Record-Breaking Night as Songbird, Tepin Star at Fasig

by Brian DiDonato, Jessica Martini & Ben Massam

LEXINGTON, KY–Propelled by an extremely strong catalogue of offerings and a diverse group of buyers, Monday evening's Fasig-Tipton November sale saw records fall and top prices soar. A total of 115 head sold for gross receipts of $74.2 million–the most money to ever change hands during the select one-day auction. The average was $645,217, up 4.9% from last year's corresponding figure and the third highest in auction history. The median was $250,000, tied for second all time behind only last year's highwater mark of $377,500. The RNA rate was 18.4% versus 27.9% 12 months ago. Seventeen mares eclipsed the million-dollar mark, while 15 achieved the same feat last term.

Champions Songbird (Medaglia d'Oro) (hip 120) and Tepin (Bernstein) (hip 130) always figured to lead the way and neither disappointed. The former brought $9.5 million from Mandy Pope's Whisper Hill Farm, making her the second-priciest broodmare prospect to sell in the U.S. all time behind only fellow Rick Porter colorbearer Havre de Grace (Saint Liam), who cost $10 million and also went to Pope. Tepin was hot on her heels, fetching $8 million from Coolmore's M.V. Magnier while in foal to red-hot sire Curlin.

“It was a record-breaking night,” said Fasig-Tipton President Boyd Browning. “It's all about the horses–we had a remarkable catalogue and remarkable results tonight. When people entrust their very best with you–horses like Songbird and Tepin–you get rewarded and you have a great sale. There was a great energy before the sale, and we knew we had a great catalogue. When you walked around the sales grounds and looked at the horses and saw the people looking at them, it was very encouraging and very positive. At the end of the day, we're dependent upon being able to put together a quality group of horses, and we were very fortunate to be entrusted with such a wonderful group of horses this year and they sold remarkably well.”

International buyers were prominent on the results sheet, with Japanese interests particularly active at the top of the market.

“We had horses who had international appeal,” Browning said. “You recruit and recruit and recruit the horses and you recruit and recruit and recruit the buyers, but we live in a sophisticated world. The buyers from Japan aren't coming because they love us. They're coming because there were quality horses in that catalogue tonight that fit their programs. As long as we're able to continue to attract horses who are of interest and of the quality they desire, we'll have international buyers. And if we quit attracting those horses, they'll quit coming. It was a very diverse group of buyers tonight, and not one person dominated the buyer list. It was a really active cross-section of buyers throughout.”

Weanlings also sold extremely well, with three foals surpassing the previous sales record of $620,000, including a pair of fillies–by Street Sense (hip 21) and American Pharoah (hip 46), respectively, who each brought $1 million.

“The foals jump-started the whole sale,” said Browning. “We had a great group of foals on the grounds this year. People gave us the opportunity with some quality foals, and they were rewarded and we were rewarded too. It really set the tone and got the whole thing rolling, and the foals too were supported by an international buying group.”

ANOTHER GEM FOR POPE

It was five years ago that Rick Porter offered his Horse of the Year Havre de Grace as a broodmare prospect at the Fasig-Tipton November sale and Mandy Pope took the champion home with for record-setting $10 million. It didn't take quite that much Monday, as Pope ultimately bid $9.5 million to secure Porter's two-time Eclipse champion Songbird (Medaglia d'Oro–Ivanavinalot, by West Acre) and the 4-year-old will now join Havre de Grace in Pope's jaw-dropping broodmare band.

“Havre de Grace was more exciting to be honest with you,” Pope said. “She was Horse of the Year so, to me, Havre de Grace is still the queen. Songbird has a little to overcome with that. So now they'll have their own broodmare battle starting.”

Pope admitted she went well past the limit she had set for herself to purchase Songbird.

“I didn't think I'd have to go that high,” Pope said. “I really had a budget and I really didn't keep to it. My accountant is not going to be very happy with me. I was not going to do it, but she's so awesome. And Havre de Grace wanted someone who cost about what she did. She was feeling a little lonely there.”

Of the champion's appeal, Pope added, “What an awesome racemare. What can you not say about her? She was awesome [on the racetrack] and she is awesome looking. She's by Medaglia d'Oro, who I think is one of the best sires, particularly with fillies, as she proved. But I think that there is the genetics there for her to go on and make a good mama. Fingers crossed, lots of prayers are needed.”

