Steady Results at F-T July

LEXINGTON, KY – The Fasig-Tipton July Selected Yearlings Sale produced results largely in line with 2018 figures Tuesday in Lexington as a broad buying bench of pinhookers and end-users purchased 202 yearlings for a total of $18,621,000. The average dipped 8.6% to $92,183 and the median remained constant at $75,000.

WinStar Farm and the China Horse Club partnered to take home the day's top-priced lot, paying $440,000 for a son of Flatter from the Indian Creek consignment.

“All in all, it was about as expected,” Fasig-Tipton President Boyd Browning, Jr. said at the close of business Tuesday. “It was a fair and balanced marketplace and, statistically, it was remarkably similar to 2018 levels, which had a pretty good jump from 2017. I think it was kind of what everybody expected.”

The 2018 July sale saw a 7.7% jump in average and a 7.1% increase in median from the auction's 2017 renewal.

From a catalogue of 364 yearlings, 300 went through the ring and, with 98 failing to sell, the buy-back rate was 32.7%. That figure was 30.5% in 2018. Tuesday's $440,000 topper was one of 14 to sell for $200,000 or over, while 24 hit that mark a year ago.

“It's not an easy market, but it's not an impossible market,” Browning said. “I think if you asked the buyers what their experience was today, it was pretty tough to buy the horses they wanted to buy, with very, very competitive bidding. And I think if you ask the sellers about the market today, they would say it was ok, it was pretty good, but it was a little tougher than we hoped it would be on some of the horses in our consignment. Buyers always want it easier and the sellers always want it better.”

Bloodstock agent Jacob West recognized that there are plenty of yearlings still to be offered this summer and fall.

“The right ones are bringing the money,” West said. “I know some people might argue there are a couple of soft spots, but, at the end of the day, it is the first [yearling] sale of the year. Everybody knows that there are a plethora horses coming up in the next months, so they are being selective and I think it is showing up in the market. I think if you lead one here that everybody loves, you get paid for it.”

Consignor Duncan Taylor saw familiar trends at the July sale.

“I think it is the same old thing,” he said. “If you have something that vets good and is the horse everybody wants, you can get a lot of money. The horses that are fairly nice horses, but still aren't making the grade, are not getting sold.”

WinStar & China Horse Club Strike for Flatter Colt

A son of Flatter (Hip 22) sparked early fireworks at Newtown Paddocks Tuesday morning with the powerhouse team of WinStar and the China Horse Club bidding from the left side of the pavilion and top bloodstock agent Steve Young countering from the right side. When the dust settled, it was the China Horse Club's Michael Wallace left signing the $440,000 ticket on the colt surrounded by WinStar's Kenny Troutt, Elliott Walden and David Hanley.

“We thought he was the best horse here from a proven sire and he ticked what we liked for our racing program,” said Walden. “He has great balance. I think he will look good in the stud barn if he can win a Grade I.”

WinStar and China Horse Club have teamed up over the past few years with a focus on buying Classic-type colts. The partnership, along with SF Racing, Starlight Racing and Madaket Stables, has campaigned the likes of Triple Crown hero Justify (Scat Daddy) and GI Florida Derby victor Audible (Into Mischief).

As for the price on the Flatter yearling, Walden said, “He was right where we thought he would be. That is where the market should be on a colt like that.”

Consignor Indian Creek's Shack Parrish was pleased, but not surprised by the colt's price tag.

“I'd say we are happy,” Parrish said. “It might have been a little above, but not much. We knew if the end users stayed in, we could go there. If it was pinhookers, it would be another number, but the end users stayed in. The owner [Susan King], or ex-owner, is down at the barn hugging on him.”

