In order to provide buyers with the best tools to find a future champion, sales companies hold under tack shows, or breeze shows, in which the cataloged juveniles perform brisk breezes. These works typically are performed at the distance of one furlong, though juveniles sometimes breeze a quarter-mile or even three furlongs. While viewing these works, possible buyers are able to attempt to measure the potential in the cataloged two-year-olds, judging not only the time in which the breezes are executed, but the manner in which the horses travel. Other means of selecting the best purchase include analyzing a horse’s pedigree, conformation, and attitude.

Some prefer to purchase two-year-olds rather than yearlings, as juveniles are closer to their racing debut and are much more mature, physically and mentally. However, horses entered in two-year-old sales have usually been placed under great pressure, which may ensue in soundness, or even mental, issues.

But purchasing a two-year-old at auction can certainly bring great success. In fact, 2012 Kentucky Derby and Preakness winner I’ll Have Another was sold at the OBS Spring Sale of Two-Year-Olds in Training of April 2011 after having been purchased as a pinhooking prospect – or a horse bought for with the purpose of reselling – as a yearling. Graduates of 2012 two-year-old sales include the grade one winners Executiveprivilege (OBS April), Rolling Fog (OBS April), and Spring in the Air (OBS March), as well as the graded stakes winners Balance the Books (Keeneland April), Goldencents (OBS June), Honorable Dillon (Fasig-Tipton Florida), Kauai Katie (Fasig-Tipton Florida), Know More (Barretts May) and What a Name (Keeneland April).

Last year, the amount of juveniles sold at select two-year-old sales was down, but the average price tag for two-year-olds bought at the quartet of select juvenile sales held annually increased nearly 19% from 2011’s average purchase price. The median also improved by nearly 28%. Though buy-back rates increased, high-priced horses were less rare than they were in 2011, with three two-year-olds being purchased for seven figures as opposed to just one in 2011.

Three select juvenile sales, the Barretts March Sale, the OBS Selected Sale (March Sale), and the Fasig-Tipton Florida Sale, have already released their catalogs. The Barretts sale has cataloged 138 two-year-olds, down 11 horses from last year, whereas the OBS sale has 345 horses entered, down 17 horses from last year. Fasig-Tipton’s Florida Sale has cataloged 136 juveniles as opposed to last year’s 167; the company’s Texas auction has cataloged 131 two-year-olds, down from last year’s 150.

“Our expectations for the sales are much the same as last year,” Eddie Woods, who in recent years has sold the likes of classic winners Big Brown and Union Rags at two-year-old sales, said. “Two-year-old sales are leaning towards the higher end of the market. . . and that is the healthiest place to be.  A lot of that is due to the success of the two-year-old graduates across the board all over the country.  This is something we are extremely proud of, and hopefully it continues to proliferate.”

2013 Two-Year-Old Sales Schedule

Photo courtesy of Terri Cage