Out of graded stakes winner Ivanavinalot, Songbird (hip 120) was purchased by Porter's longtime bloodstock agent Tom McGreevy for $400,000 at the 2014 Fasig-Tipton Saratoga sale. The dark bay filly rolled through an unbeaten juvenile season, capped by a dominating score in the 2015 GI Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies. She was flawless again through much of her sophomore campaign, adding six graded tallies and entering the 2016 GI Breeders' Cup Distaff as the even-money favorite.

In a Distaff for the ages, Songbird came up just a half-nose short of Spendthrift's great champion Beholder (Henny Hughes). She added an additional two Grade I tallies in 2017.

“It's unbelievable,” Porter admitted after congratulating Pope on the purchase. “I'm just glad Mandy got her. I just can't imagine having a racehorse like this–the thrill she brought everybody, not just me. There was no better feeling than to watch her race and win for fun. I will never forget that my buddy Wayne Hughes beat me by half a nose, but she was just remarkable. There hasn't been another filly, in my opinion, and I'm a little biased, that has put on a show for the public like she did. And did it so easily. She won by a lot and she did it so easily.”

After signing the ticket on Songbird, Pope remained seated inside the pavilion alongside advisors Wayne Sweezey and Todd Quast, fueling speculation the Ocala resident would be back in action a few hips later for another outstanding racemare in Tepin (Bernstein). But Pope never made a bid on that two-time champion.

“Yes, I did think about Tepin,” Pope said. “But Songbird was more than I really thought she was going to be and Tepin was also more. So I can only do 'more' once. Tepin is also a very lovely mare with an outstanding race record and I wish Coolmore luck with her. I think I got the better mare, particularly for America. But you can't say enough about either one. Both were tremendous race mares.”

Asked for possible mating plans for Songbird, Pope said, “We'll regroup. I have a couple of ideas as to where to go. I could obviously send her to Frankel or to Galileo or Tapit or whoever I want to obviously, I think they'll take her. I just need to regroup and see how she is and decide which way I want to go.”

In addition to Havre de Grace, Pope's broodmare band also includes GI Kentucky Oaks winner Plum Pretty (Medaglia d'Oro), a $4.2 million purchase in 2012, Betterbetterbetter (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}), a $5.2 million purchase in 2013, and Groupie Doll (Bowman's Band), acquired for $3.1 million in 2013.

Pope sold a War Front filly out of Betterbetterbetter for $1.45 million at the 2015 Keeneland September sale, but colts out of Havre de Grace and Plum Pretty were both RNAs at that same auction. The breeder admitted Monday she has learned to be flexible with plans for her band.

“What I have learned, and what we all know, is plans seldom work in this business,” Pope said. “You end up, for whatever reason, keeping the colts, too. So right now, I haven't gotten anything sold out of Plum Pretty or Havre de Grace. Both the colts had little issues that I didn't get them sold and that's the way it goes. You have to be prepared to hang on to them and race them. I haven't pushed any of my horses and I won't push any of these. If it comes, it comes. Plans often go astray quickly and you have to be flexible. And be able to hang with it.” @JessMartiniTDN

TEPIN HEADING BACK OVERSEAS

Among the many accomplishments on champion Tepin (Bernstein)'s lengthy CV, perhaps none was as impressive or noteworthy as her victory in the 2016 G1 Queen Anne S. at Royal Ascot. The $4.4-million earner will be heading back overseas after Coolmore's M.V. Magnier went to $8 million to pick her up. Offered in foal to Curlin, she was consigned by ELiTE Sales as hip 130.

“It's a lot of money, but she was an excellent racehorse, and she's very good looking,” said Magnier, noting that Tepin would be mated to Coolmore's world-leading sire Galileo (Ire) next season. “She was a good 2-year-old, but she was good up until the age of five… [Trainer] Mark Casse did an incredible job with her throughout her career, and we're also very happy for [owner] Robert Masterson and his family that he got such a good price for such a good mare.”