He continued, “The level of interest has been overwhelming. He was foaled at our farm, went back to Susan's farm in Ohio, was weaned and came back. We knew he was nice, but in the last month and a half, he really did well. Susan raises these wonderful horses and our staff did an outstanding job getting him ready.” —@CDeBernardisTDN

Small Breeder Makes Big Profit at F-T July

Susan King keeps just 10 mares at her farm located 50 miles north of Cincinnati, Ohio, and she had her biggest sales success to date Tuesday when a Flatter colt she bred summoned $440,000 from WinStar's Maverick Racing and the China Horse Club.

“It was a surprise,” said King, whose husband Alan was shaking his head, adding he was not surprised by the final price. “I felt like he was well received, but I did not think that at all. It is very exciting. This is my best sale to date.”

Hip 22 is out of King-bred and MSP Ruth and Neva, who is a half-sister to GSW Sassy Sienna (Midshipman), who was purchased by Maverick Racing for $775,000 at last term's Keeneland November Sale. The mare's now-3-year-old filly Paynterbynumbers (Paynter) was a $95,000 FTKOCT yearling turned $200,000 BARAPR 2-year-old purchased by Michael Dubb. Ruth and Neva produced a Classic Empire colt Mar. 7 of this year.

When asked why she chose Flatter for the 11-year-old mare, who has only produced five foals, with two to race thus far, King said, “I think Flatter is a consistent stallion and gets runners. I was trying to breed something that would be a runner for her, something more proven.”

Hip 22 proved himself to be one to watch from the start, according to King, whose program is half Kentucky-breds and half Ohio-breds.

“He always seemed to be very forward,” the breeder said. “He is a very friendly and kind colt, easy to be around. He always looked good. When people came to the farm, they always asked, 'Who's that?' I always had a good feeling, but being such a small farm with six to seven foals per year, it is kind of hard to know where something really stacks up. I sent him to Kentucky to prep with Indian Creek and the rest is history. I had no idea he was that much of a standout. It is just so exciting.”   —@CDeBernardisTDN

Freshman Sires Continue to Standout at July

The Fasig-Tipton July Yearling Sale tends to be a showcase for first-year sires, and this year was no different. Seven freshman had offspring summon $200,000 or over, led by Darley's Frosted (Tapit) and Nyquist (Uncle Mo), who were both represented by $330,000 yearlings. Other freshman standouts include Outwork (Uncle Mo) (top yearling of $300,000), Speightster (Speightstown) ($285,000), Runhappy (Super Saver) ($225.000), Brody's Cause (Giant's Causeway) ($240,000) and Not This Time (Giant's Causeway) ($200,000). Exaggerator (Curlin) and Upstart (Flatter) did not break the $200,000 threshhold, but each held their own, with the former's top seller bringing $170,000 and the latter's summoning $140,000.

FROSTED

Foals from the first crop of three-time Grade I winner Frosted were very popular at the weanling sales last year and the demand for his offspring continued during 2019's first yearling auction. His top-priced yearling Tuesday was a $330,000 filly (Hip 246), signed for by Danielle Bricker on behalf of Let's Go Stables. Bred by H. Allen Poindexter, the gray daughter of SP Humble Street (Street Sense) was consigned by Wynnstay Sales.

“I really loved the Frosteds as weanlings,” said Bricker, who works for trainer Todd Pletcher and his clients. “I think he is going to be a good sire for racing. She just looked very athletic, had a huge walk to her, good angles. Overall, I just think she is the perfect size. As soon as she grows a little bit and fills out, she is going to be what we want to see on the racetrack.”

Frosted's most expensive weanling last year was a $310,000 colt and he had a filly sell for $300,000 with his weanlings averaging at $184,230. Due to his success in 2018, Bricker was not surprised that Hip 246 brought the price she did.

“We expected it,” said Bricker. “With the way the market has been showing and the way the Frosteds sold as yearlings, I expected she would be a bit pricey.”

Justin Casse also supported Frosted, going to $275,000 for a colt (Hip 158) consigned by Lane's End on behalf of breeder G. Watts Humphrey, Jr. The bay is out of Candy Crush (Candy Ride {Arg}), who is a half-sister to GSW English Affair (English Channel), SW & MGSP Seruni (Saint Liam) and SW Roman Emperor (Empire Maker).

