Straight Fire Filly Tops WTBOA Summer Sale

For the second year in a row a yearling out of Washington champion Bella Mia from the Griffin Place consignment has topped the Washington Thoroughbred Breeders and Owners Association (WTBOA) Summer Yearling and Mixed Sale, which was held Tuesday, August 26, at the WTBOA Sales Pavilion at Emerald Downs. 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. The Straight Fire filly, Hip 53, was purchased by Patrick Neary, of Rancho Palos Verdes, California, in the name of Hard Five Inc. Blue Ribbon Farm sold the highest-priced colt for $67,000. Hip 69, a colt from the final crop of three-time leading Washington sire Conveyance, was purchased by Doug and Nancy McPhee's Q Stable of Maple Valley. The January colt is out of 2014 Washington champion sophomore filly Find Your Spot. The daughter of Nationhood has already produced 2024 Washington champion three-year-old filly Chai and stakes-placed Forty Smooches. Also 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 Grazen filly 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. John Maryanski, of Buckley, purchased Hip 48, the second-highest-priced colt, for $52,000. The son of Army Mule is a half-brother to Washington champion juvenile Cobra Jet. His unraced dam, Atta Gal Val, by Atta Boy Roy, is a half-sister to Washington horse of the year Makors Finale and four-time state champion Absolutely Cool. He also hails from the Griffin Place consignment. Paul Heist purchased the fifth-highest priced yearling, Hip 49, a colt by Jimmy Creed out of the stakes-placed Dialed In mare Attyia, a half-sister to two Washington champions. The sole yearling consigned by Erin Buhaly, of Graham, through Only Me Thoroughbreds, he was sold on a $41,000 bid. Griffin Place, who has sold the sale topper for themselves or clients ten times since 2005, was the leading consignor for the August venue. In their own name they sold five yearlings for a $267,500 gross and $53,500 average. As agent, Griffin Place sold three other yearlings for $56,500 gross and a $18,833 average. Rick and Debbie Pabst's Blue Ribbon Farm held second place, selling four yearlings for $83,000 gross and a $20,750 average. 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. Between the paddock and the regular sessions, a total of 76 yearlings were cataloged. After four outs, 72 yearlings went through the sales ring with 51 selling for a $735,400 gross, $14,420 average, and $5,750 median. While the number sold remained the same as last year, both the gross and average rose 7.6 percent, while the median dropped a dramatic 47.8 percent from 2024's $11,000 figure. View the full results here.