SAN ANTONIO, TX—JULY 25, 2020—With COVID-19 health protocols and social distancing in force the past two days, the Texas Quarter Horse Association closed the book on the 2020 Yearling Sale Saturday with significant increases in both average and median.

TQHA reported 164 horses sold over two sessions on Friday and Saturday from the 229 offered, for gross receipts of $2,825,600. The average price was $17,229, up 9% over the $15,785 average in 2019. The median rose a whopping 17% to $12,000 as compared to $10,000 a year ago.

"A huge thank you to both consignors and buyers for your participation and trust in the TQHA Yearling Sale in a year of unknowns," TQHA Executive Director Val Clark said Saturday afternoon.

Saturday's high-seller was Hip #206 Akurit, a son of all-time leading sire First Down Dash from the RG3 stakes winning Apollitical Jess mare Celtic Emblem.

Mary G. Thompson signed a $70,000 ticket for the sorrel colt whose dam was runner-up in the Grade 1 All American Derby and second in the Heritage Place Derby(G1). Consigned by Bobby D. Cox, Akurit is from the family of Graded winners High Plains Perry, Three Green Leaves, Dutch Schultz and Sky Bo Dash.

The sale's leading consignor, Bobby Cox yearlings were the top five high-sellers over the two sessions.

On Friday Rachuan Suarez. paid $100,000 for the sale's high-seller, Hip #88, Triumpf, a son of leading sire Tempting Dash. The bay colt is from the first crop out of RG1-winner Jessa Louisiana Zoom by Jess Louisiana Blue. The third dam is four-time champion filly Corona Cash, a sister to leading sire Valiant Hero and half-sister to leading sire Corona Cartel.

The sale's second high-seller was a colt by a leading second-crop sire Kiss My Hocks, Hip #70 Konfidential, for $75,000. Also purchased by Suarez, the brown colt is out of the TQHA Sale Futurity(RG2) winner Grey Daze by Captain Courage. The second dam is a half-sister to Sam Houston Derby(G2) winner Si Puede.

Suarez led all buyers over the two-days with six purchases grossing $282,000. Alejandro Castaneda had 11 head for $151,100 and P&J Racing Ltd signed four tickets for a total of $114,000.

Cox led all consignors and agents with 15 head grossing $749,000. Granada Farms Agent had 10 head for $230,200 and Tyler Graham, Agent sold five yearlings for a $156,000 gross.

Leading sire Mr Jess Perry was the leading sale sire (by average with two or more sold) with four yearlings that averaged $41,250. First sale-crop sire champion Duponte had three yearlings for $39,667 and champion and champion sire Tempting Dash sold 10 yearlings for a $36,050 average.

For preliminary results for session 1 and 2, including hip-by-hip prices, CLICK HERE.