The gross sales for the first session were $7,622,000, a 12.4% decrease from last year, when 64 horses went through the ring, compared to 63 this year. The average dropped from $130,281 last year to $120,894, while the median remained at $100,000.
Sweet Azteca won a pace duel with the speedy Thermal to take the Rancho Bernardo Stakes at Del Mar for the third straight year. Juan Hernandez was aboard the 6-year-old daughter of Sharp Azteca for trainer Richard Baltas.
Michael Tabor's Survie earned a unique double by capturing two graded stakes at Saratoga Race Course just 13 days apart, completing the task with a flying finish Aug. 15 in the $750,000 Christophe Clement Turf (G1T).