Purchased for $140,000 by Robert Masterson with help from Deuce Greathouse at the 2012 Fasig-Tipton Saratoga sale, Tepin annexed the GIII Delta Princess S. on the dirt at two but blossomed at age four on the grass. An upset winner of the GII Distaff Turf Mile on Kentucky Derby day, she doubled up in the GI Just a Game S. five weeks later. After two close finishes–including when second to Monday's $1.85-million seller Dacita (Chi) (Scat Daddy) in the GII Ballston Spa S.–she aired by seven lengths in Keeneland's GI First Lady S. over Crowley's Law (GB) (Dubawi {Ire}), who went for $1.1 million at Fasig. After beating the boys handily in the GI Breeders' Cup Mile back in Lexington, she secured her first of two Eclipse Award for champion grass mare. Tepin carried her win streak into 2016, taking six straight, including the aforementioned Queen Anne and GI Ricoh Woodbine Mile. The bay concluded her racing career with runner-up efforts in both the First Lady and Breeders' Cup Mile.

“It made me cry–that's all I can say,” said a visibly moved Masterson after shaking the hands of representatives of the Coolmore contingent.

Jockey Julien Leparoux, who rode Tepin in each of her last 15 starts, was also on hand to see her off.

“It was great–she brought a lot of money and I'm happy she's going to a good home,” the Frenchman said. “It's special to see her back here… We'll miss her for sure–not only on the racetrack, but to be around. She was very nice too and very special to be around. We will definitely miss her.”

Bred by Machmer Hall, Tepin is a half-sister to MGSW Vyjack (Into Mischief) and a full to MGSP Prime Cut.

“A ton of people deserve credit, and I'm last–if I deserve anything at all,” ELiTE's Bradley Weisbord said. “Robert Masterson and Deuce Greathouse bought a beautiful Bernstein filly at Saratoga. Then they entrusted Mark Casse to train her. Mark and Norm did a world-class job not only to get her started at two, break her maiden at Keeneland and win a graded stake on the dirt and win the Breeders' Cup Mile, but then to take her to Royal Ascot and do something no American-trained horse had ever done before, which is win a group stake over a [route] distance, was unbelievable. Then, after that, Hill 'n' Dale did a wonderful job to breed her to Curlin–who's as hot as any sire in the world–and get her in foal on one cover. Lastly, Arthur Hancock's Stone Farm had her for the last 100 days preparing her for this auction. We got a lay-up–you couldn't miss with this mare.”

Weisbord admitted that while he had high hopes for Tepin, the price tag exceeded those expectations.

“Did I think she'd bring $8 million? No, but the market is as strong as it's ever been during my time in the horse business, which is 10 years, but really–if you study it–it's stronger than ever,” he said. “I'm glad that an amazing friend, Mr. Masterson, who I've known since I was born, was able to be the beneficiary of this mare, and that she's going to such a wonderful home. I only hope that we'll get to see her babies back in the States.” —@BDiDonatoTDN

BRANT STRIKES LATE FOR QUIDURA

Peter Brant, standing alongside trainer Chad Brown out back, bid the third-highest price of Monday's Fasig-Tipton November sale when going to $3.6 million to secure multiple graded stakes winner Quidura (GB) (Dubawi {Ire}–Quetena {Ger}, by Acatenango {Ger}) (hip 196) for his White Birch Farm.

Racing for her breeder, Gestuet Faehrhof, and trained by Graham Motion, the 4-year-old filly won the Sept. 16 GII Canadian S. She was defeated by just a head by the gutsy Lady Eli (Divine Park) in the GI Diana S. in July and was third in the GI Jenny Wiley S. in April.

While Brant and Brown declined to comment on the purchase, the filly's appeal was obvious to Joe Seitz of Brookdale Sales, which consigned the bay.

“She is such a special filly,” Seitz said. “She's an enigma. There is nothing like her in the world available. She was the only Grade I performing, race-ready Dubawi available anywhere in the world in 2017. And he is such a phenomenal sire–he's young and he's done so much already. So to have an opportunity to get into a family like that, from a Grade I performer like that, who is that beautiful, by that sire, just doesn't come around. I can see why people stretched. Because this is what we're looking for and she was beautiful. She is race-ready–she's turn-key and she can run tomorrow if need be.”

Out of stakes placed Quetena, Quidura is a half-sister to Group 1 winner Querari (Ger) (Oasis Dream {GB}), who stands Maine Chance Farm in South Africa, and group winner Quasillo (Ger) (Sea the Stars {Ire}).

Brookdale Sales was represented by a pair of seven-figure transactions Monday at Fasig-Tipton. The operation sold Mesa Fresca (Sky Mesa) for $2 million earlier in the evening.

