A record-setting closing night, with a $48,840 average yearling price, wrapped up the Ruidoso Select Quarter Horse Yearling Sale on Sunday at Ruidoso Downs, NM. The three-day sale’s total average of $40,440 surpassed the 2006 record of $37,804 by seven percent.

Sixteen lots sold for $100,000 or more – double the number of six-figure yearlings selling in 2006. There was also an increase in the number of yearlings that brought $50,000 or more – 41 over 36 in 2006.

“This was very much a colt sale,” said Butch Wise of Lazy E Ranch, a major consignor and agent. “Some years it’s a filly sale, but this year was a colt sale. We also had groups buying horses this year. This allows each member of the group to pay just a little bit more, but it drives up the total price for the horse.”

Topping the sale at $460,000 was a colt sired by Mr Jess Perry and out of The Louisianan Girl. Consigned by Jumonville Farms of Louisiana and purchased by Double Eagle Ranch, he is a full brother to champion Jess Louisiana Blue and a half-brother to three other stakes winners.

The second-high selling consignment at $415,000 is a three-quarter brother to 2007 All American Futurity winner Heartswideopen. The Mr Jess Perry colt out of two-time champion Dashing Phoebe was purchased by Chad Hart from Dreams Come True Ranch. Hart also owns Captain Courage, third-placed in the 2007 All American Futurity, in partnership with Burnett Ranches.

The high-selling filly, at $280,000, was a full sister to the high-selling colt, also consigned by Jumonville Farms and purchased by Beyond The Smile Syndicate.

A Corona Cartel colt out of All American Futurity winner Strawberry Silk was bought by Mercy Hinklin for $375,000. He was sold by Lazy E Ranch as agent for David and Sue Mackie, owners of Strawberry Silk and her Ruidoso Downs stakes-winning 2-year-old Pappasito.

The fourth-high seller at $320,000 was a Corona Cartel colt out of two-time Grade 1 futurity winner Morning Snow. He was bought by David Barrett and Keilani Farms from the Lazy E Ranch consignment as agent for Foothill Farms.

Corona Cartel and First Down Dash each paced the stallions with offspring averaging over $100,000. The 32 Corona Cartel yearlings averaged $105,563, while the 16 First Down Dash yearlings averaged $102,938. Corona Cartel stands at Lazy E Ranch and First Down Dash stands at Vessels Stallion Farm in Bonsall, California.