to 4k on a bad year (3 SW w/162 starters), but has to be the best bargain in California now! Bertrando goes down to 10K from 12.5, and Tribal rule goes up to $7,500 from 5k, a modest and well deserved increase.
Rancho San Miguel drops Comic Strip down to $2,500, coming off his best year ever, but I'm sure interest in him has waned.
Golden Eagle Farm drops Salt Lake from 10K to $7,500!
Ballena Vista drops Sea of Secrets to 4k (he got 91 mares in 2007) and Deputy Commanders' fee is pending. Beau Genius drops 1K to $3,000.
Benchmarks yearling avg. is 15k, but his numbers are very strong if you breed to run; 291 starters, 200 winners, LT earnings of $14 million, avg per starter of $50,649 w/a median of $19,522, 1.44 AEI vs 1.25 CI.
The Barretts sale obviously hit home and the stallion farms are well aware 2009 may be a slow year, though California is on 4% down on matings over the previous year (pre- stock market crash).