“We've had a wonderful night,” Seitz said. “It felt really strong and hopefully it's a good sign for a long time.” @JessMartiniTDN

MTC STARTS SLOW, BUT FINISHES STRONG

Bidding seemed slow to get going for multiple Grade I-winning turfer Miss Temple City (Temple City) Monday evening, but it quickly picked up steam and kept on going until agent Steve Young was left signing the $2.5-million ticket.

“She's been good her whole life, and I hope she's good in her second career,” said Young, who declined to reveal who he was acting on behalf of. “She's a really super horse, and we had to fight hard to get her but I'm glad we did.”

He continued, “She'd run against colts, she'd run against older horses, she ran great in Europe, she's a Dynaformer-line horse who won going 5 1/2 furlongs. She's a very rare horse.”

Miss Temple City was consigned by Select Sales as hip 99 on behalf of The Club Racing LLC and partners. Bred by Bob Feld Bloodstock, she was bought back for just $10,000 as a Keeneland January short yearling in 2013. Turned over to Graham Motion, the dark bay won her first two starts at two, and was a stakes winner and four-time graded placed when she just missed in Keeneland's GI Queen Elizabeth II Challenge Cup S. at the end of her sophomore campaign.

Many thought she should have been put up in the QEII due to interference by the winner, but Miss Temple City got her Grade I next out when besting a strong group of males in last April's Maker's 46 Mile.

She defeated the likes of next-out GI Breeders' Cup Mile hero Tourist (Tiznow) in Keeneland's GI Shadwell Turf Mile S. that October, and added the GI Matriarch S. in December. A winner of the GIII Kentucky Downs Ladies Turf S. Sept. 9 over subsequent GI First Lady S. heroine Zipessa (City Zip), she racked up $1.68 million in earnings from a record of 20-7-3-3.

Miss Temple City's graded stakes-winning full-sister Pricedtoperfection brought $650,000 from SF Bloodstock here 12 months ago, and dam Glittering Tax (Artax) sold to agent John McCormack for $475,000 at the same sale in foal to Medaglia d'Oro. That resulting filly (hip 72) brought $650,000 from Chris Baccari Monday night. —@BDiDonatoTDN

MESA FRESCA TO CHEVELEY PARK STUD

Mesa Fresca (Sky Mesa–Mayan Maiden, by Lyphard) (hip 96) provided the early fireworks during the broodmare portion of Monday's Fasig-Tipton November sale, bringing a final bid of $2 million from Cheveley Park Stud. The dam of last year's GI Del Mar Oaks heroine Harmonize (Scat Daddy) was purchased as a mate for two-time Group 1 winner Ulysses (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}), who was the morning-line favorite in Saturday's GI Breeders' Cup Turf before being scratched.

“She is a very nice mare and she is a producer of a Grade I winner,” farm managing director Chris Richardson, who did his bidding out back alongside stud owner Patricia Thompson, said. “She is a mare that will visit Ulysses, who will be retiring to stand at Cheveley Park Stud. She is a good race mare. She is a proven producer. She was a mare that we just fell in love with.”

Richardson admitted he had to stretch to secure the 10-year-old mare, who sold in foal to War Front.

“I was at my limit, but Mr. and Mrs. David Thompson were taken with the pedigree and the mare herself,” Richardson said. “It's a lot of money, I know, but it's a pedigree that you can't acquire in England, so it's very exciting to have her.”

Asked if he would continue his shopping this week in Lexington, Richardson laughed, “I think I've run out of money now. It might have been if Ulysses had a run in the Breeders' Cup, I might have been able to buy more. We will watch another couple of mares through, but she was the big one.”

The 10-year-old Mesa Fresca was consigned by Brookdale Sales on behalf of Jack Swain. Swain's bloodstock advisor Larkin Armstrong purchased the mare, in foal to Badge of Silver, for $15,000 at the 2011 Keeneland November sale.

“I'm extremely happy with the sale,” Swain said via e-mail Monday evening. “Joe Seitz did a great job selling her, as did Fred Seitz and everyone at Brookdale Farm getting her to the sale. I'm also happy about the buyer, as I've heard she's going to a great new home.”

Swain continued, “It was a very hard decision to sell her, but I did so because this is a business. Fortunately, I have retained her beautiful Medaglia d'Oro weanling filly.”

