It was a winner’s market for buyers and sellers at the Preferred Breeders Sale Sessions I and II, on Wednesday and Thursday, December 7 and 8, during the NCHA Futurity Sales in Fort Worth, Tex., where 88 percent of the 349 horses offered sold for $4,324,600. Session II set the standard with an average of $17,290 on 145 horses sold, while Session I set the bar with 90.5 percent sold from 178 through the ring.

The high-seller from both sessions, at $93,000, was Desires Smart Lena, a 2002 mare by Smart Little Lena, who sold on Thursday. Consigned by Old Tascosa and last bred to Dual Rey on May 22, Desires Smart Lena is the dam of Desires Blue Trinity LTE $190,038, as well as three other NCHA earners, for a total of $321,075 in offspring earnings. She was purchased by Dr. Richard Beck, Hemet, Calif.

Desires High Fives at $85,000 was the second-highest seller from both sessions. The 2015 High Brow Cat colt was consigned by Rockin 5 Ranch and purchased by Richard Taggard, Henderson, Nev. His dam, Desire Some Freckles LTE $205,444, has produced earners of $1.2 million, including Thundercat LTE $306,644, a full brother to Desires Some Five.

Swiss Cat Pepto LTE $165,977, a 2009 mare by Sweet Lil Pepto, was the high-seller and the high-selling mare from Session I, at $80,000. Consigned by Jeff and Margaret McCoy and purchased by Center Ranch, Centerville, Tex., Swiss Cat Pepto sold with an embryo by Sanman, conceived on April 6, 2016.

Center Ranch also purchased Beechfork Ranch consignment Catotonic for $65,000. The 2015 Highbrow Cat colt is out of The Doctress Orders LTE $150,752, dam of earners of $549,874, including Boonsmal Doctress LTE $210,856.

The NCHA Futurity Sales continue on Friday, December 9, with the Preferred Breeders Sale Session III, and conclude with the NCHA Futurity Cutting Horse Sale on Saturday, December 10, preceding the NCHA Open Futurity Finals.  For the full catalog of sales go to www.westernbloodstock.com.