Barretts Sale Posts Gains

Barretts' California Cup Yearling Sale showed strength in a two-day format Oct. 12-13. Led by a $105,000 topper at the first session, the auction averaged $14,128, an increase of 13.8% over 2009.

During the sale’s second session, a daughter of California’s leading sire, Unusual Heat, led all offerings when she sold for $70,000. A half-sister to stakes winner Guiding Hand, the filly is out of the winning Compliment mare Sarah’s Echo. Havens Bloodstock Agency Inc. as agent sold her to trainer Michael Machowsky. The filly was bred in California by Charlotte M. Wrather.

James Abel, for whom Machowsky has claimed horses in the past, bought the Unusual Heat filly. Abel lives in Lincoln, Neb., has a company that builds highways, and owns the Lincoln Saltdogs, a minor league baseball team.

"She was just a beautiful filly, very well-balanced," said Machowsky. "The pedigree is very good, and her full brother (winner California Blaze) is doing well."