Swain recently retired his homebred Miss Ella (Exchange Rate), winner of the 2015 GII Beaumont S. and 2016 GIII Buffalo Trace Franklin County S.

The mare's seven-figure final price tag was no surprise to Joe Seitz.

“We knew we were in the zone that we could get lucky and she would sell like that because she was such a special mare from a wonderful family,” Seitz said.

“It's an international family and she is in foal to such a hot international sire. It's a testament to Jack Swain with the graded stakes winners he's been breeding over the years. I think people are really starting to appreciate the stock that he is producing. I think that offers a lot of value. It's great to see this mare going to such an incredible place like Cheveley Park Stud where the family can proliferate overseas.” @JessMartiniTDN

CATCH A GLIMPSE HEADING TO THE FAR EAST

Japan-based K I Farm, which purchased Lexie Lou (Sligo Bay {Ire}) for an even $1 million at last year's Keeneland November sale, added another Canadian horse of the year to its broodmare band Monday at Fasig-Tipton when purchasing Catch a Glimpse (City Zip–Halo River, by Irish River {Fr}) (hip 157) for $3 million.

Bloodstock agent Takuya “Taki” Murayama signed the ticket on the chestnut filly out back as the 4-year-old's regular rider Florent Geroux looked on.

“They bought her as a broodmare prospect only,” Murayama said. “We are shipping her back to Japan and she will probably be bred to [2013 Japanese horse of the year] Lord Kanaloa (Jpn).”

Murayama admitted he was beyond his limit when making his final bid.

“Too much,” he said of the price before laughing, “We are not sure we can make payment.”

He added, “This market is too strong and we needed to fight. We thought she would be around $2 million. She was too much, but the client wanted to buy her.”

Catch a Glimpse was consigned to the November sale by Meg Levy's Bluewater Sales on behalf of owners Gary Barber, Mike Ambler and Jeff and Annabel Begg's Windways Farm. The Beggs purchased the filly for $75,000 at the 2014 Keeneland September sale.

Trained throughout her career by Mark Casse, Catch a Glimpse won the first eight turf starts of her career, including the 2015 GI Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies' Turf and the GI Belmont Oaks Invitational S. That streak also included a victory over males in the 2016 GIII Penn Mile S. She was named champion grass mare, champion 2-year-old filly and Horse of the Year in Canada in 2015. @JessMartiniTDN

NICKNAME CALLS OUT TO RADCLIFFE

Kerri Radcliffe has made no attempt to hide her self-proclaimed “love affair” with Scat Daddy, primarily dipping in to snag yearling and 2-year-old racing prospects by the late stallion for the fledgling, British-based Phoenix Thoroughbreds in 2017. Monday marked a new frontier for Radcliffe, who went to $3 million to secure GI Frizette S. winner Nickname (Scat Daddy) (Hip 102), offered as a broodmare prospect by Claiborne Farm.

“She's gorgeous, she's a collector's item,” Radcliffe said after signing the ticket for the dark bay. “She will be going back to England, and if we can, we will be going to a pretty good stallion called Galileo (Ire).”

Nickname has proven to be a gem of consistency on the racetrack, finishing no worse than fourth in her 11 career starts for the Roth Family's LNJ Foxwoods, who originally acquired the filly for $350,000 as a Keeneland September yearling.

Radcliffe said Phoenix Thoroughbreds could be active in acquiring more prospects for their growing broodmare band at the upcoming Keeneland November Sale, but she did not have a precise number in mind.

“[Buying mares] here is part of the plan for Phoenix Thoroughbreds,” Radcliffe said. “We love America.” —@BMassamTDN

DON ALBERTO ADDING BROODMARES

The Solari Family's Don Alberto Stable made a noticeable splash after some of the “big-name” mares passed through the sales ring Monday, going to $2.2 million to acquire American Story (Ghostzapper) (Hip 142), dam of GI Test S. heroine American Gal (Concord Point), and $1.85 million for Dacita (Chi) (Scat Daddy) (Hip 162), a Grade/Group 1 winner in both America and Chile.

Standing just outside the sales pavilion, Don Alberto's Carlos Heller said American Story's appeal was not limited to her impressive produce record.

“She's very strong, a beautiful mare, and she produced a Grade I winner, so she's easy to like” Heller said with a laugh. “We like Tapit…We think [a visit to] Tapit is very possible.”

