Bevy of Tens as Midlantic Preview Concludes

TIMONIUM, MD – The three-day under-tack preview of the Fasig-Tipton Midlantic 2-Year-Olds in Training sale concluded Thursday in Timonium with four juveniles tying the preview's fastest furlong mark of :10 flat and an additional two tying the bullet quarter-mile work of :21 3/5.

“The track was consistent, for the most part, each day from start to finish,” Fasig-Tipton President Boyd Browning, Jr. said at the conclusion of the breeze show Thursday. “Obviously, the weather conditions on Wednesday and Thursday were more favorable than they were on Tuesday, but all in all, it was a very good display of quality horses. It was a well-attended breeze show, so we're optimistic for the sale Monday and Tuesday.”

Early in the day's first session, a filly by Violence (hip 467) became the second horse of the preview to work a furlong in :10 flat. Consigned by Crupi's New Castle Farm, the dark bay filly is out of Significant Other (Not for Love) and is a half to stakes winner Marriedtothemusic (Disco Rico). J.J. Crupi, who purchased the youngster for $210,000 at last year's Fasig-Tipton New York-bred Yearling sale, thought the filly could have gone even faster, but for a hop midway down the stretch.

“She kind of ducked from the rail,” Crupi said, adding the filly galloped out in :21 and :33 3/5. “She's always been fast. I had her in Miami [at the Fasig-Tipton Gulfstream sale] and she got sick on me and I had to scratch her.”

Crupi, who has been dealing with health issues of his own, watched the work trackside from a golf cart. “Everything is good,” the consignor said of his condition. “All my tests are textbook and I'm feeling better.”

A filly from the first crop of Grade I winner The Big Beast (Yes It's True) (hip 535) was the second to work the furlong in :10 flat Thursday. The gray filly is out of Therese (Exchange Rate), a half-sister to Grade I winner Proud Accolade (Yes It's True). She is consigned by Wavertree Stables.

“She's just quick,” Wavertree's Ciaran Dunne said of the filly. “We had pretty high expectations for her all the time coming up here and she's had a good week here, so we weren't surprised she went that quick.”

The filly was purchased by Dunne's Owls Bloodstock for $45,000 at last year's OBS October sale.

“She is a beautiful filly,” Dunne said. “She's got a bit of stretch and length about her and a huge hip and she is a great-minded little filly, too. Nothing bothers her. She is automatic, push button. She does whatever you want her to do. She is an easy one to be around.”

Becky Thomas's Sequel Bloodstock sent out a colt by Flatter (hip 574) to work the co-bullet furlong in :10 flat. Out of stakes placed Veronica's Lake (Salt Lake), the chestnut colt was purchased by Thomas and Lewis Lakin for $70,000 at last year's Keeneland September sale.

“He's by Flatter out of a Salt Lake mare and he looks fast,” Thomas said of the colt's appeal last fall. “I had him at OBS [March], but some horses don't really like that synthetic. He worked there, but I wasn't particularly enamored with the work, so we took him out. We wanted to try him on dirt. And I guess he liked it.”

Bobby Dodd sent out the first horse of the preview to hit the :10 flat mark during Wednesday's second session and the consignor sent out the final one, as well. Hip 590 is a filly from the first crop of Grade I winner Wicked Strong (Hard Spun). She is out of With Wonder (Flatter), a half-sister to graded placed Mazella (Mazel Trick).

“She's just a fast filly,” Dodd said after the bay's :10 flat work.

Dodd purchased the youngster for $17,000 at last year's Keeneland September sale.

“I liked her body and she was correct,” Dodd explained. “She's really pretty.”

A filly by Cairo Prince (hip 424) tied the fastest quarter-mile breeze time of the preview when covering the distance in :21 3/5 during Thursday's first set. The dark bay filly is the first foal out of multiple stakes placed Rico's Posse (Posse). She is consigned to the Midlantic sale by De Meric Sales and was purchased by the De Merics for $145,000 as a weanling at the 2017 Keeneland November sale.

A colt from the first crop of Grade I winner Daredevil (More Than Ready) (hip 445) also worked the quarter in :21 3/5. The bay, the first foal out of Seattle Charlie (Indian Charlie), is consigned by Lane Richardson's Richardson Bloodstock and was purchased by Richardson's father, trainer Mike Neatherlin, for $100,000 at last year's Keeneland September sale.

“I told my son this was the best baby I've had in a long time,” Neatherlin said. “I knew he was a runner–he'll run all day. And he's a beautiful mover.”

The preview was marred by the fatal breakdown of a colt by Tale of the Cat, who fell to the track entering the backstretch while galloping out after his furlong work during the day's fourth set.

“We had a horse who suffered an injury who was unable to be saved and was put down on the racetrack,” Browning said. “He will be sent to New Bolton for a complete necropsy.”

The Fasig-Tipton Midlantic sale will be held next Monday and Tuesday at the Maryland State Fairgrounds, with bidding beginning each day at 11 a.m.