Widely Respected Texas Horseman Al Pike Passes

by Posted in 2-Year-Old Sale, Yearling Sale

Al and Salley Pike

Al Pike, a veteran horseman who was a perennial leading 2-year-old consignor in Texas and on the national scene, passed away on July 26 at the age of 70 after a valiant battle with cancer. Pike, along with his wife of nearly 45 years, Salley, and their son, Colt, operated Pike Racing. Pike is also survived by daughter Chelsey Pike Hooton.

Pike got his start in the horse industry in the 1970s as a Quarter Horse trainer in Texas, and then he and Salley transitioned to Thoroughbreds and eventually focused on pinhooking.

The Pike family enjoyed considerable success at sales in Texas and around the country. In the Lone Star State, Pike Racing sold the $300,000 sale-topper at the 2023 Texas 2-Year-Olds in Training Sale. That price set a record for the TTA sale. Originally a $60,000 yearling purchase, the filly by Tapwrit who would later be named Blue Squall has earned $338,703 and is still in training.

Pike Racing again had the sale topper at the 2024 Texas juvenile sale with a Texas-bred colt by Street Boss who sold for $265,000. That was part of the Pike Racing at Highlander consignment. Pike retired from working with Texas-based Highlander Training Center earlier this year.

Pike Racing was active at many other sales in the Southwest and around the country. On the national scene, Pike Racing had three juvenile sale horses make it to the Kentucky Derby, including millionaires Vyjack and Vicar’s in Trouble. Other notable sale horses included Modest Maven, an $80,000 yearling who sold for $1 million as a 2-year-old, and Shazz, a $185,000 yearling who brought $1.1 million the following year.

The Texas Thoroughbred Association and TTA Sales extends its condolences to the Pike family and all of Al Pike’s many friends in the industry.

“Al Pike was synonymous with Texas sales,” said Foster Bridewell, sales director for TTA Sales. “Everyone knew and respected Al, and together with Salley and Colt they were a vital part of the sale scene here. We are going to miss Al dearly and plan to honor his memory at our next auction.”

Oklahoma-bred Colt Sells for $150,000 to Top Texas 2-Year-Old Sale

by Posted in 2-Year-Old Sale

Hip 15 (Photo by Olivia Friesen/TTA)

A total of four horses sold for more than $100,000 at Wednesday’s Texas 2-Year-Olds in Training Sale at Lone Star Park, with Hip 15 topping the sale at $150,000. Purchased by Clark Brewster from the consignment of Bryan Ford Training Center LLC, the Oklahoma-bred colt by Omaha Beach clocked :10 in Monday’s breeze show to tie for the fastest time. The April 16 foal is out of the stakes-placed Into Mischief mare Natalie’s Mischief, whose first foal is a winner.

The high-selling filly was Hip 1, a Louisiana-bred daughter of Lone Sailor who went to Patricia’s Hope LLC from Pike Racing at Highlander, agent. She also worked :10 and is out of a Yes It’s True mare who has produced two stakes winners from three starters.

Pike Racing at Highlander, agent, was the leading consignor with 15 sold for $538,500, followed closely by Bryan Ford Training Center with nine sold for $509,000, including private sales.

All told, 58 of 85 juveniles offered sold for a total of $1,666,100. The average was $28,726, and the median was $18,000.

“We had a Texas-bred sell for $265,000 last year, which really boosted the average and was one of the highest prices we’ve had in quite a while, so considering we didn’t have one hit that lofty mark this year we are quite pleased to be close to $30,000 for our average,” said Sales Director Foster Bridewell. “I think this proves that the 2-year-old market is strong in the Southwest.”

Complete results are available by clicking here.

Next up on the sale calendar is the Texas Summer Yearling Sale set for August 26.

Four Horses Tie for Fastest Breeze Time in Advance of Wednesday’s Texas 2-Year-Old Sale

by Posted in 2-Year-Old Sale

Hip 1 (Photo by Olivia Friesen/TTA)

A quartet of horses worked an eighth-mile in :10 flat to tie for the fastest time during Monday’s breeze show for the Texas 2-Year-Olds in Training Sale at Lone Star Park. A catalog of 100 head is set to go through the newly renamed Mary Ruyle Thoroughbred Sales Pavilion on Wednesday starting at 10 a.m. Central. The pavilion on the grounds of Lone Star Park honors the recently retired executive director of the Texas Thoroughbred Association who was instrumental in launching the TTA Sales division a decade ago.

Videos from the breeze show are now posted online, and live video and online bidding will be available for Wednesday’s sale. CLICK HERE to view the catalog and videos.

The first horse over the track to record a :10 clocking was also the first horse to breeze, as Hip #1, a Louisiana-bred filly by Lone Sailor, set the standard. Consigned by Pike Racing at Highlander, agent, she is out of a winning Yes It’s True mare whose two winners are also both stakes winners, including $328,605-earner Yes Gorgeous.