Tapit, of course, is the sire of Concord Point, who has proven to be a more-than-suitable match for American Story. In addition to American Gal, the mare is also responsible for Americanize (Concord Point), winner of Saturday's Damascus S. on Del Mar's Breeders' Cup undercard.

Heller said he specifically honed in on Fasig-Tipton November and Book 1 of Keeneland's November Sale to add to the Don Alberto broodmare band. American Story is herself a half-sister to dual-Grade I winner Seventh Street (Street Cry {Ire}) and the well-traveled G1SP sprinter Reynaldothewizard (Speightstown).

Dacita was a dual champion in her native Chile–where Don Alberto is based–and transferred her strong turf form to the American lawn, capturing the GI Diana S. in 2016 and GI Beverly D. S. for trainer Chad Brown this year.

“She belongs to Chile,” said Don Alberto matriarch Liliana Solari. “She was a very good mare there, and a very good mare here. We are happy to have a Chilean mare here.”

Solari said that the stable did not yet have breeding plans for Dacita in 2018 finalized, but postulated that she could visit GI Breeders' Cup Dirt Mile winner Battle of Midway (Smart Strike) at some point. Don Alberto Stable and WinStar Farm purchased the colt privately ahead of his third-place finish in this May's GI Kentucky Derby.

In total, Solari estimated that Don Alberto has approximately 80 mares in Kentucky and 300 in Chile.

Don Alberto also scooped up Sweet Assassin (Tapit) (Hip 125), a full-sister to GISW Cupid and a half to MGSW Heart Ashley (Lion Heart) and GSW Ashley's Kitty (Tale of the Cat), for $750,000. Sweet Assassin's yearling full-sister sold for a sales season-topping $2.7 million to the Coolmore partners at the Keeneland September sale. —@BMassamTDN

A 'FINE' BUY FOR NORTHERN FARM

Finest City (City Zip) (Hip 171), champion sprinter of 2016, enjoyed her own time in the limelight Monday evening, hammering for $1.5 million to Katsumi Yoshida's Northern Farm. The chestnut, who won the GI Breeders' Cup Filly and Mare Sprint in 2016, offered plenty of appeal at a reasonable price, according to Shinsuke Yoshida, who is behind many of Northern Farm's overseas purchases.

“We are always bidding on a budget,” Yoshida said. “In this strong market, we could still get her at a good price. We are very happy…She's a racy looking mare and of course, she's a Breeders' Cup winner.”

Yoshida confirmed that Finest City would travel to Japan in the coming weeks, where Northern Farm will finalize their breeding plans for the new year.

“She will go to Northern Farm next month, but we haven't decided which stallion we will bring her to,” Yoshida said.

Finest City was a rousing success story for Seltzer Thoroughbreds and trainer Ian Kruljac, who originally purchased her for $85,000 as a Keeneland September yearling and transformed her into a three-time graded stakes winner with earnings in excess of $1.2 million. —@BMassamTDN

AMERICAN PHAROAH FILLY HITS A GRAND SLAM, BOUND FOR JAPAN

True to his lasting legacy in the sport, American Pharoah delivered the goods when his first foals passed through the sales ring Monday, highlighted by Hip 46–a half-sister to GISW Bodemeister–who hammered for $1 million to Emmanuel De Seroux of Narvick International. De Seroux, bidding on behalf of Yoshiyuki Ito's Grand Farm, scooped the filly up for a co-record setting price for a weanling at Fasig-Tipton November, equaling the mark set by Hip 21 earlier in the evening.

“She's a nice filly,” De Seroux said of Hip 46, who was consigned by Eaton Sales. “She's going to Japan–she was bought for Mr. Ito of Grand Farm. We love her type, and her pedigree is outstanding, obviously. Her mother sold for $5 million here a few years ago. There's a lot of pedigree there and conformation to go with it. We think she's a very nice prospect. Mr. Ito is a breeder, so he will keep her to breed, of course.”

De Seroux said he looked at many of American Pharoah's fillies on offer at the November sales and was impressed with what he saw. While the $1-million filly provided ample action for the Fasig-Tipton sale, he did not rule out the possibility of pursuing another offering later in the week.

“We're looking at [American Pharoah] fillies,” the bloodstock agent said. “We like them. There are a couple at Keeneland we like [as well]. He looks very promising.”

