A yearling by two-time Grade 1 winner and first crop sire Gunite led the way at the 2026 Texas Summer Yearling Sale at the Mary Ruyle Sales Pavilion at Lone Star Park in Grand Prairie, Texas.
The hammer fell at $140,000 for the Texas-bred son of Gunite, selling as hip 41, who is the second foal out of the winning American Pharoah mare Wild America. Ken Reimer purchased the colt who hails from the immediate family of Grade 3 winner Wild About Hilary. Scott Mallory, Agent for Greenhill at Dunvegan, consigned the colt.
“Who wouldn’t want to buy a good Gunite,” Susan Montanye, agent for Ken Reimer, said. “He looks fast and classy. We’ll take him to Florida and get him going then we’ll send him to Steve Asmussen to race.”
Reimer was also the buyer for hip 52, a colt by Cyberknife consigned by Scott Mallory for $95,000, and hip 74, a colt by Pappacap consigned by Vinery Sales for $90,000.
“Ken has had good luck buying out of the Texas Sale with stakes winners like Braken Poppa and Thebabeslayer,” Montanye said. “The Cyberknife reminded us of Thebabeslayer, he is smooth and athletic, and the Pappacap is a colt with good bone, substance, and looks like he’ll stretch out.”
One-hundred-eight yearlings sold for a total of $1,920,100. The average was $17,779, an increase of about 10% compared to the 2025 Texas Summer Yearling Sale. The median increased by more than 30% year over year at $10,000 this year; the median was $7,500 in 2025. Thirty-two yearlings did not meet the reserve.
“We’re obviously happy with the results, especially with the increase in the average and median because it shows the quality we had on the grounds,” TTA Sales Director Foster Bridewell said. “And I must express gratitude to our consignors, buyers, and the horses who all had to deal with very hot temperatures over the showing days. We thank everyone for that and, considering the results, I think they found good horses here in Texas.”
The Horses of Racing Age section concluded with eight of ten offerings sold for a total of $158,500. Four-time winner Blingster topped the Horses of Racing Age portion of the sale when he sold for $42,000. Sean Perl, agent for Danielle Ferguson, signed the ticket on the stakes-placed Texas-bred son of Bradester.
Full results are available at TTAsales.com.
The Texas Summer Yearling Sale was held Tuesday at Lone Star Park with the largest catalog of horses since the Texas Thoroughbred Association took over operation of the auction in 2016. This year’s yearling session had 234 head go through the ring with 182 selling for a total of $2,918,100. The average came in at $16,034 and the median was $7,500, which both declined from last year’s smaller catalog of 187. Last year’s total sales were $2,685,200 with an average of $18,910 and median of $13,000.
On the occasion of Mary Ruyle’s retirement after 37 years with the Texas Thoroughbred Association, buyers and consigners will notice a few changes at the upcoming TTA Yearling Sale.