Pavilion at Fairplex in Pomona, California on Tuesday saw a Harlans Holiday filly sell to Jess Jackson's Stonestreet Stables to set a new record price for a filly at the sale.

Overall, Barretts reported 147 horses as sold from the 328 catalogued for total receipts of $7,816,400, a 31% decrease compared with last year’s record total of $11,331,300 from 181 horses sold. The average price dropped 15.1%, from the 2007 record of $62,604 to $53,173 and the median declined by 4%, from $25,000 last year to $24,000. The buy-back rate increased from 31.7% in 2007 to 33.5%.

Jackson purchased the Harlan’s Holiday filly out the unraced Septieme Ciel mare Leading the Way from the consignment of Murray Smith, agent. The bay filly breezed two furlongs in :20.80, the fastest quarter-mile clocking recorded during two under-tack previews held on May 8-9.

The highest-priced colt was Much the Best by Forestry who sold to I.A.S. Managment for $400,000 after breezing two furlongs in :21.20.

“There was a lot of money for the good horses, but weakness in the middle and lower ends,” said Jerry McMahon, president and general manager of Barretts Equine Ltd. “It was all about individual horses, and the buyers were pretty selective.”