Untouched Talent captured the GIII Sorrento S. and placed in the GI Del Mar Debutante and GII Darley Alcibiades S. from just four starts on the racetrack. She sold three times in the aftermath of her racing career, culminating with a $5-million sale at this auction in 2012. While Bodemeister–himself the sire of this year's GI Kentucky Derby winner Always Dreaming–remains her claim to fame as a broodmare, she is also responsible for Fascinating, a twice Grade I-placed daughter of Smart Strike.

De Seroux said he is optimistic that Hip 46 will adapt well to Japanese racing.

“There's no reason why not,” De Seroux said. “In Japan, it's a plus if you can race on turf. We don't know for sure, but it's something we don't exclude.”

The American Pharoahs were prominent throughout Monday's sale, with a total of five weanlings selling for an average of $475,000. Hip 63, a half-brother to MGISP Giovanni Boldini (War Front) from the Hill 'n' Dale consignment, sold for $525,000 to International Equities Holdings.

“We expected good things,” said Aisling Duignan, Director of Bloodstock at Coolmore. “We had gone around and looked at all the foals and we really liked all the ones we saw. The one thing they all seemed to have in common is they all have incredible mechanics. Which he did as well. They are all beautiful movers and they move just the way that he did. They are all from wonderful female families, so you really couldn't be surprised that they would be as impressive as they were.” —@BMassamTDN

A 'CALLBACK' TO NOVEMBER '15

Jon Clay of Alpha Delta Stable and his bloodstock advisor Reynolds Bell failed to secure Grade I winner Callback (Street Sense) when she brought $2.8 million here as a racing/

broodmare prospect two years ago, but they didn't let her weanling full-sister go by. The bay miss was the first of two youngsters to reach the sale record $1-million mark Monday evening. She was consigned to the auction by Paramount Sales, Agent I as hip 21 on behalf of breeder Vincent Colbert.

“She's a nice filly, and a full-sister to a really nice filly,” Bell offered. “We're glad to be in the family and this was about the only way we figured we could get into the family. We tried real hard on Callback here [in 2015], so here we are.”

When asked about the price paid, Bell said, “That was about where we figured to be. We didn't want to pay a whole lot more, but that was about what we expected. She looked just like Callback, and that's what we liked about her–she looked just like her sister. We're glad to have her, and we hope she can run like her sister.”

Walpole, MA-based breeder Vincent Colbert was understandably elated after the sale.

“I don't know what to say–this is unreal,” he said while standing next to Tony Ocampo of Rose Hill Farm. “She's a beautiful filly and the mare's just awesome and doesn't get the respect she deserves. Tony's just awesome: he raises them, breeds them, takes great care of all my mares–I just write the checks.”

Callback and hip 21's unraced dam Quickest (Forest Wildcat) was the first horse Colbert bought when he paid $40,000 for her as a 2-year-old at the 2007 Keeneland January sale. Quickest's first foal sold for just $2,500 at the 2009 Keeneland November sale, but Quickest's page–which was already pretty strong–was about to get even better.

Quickest's half-brother Super Saver (Maria's Mon) took the 2010 GI Kentucky Derby, and another relative Girolamo (A.P. Indy) annexed the GI Vosburgh S. later that year. Extended family members Imagining (A.P. Indy) and Got Lucky (A.P. Indy) would add wins at the highest level, and that aforementioned $2,500 weanling, eventually named Defy Gravity (Bandini), would notch a stakes victory of her own and rack up $171,000-plus in earnings.

Colbert and his wife Marie had bought Quickest back for $360,000 carrying a Rock Hard Ten filly at FTKNOV '10, and sold the resulting foal–later stakes-placed hereself–for $160,000 at KEESEP before Callback brought $375,000 from Spendthrift Farm at the Fasig-Tipton Saratoga sale one year later in 2013. Arch colts out of the mare sold for $250,000 at Keeneland September '14 and $675,000 at FTSAUG '15.

“I wasn't going to sell if she didn't bring a million,” Colbert said of hip 21. “I know the family, and it just keeps getting better and better. The mare's carrying a filly by Frosted, so I'm going to keep her… I knew [hip 21] was a good one, I love Street Sense–I've got a couple mares in foal to Street Sense right now and another beautiful one on the ground.” —@BDiDonatoTDN