RUIDOSO DOWNS, NM—AUGUST 16, 2019—Led by a strong demand for fillies, the opening Quarter Horse session of the Ruidoso New Mexico Bred Yearling Sale began on solid note this evening (Friday) at the company's sales' pavilion on Joe Welch Road in Ruidoso Downs, New Mexico. The top-three sellers in the first session were female.

From 51 state-bred QH yearlings offered in the first session, Ruidoso Horse Sale Company sold 44 for gross receipts of $711,100, an 28% increase compared to $556,700 paid for 40 yearlings on Day 1 a year ago.

Friday night's average of $16,161 was up 30% over the opening average of $13,198 last year, and the median of $8,750 represented aa slight decline from $9,500 in the 2018 first session.

Topping the first of two Quarter Horse sessions was Hip 127, a Jess A Chicks filly consigned by Double LL Farms, Agent. Named Ivorys Special Jess, the filly sold to Randall Andrews for $80,000.

Friday's opening session high-selling Quarter Horse Ivorys Special Jess, out of Special Dark Ivory by Ivory James, is a half-sister to RG3-placed 2019 two-year-old Dark Moon. The second dam is the champion mare and multiple stakes producer Special Phoebe by Special Effort.

Hip 119, a filly by leading New Mexico sire Big Daddy Cartel, was purchased by Gene Bradley and Tod Bradley for $65,000 and the second high-seller. MJ Farms consigned Daddys Got Da Edge, out of the grade 2 winning Separatist mare Da Edge. She is a sister to 2019 RG3 finalist Big Edge. The second dam is the champion mare Deelish by First Down Dash.

Rounding out the top-three fillies as the third high-seller on Friday was Hip 137, a daughter of multiple stakes sire Zulu Dragon consigned by Marty Powers, Agent. Doug May paid $52,000 for Running Aquarius, out of Banking Lane by Devon Lane (TB). The gray filly is a sister to champion 3-year-old filly Running Dragon.

Gene Bradley and Tod Bradley led opening QH session buyers with two purchases grossing $96,000. Randal Andrews had the one for $80,00 and Doug May had one for $52,000.

MJ Farms, who sold Mister Riptide, the fastest qualifier on day 1 of the $3 million All American Futurity(G1) trials at Ruidoso Downs, in last year's sale was the opening QH session leading consignor or agent with seven head grossing $217,000. Double LL Farms, Agent sold 11 head for $181,400 and Marty Powers had one for $52,000.

Big Daddy Cartel was the opening QH session leading sires of yearlings (by average, two or more sold) with eight head for $30,400. Jess A Chicks had five yearlings average $22,400 and Zulu Dragon saw four head average $18,500.

For preliminary sale results from the first QH session, including hip-by-hip results CLICK HERE.

The second QH Session will get underway on Saturday (Aug. 17) immediately following Day 2 of the All American Futurity(G1) held at adjacent Ruidoso Downs.

The sale will start with a "Select Foals-in-Utero" Session, Hips 212 thru 232. Twenty-one "foals-in-utero" by the industry's leading sires from solid black type mares will sold.

The closing QH yearling session will immediately follow offering Hips 233 thru 296.

For the complete online catalog CLICK HERE.

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