Hip 32 (Photo by Olivia Friesen/TTA)

Pike Racing at Highlander, agent, had another filly work :10 with Hip #32, a Kentucky-foaled daughter of More Than Ready. She is the second foal out of a young Hard Spun mare whose family includes Kentucky Derby (G1) winner Giacomo.

The consignment of Bryan Ford Training Center LLC was responsible for the other two juveniles, both colts, with the fastest works as Hip #12 and Hip #15. First up was a Kentucky-foaled son of Goldencents out of a winning Uncle Mo mare whose three starters are all winners. Shortly after, an accredited Oklahoma-bred by Omaha Beach matched the time. That colt is out of the stakes-placed Into Mischief mare Natalie’s Mischief, whose first starter is a winner.

Hip 15 (Photo by Olivia Friesen/TTA)

Hip 12 (Photo by Olivia Friesen/TTA)

“Our consignors brought a strong group of 2-year-olds to the sale, and I think that was proven on the track today,” said Sales Director Foster Bridewell. “The buyers that I’ve talked to have been impressed by what they’ve seen both on the track and in the barns, so we are looking forward to a good auction on Wednesday.”

 

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Sales Pavilion Renamed to Honor Retiring TTA Executive Director

by Posted in 2-Year-Old Sale, Yearling Sale

The Texas Thoroughbred Association is pleased to announce the renaming of the sales pavilion at Lone Star Park to honor the retiring of long-time executive director, Mary Ruyle.

“There is not enough we can do to show Mary how much the Texas thoroughbred industry appreciates her years of hard work and dedication.”  Said Phil Adams, the TTA board member who coordinated the renaming effort.

Mary Ruyle has a distinguished history with the Texas Thoroughbred Association.  She began as a bookkeeper in 1988 and subsequently worked as membership coordinator, accreditation manager and office manager before becoming executive director.

Her 36 years at the TTA have made her the longest-tenured employee in the history of the association.

After Fasig-Tipton withdrew from Texas in 2015, Mary was instrumental in establishing the TTA Sales division and operating two auctions annually. During her time at the TTA, important programs like The Paddock Foundation for retired racehorses and the Texas Thoroughbred Educational Fund for scholarships were established. She also worked to establish the Clarence Scharbauer Jr. Texas Stallion Stakes Series and special races for TTA sale graduates.

“I was surprised and touched by this gesture from the board of directors” was the reaction from Ruyle.  “I love the sales, for me it is old home week where I get to see so many of the people that make horse racing special.”

The Texas Thoroughbred Association Two-Year-Old In Training sale on April 2, 2025 will be the first event held at the newly renamed pavilion.

Catalog Now Online for Texas 2-Year-Old Sale at Lone Star Park

by Posted in 2-Year-Old Sale

A total of 94 horses have been consigned to the Texas 2-Year-Olds in Training Sale set for April 2 at 10 a.m. at Lone Star Park, and the interactive sale catalog is now online. The breeze show is scheduled for March 31 at 8 a.m. at the Dallas-Fort Worth area track. CLICK HERE to view the catalog, or CLICK HERE for information about online bidding.

Online bidding will be offered for the auction, which is operated by the Texas Thoroughbred Association, and supplements are still being accepted.

“Consignors have consistently been bringing quality horses to our sales, and that’s been proven over and over on the racetrack,” said Sales Director Foster Bridewell. “We had 2-year-old sale graduate Frost Free win the Grade 3 Chick Lang Stakes on Preakness Day at Pimlico last year, and yearling sale grad Coal Battle is already a millionaire and on the road to the Kentucky Derby after winning the Grade 2 Rebel Stakes last weekend.”

As usual, horses bred in Texas and Louisiana are strongly represented, along with those in Kentucky, Arkansas and Oklahoma, among others.

Leading regional stallions with offspring in the sale include Aurelius Maximus, El Deal, Gormley and Star Guitar. Top Kentucky stallions represented include Frosted, Goldencents, Good Magic, Hard Spun, Into Mischief, Liam’s Map, Maclean’s Music, Omaha Beach and Union Rags.

The sale offers buyers a chance for a quick return on their investment with two divisions of the $150,000-added Texas Thoroughbred Association Futurity on July 5 at Lone Star Park. Sale graduates will also be eligible as 3-year-olds to compete in the $100,000-added Texas Thoroughbred Association Derby and Oaks at Sam Houston Race Park in 2026.

2025 Texas 2-Year-Olds in Training Sale Set for April 2 at Lone Star Park

by Posted in 2-Year-Old Sale

The Texas Thoroughbred Association has announced that the 2025 Texas 2-Year-Olds in Training Sale will be held on Wednesday, April 2, at 10 a.m. on the grounds of Lone Star Park at Grand Prairie. The breeze show is set for Monday, March 31, starting at 8 a.m.

