Record Weather Conditions in Louisiana Damper Yearling Sale

Jls Dash N Fire was the high-selling yearling in Saturday's closing sessions of the 2016 LQHBA Yearling Sale in Kinder, Louisiana.

© StallioneSearch

Beginning Friday, 10 to 15 inches of rain fell on parts of Louisiana and more continued on Saturday, according to the National Weather Service. In a 24-hour period, Baton Rouge had as much as 11 inches while one weather observer reported more than 17 inches in Livingston.

Preliminary figures for the 40th annual yearling sale concluded today in Kinder saw 404 head of the 536 offered gross $4,458,400 compared to 425 head from 563 offered in 2015 for a total of $5,026,200.

The 2016 sale averaged $11,036 per head on horses sold compared to $11,826 in 2016. The median price of $6,500 decreased from last year's $7,000 median figure.

"Despite the torrential downpour and flooding in South Louisana, our sale remained strong," LQHBA Executive Director Tony Patterson said late Saturday. "We would like to thank everyone for their support and patience on a difficult weekend."

T M Ranch, the sale's second leading buyer, purchased three sale's four high-sellers.

On Friday they signed the ticket for the overall high-seller, Hip 32 Cant Catchacorona for $105,000. The Coronas Leaving You brother to AQHA Racing Champion Open Me A Corona was consigned by Montgomery Equine Center. He is out of the Mr Eye Opener mare In The Opener.

On Saturday T M Ranch purchased Hip 387 Jls Dash N Fire, a Heza Fast Dash half-brother to champion Jls Mr Bigtime, for $80,000. JLS Speed Horse Ranch, Inc. consigned the black colt out of Psalmist, by Osceola Warrior.

T M Ranch also purchased Unemaginable, a Heza Fast Dash filly who was the co-high-selling filly at $70,000 on Friday. Robicheaux Ranch, Inc., Agent for Danny Trahan Quarter Horses consigned the filly from the Dash For Cash mare Real Or Imagined. The bay is a sister or half-sister to six stakes horses.

Judd Kearl, Agent, paid $70,000 for the co-high-selling filly, Hip 300 First Lady B, a daughter of Jess Louisiana Blue from the multiple Grade 1 producing First Down Dash mare First Down Energy that sold in Saturday's session. Bielau Oaks consigned the half-sister to Mildred N. Vessels Memorial Handicap(G1) winner Terrific Energy.

Heath Taylor, Agent, was the sale's leading buyer with 19 yearlings for $438,500. The aforementioned T M Ranch had six yearlings for $375,000 and Rogelio Marquez had four yearlings for $135,000

Robicheaux Ranch, Inc., Agent was the leading consignor or agent with 27 head grossing $522,000. Grant Farms, LLC had 20 head sell for $302,700 and Tate Farms sold 12 head for $217,400. Robicheaux Ranch, Inc. also represented numerous other consignors as agent including the seventh leading seller Danny Trahan Quarter Horses who had five head gross $129,000.

Leading sire Heza Fast Dash led all sale sires (by average with two or more sold) with 41 head averaging $24,878. Jess Louisiana Blue had 17 head for $19,700 and Game Patriot sold 27 head for $19,130.

Jess Cuervo was the leading "first sale crop" sale sire (by average with two or more sold) with six head averaging $18,200. Fast Prize Jordan had 14 head average $7,693.

CLICK HERE for preliminary sale results, including hip-by-hip data.