RUIDOSO DOWNS, NM—SEPTEMBER 5, 2021—Julianna Hawn Holt's $800,000 First Texas Flash, the highest Quarter Yearling in history to sale auction (see related story), sold on the opening day of a record breaking Ruidoso Select Yearling Sale held September 3rd thru 5th at Ruidoso Downs.

A total of 359 of the 401 lots offered were sold for a record $23,812,000 gross, a 40% increase over the 2019 Ruidoso sale that saw 343 head gross $17,044,200. The 2021 yearling average was also a record $66,329, up 33% from the $49,692 in 2019. The median rose 37% to 48,000 compared to 35,000 in 2019. The 2021 buy-back rate was a record low 12%. (Due to COVID 19 restrictions the 2020 sale was conducted in Oklahoma, so comparisons to the normal three-session sale are made with 2019.)

“Best sale ever, I’m still in shock," Ruidoso Horse General Manager Lowell Neumayer said late Sunday night after the final session. "I cannot thank enough the many new buyers and our consignors who brought such a strong set of yearlings.”

There were 63 yearlings who topped the $100,000 mark, 19 over $200,000, 6 over $300,000 and four over $400,000 and the record breaker sold for $800,000.

Yearling prices held firm in Sunday's closing session with Adan Cantu paying $450,000 for the session three sale-topper, Hip 351 Jess Muchaco Corona. Turner Farms+Q363 consigned the Corona Cartel full brother to multiple stakes winner Jess Send It ($69,642)and half-brother to Grade 3 winner Jess Macho Corona ($670,498) and stakes winner Jess A Reason ($27,193). The dam is the All American Futurity(G1) runner-up Jess Send Me ($361,595).

Gallegos, Abelardo & LOS, LLC paid $290,000 for the second high-seller, Hip 358 AJs Little Champ, an Apollitical Jess colt out of Little Surfer by First Down Dash, consigned Lazy E Ranch, LLC, Agent for McColee Land & Livestock, LLC. The gray colt is a half-brother to Champion 2-Year-Old and 2-year-Old Colt Uncle D ($669,165), stakes winner Rip Tide ($123,283), and Grade 1-placed Call Me Cole ($298,122), etc.

La Feliz Montana Ranch, LLC paid $240,000 for Sunday's third high-seller, Hip 428 Flying Eagle Deluxe, a full sibling to Grade 3 winner Eagle Deluxe ($164,487), Grade 1-placed Regal Eagle ($467,790) and five other black type. Grant Farms LLC consigned the One Famous Eagle colt out of Grade 1-placed Corona Deluxe by Corona Cartel.

West Texas Racing Partnership led all buyer with six head grossing $1,147,000. Rachuan Suarez had 22 yearlings total $890,000 and MRB Racing paid $795,000 for seven head.

Lazy E Ranch, LLC, Agent for McColee Land & Livestock, LLC was the leading consignor and agent with 24 head grossing $2,429,000. Lazy E Ranch, LLC, Agent had 40 head for $1,811,0000, Burns Ranch, Agent sold 19 head for $1,765,000, and Julianna Hawn Hold had 8 yearlings sale for $1,627,000.

First Moonflash was the leading sale sire (by average with 2 or more sold) with 12 head averaging $121,167. Corona Cartel had 21 yearlings average $103,762 and Moonin The Eagle had 5 yearlings average $96,400.

Eye Am King was the leading first-crop sale sire with 3 head averaging $59,667. Champion KVN Corona had 21 head average $57,619.

For preliminary results of the 2021 Ruidoso Select Sale, including hip-by-hip prices CLICK HERE.