A colt by freshman sire War Front sold for US$250,000 to top the Barretts 2YO May Sale on Monday night in California.  Barretts reported total sales of $3.09 million at a $36,000 average which was 1.8% down on last year’s sale.  The clearance rate improved 4 points to 76%.

“It seemed like there was a buyer for all levels,” Barretts vice president Kim Lloyd said.  “We’re still getting horses sold the after the sale and we’re really happy with the clearance rate.”

George Bolton bought the sale topping War Front colt who is out of the Miswaki mare Greyciousness.  He worked 200m in 10secs which was a fifth of a second off the fastest time at the distance.  Jerry Bailey Sales consigned the colt.  He originally sold for $40,000 at the 2009 Fasig-Tipton Kentucky July yearling sale.

War Front (Danzig) was a G2 winner of the Vanderbilt Hcp at Saratoga and was runner-up to Henny Hughes in the G1 Vosburgh Stakes at Belmont.  He stands at Claiborne Farm in Kentucky for a $10,000 fee.

John Stephens Thoroughbreds sold the next two on the leader board – a Dixie Union filly for $210,000 and a Tiznow filly for $200,000.  The Tiznow filly was purchased by Sheehy Brothers who also bought 2010 Dubai Golden Shaheen (G1) winner Kinsale King for $67,000 at the 2007 Barretts May 2YO Sale.

“If you brought the right horse, people were there for it,” John Stephens said.  “The barn traffic was good the morning of the sale although I don’t think there were a lot of out-of-town buyers.  But word gets around when you have a good horse.”