Last year’s sale posted strong results with an average price of $34,367 and median of $24,500. That sale was topped by a Texas-bred son of Street Boss who sold for $265,000.

Just like the 2-year-old sale, this year’s summer yearling sale posted gains compared to the previous year, continuing the upward trend for the Southwest’s largest auction.

“We’ve already had a lot of people asking about the 2025 2-year-old sale, so I anticipate the interest in this auction will be strong,” said Foster Bridewell, sales director. “We have the $100,000 Texas Thoroughbred Association Derby and Oaks coming up in March at Sam Houston Race Park for sale grads, and those races have proven to a showcase for the talented athletes available at both of our sales.”

Consignment forms are available by clicking here.

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Texas-Bred Colt Tops The Texas Two-Year-Old Sale

by Posted in 2-Year-Old Sale

A Texas-bred Street Boss colt topped the 2024 Texas Two-Year-Olds in Training Sale when the hammer fell at $265,000.

Photo: Olivia Friesen / TTA Sales

Consigned by Pike Racing at Highlander, agent, as hip 28, the colt, who is the first foal out of a Gemologist mare, was purchased by Tracy Williams. The colt, who was bred in Texas by Stoneview Farm, tied for the co-fastest breeze on Monday at Lone Star Park, stopping the clock in 10.1 for the 1/8th of a mile.

“That colt was well-meant all week leading up to our breeze show and when it was go time on Monday, he certainly laid it down,” TTA Sales Director Foster Bridewell said. “His 10.1 early in the day on Monday held up, then Tuesday he showed well at the barn, and Wednesday the buyers were ready to take their swing.”

Hip 26, a Texas-bred filly by Vino Rosso, was the highest priced filly at $170,000 Wednesday, and second highest priced horse for the sale. Consigned by Asmussenequine.com as agent, the filly, who was bred by Eric and Randi Moreau-Sipiere, breezed 10.2 for the 1/8th on Monday and was purchased by Whispering Oaks Farm, Coteau Grove Farms, Jackpot Farm, and Bill & Corinne Heiligbrodt. That same partnership also purchased hip 49, a Texas-bred filly by Cinco Charlie from the Asmussen Horse Center consignment, for $100,000.

“We’re obviously very grateful to our owners, breeders, consignors and their teams, and our buyers for helping make this 2024 sale a success,” Bridewell said.

In total, 64 horses sold for $2.199M in total sales. The average sale price was $34,367 and the median price was $24,500, both of those numbers were up compared to the 2023 sale.

Click Here for Full Results

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Six Tie for Co-Fastest Breezes in Texas

by Posted in 2-Year-Old Sale

(Grand Prairie, Texas) Six juveniles registered 10.1 breezes on Monday at the 2024 Texas Two-Year-Olds in Training Sale under tack show at Lone Star Park.

Facing a head wind all day at Lone Star Park, the six two-year-olds who stopped the clock in 10.1 are:

  • Hip 2:   Filly by Daredevil out of Chapellerie (IRE) (Acclamation); consigned by Pike Racing at Highlander, Agent
  • Hip 28: Colt by Street Boss out of Gemmizell (Gemologist); consigned by Pike Racing at Highlander, Agent
  • Hip 36: Filly by Outwork out of Hana Highway (Quality Road); consigned by Pike Racing at Highlander, Agent
  • Hip 42: Colt by Aurelius Maximus out of Katie Get Excited (Stevie Wonderboy); consigned by Pike Racing at Highlander, Agent
  • Hip 49: Filly by Cinco Charlie out of Loop Twenty (Heckle); consigned by Asmussen Horse Center, Agent
  • Hip 77: Filly by Cutting Humor out of Rita’s Fifty Seven (Ready’s Image); consigned by Bryan Ford Training Stables LLC

“Overall, it was a great breeze show,” TTA Sales Director Foster Bridewell said. “We had a head wind all day and the horses handled well. We had six tie for the fastest breeze of the day and many others stopped the clock in 10.2 and 10.3.”

Thirteen clocked an 1/8th of a mile in 10.2 and another eighteen stopped the timer in 10.3. One juvenile, Hip 73, a filly by Spun to Run from the Asmussenequine.com consignment clocked the only quarter-mile breeze of the day in 22.3.

“I think the track was consistent all day and that’s a credit to the track team at Lone Star Park,” Bridewell said. “Thank you to the team at Lone Star and to our consignors and owners for bringing a good group of horses to our sale.”

The breeze results and videos are available online at TTAsales.com. The 2024 Texas Two-Year-Olds in Training Sale is Wednesday, April 3rd, beginning at 10am CT, at Lone Star Park.