“I think Frosted's performance in Saratoga and in the [GI] Met Mile is very memorable, so he was a dynamic racehorse,” said Casse, who was buying on behalf of an undisclosed client of both him and his brother, trainer Mark Casse. “I would say he is a very appealing first-year season, especially here, and this was one of the better pedigreed, first-year sired horses in the sale. He was really a smooth colt, good angles, athleticism, good walk. He looks like he will [go] two turns.”

Four of the five Frosted yearlings in the catalogue sold with one RNA. The group average was $228,750 with a median of $217,500. Frosted's first crop was bred on a $50,000 stud fee, which has remained steady in his two subsequent seasons.

“There is no doubt that from the get-go he was producing very strong physicals,” said Darley's Darren Fox. “Frequently, mare owners said, his were the mare's best foal. We saw early on that they tended to hit you in the face with their physique and they stayed that way. He has some very nice ones for Saratoga and for the rest of the year. We are very pleased with how they have developed and he certainly looks primed to make his mark, so we are very excited.”

NYQUIST

Not to be outdone by his stablemate at Jonabell, champion juvenile and GI Kentucky Derby hero Nyquist tied Frosted for highest-priced yearling by a first-crop sire with a $330,000 colt (Hip 333) purchased by bloodstock agent Ben McElroy.

“It is for the same partnership that owns 'TDN Rising Star' Nayibeth (Carpe Diem),” said McElroy, who was acting on behalf of Meribelle Stables and Dr. Ramon Tallaj. “I liked [the Nyquists] when I saw them as foals. This horse was a really nice horse with a top physical. I liked his brother when he sold a few years ago with Ciaran Dunne.”

He continued, “I thought he was one of the nicest horses in the sale. Nyquist was a phenomenal racehorse, champion 2-year-old, who won the Kentucky Derby, what's not to like?”

The colt, who is a half to SW & MGISP Red Vine (Candy Ride {Arg}), was bred by Highclere and Springtown Show Stables and was consigned by Stuart Morris.

“I think it is hard to expect any horse to be received that well,” said Morris. “We had high hopes that he could and we are very excited to see him in Wesley Ward's barn. He is a homebred for my father and a longtime partner of ours named Tim Wicks.”

The horseman continued, “My impressions [of Nyquist's first crop] are limited because that is one of the only ones I have been around and he is pretty nice, so my impression of Nyquist is pretty high. I think he is a very exciting young stallion and he has a bright future.”

Darley's Darren Fox, who has much more experience with Nyquist's first crop, expressed similar sentiments.

“He is a stallion who has been replicating himself pretty consistently,” said Fox. “He tends to stamp them. They are very nice, well-balanced horses and a lot of them are solid bays like he is. They seem to have good temperaments and just be very straightforward and very nice horses. Given what he achieved as an unbeaten 2-year-old through the [GI Kentucky] Derby, he definitely caught a lot of people's imagination. I think the market is primed for his progeny.”

Hip 333 was the highest-priced of three Nyquist yearlings to sell during Tuesday's sale. The bay, who has stood for $40,000 in each of his three seasons at stud, was also represented by Hip 70, who sold to Jacob West for $70,000, and Hip 315, who brought $10,000 from Webb Carroll Training Center.

OUTWORK

This GI Wood Memorial S.-winning son of Uncle Mo had 10 six-figure yearlings during Tuesday's auction, topped by a $300,000 colt (Hip 134). The WinStar stallion had 12 yearlings in this auction; 10 sold after one out and one RNA for an average of $107,500. This group was bred on a $15,000 stud fee, which Outwork also stood for in 2018 and 2019.

“They look like Uncle Mos and I think people can see that,” said WinStar's Elliott Walden. “With him being a horse that was 17 hands and could win at 4 1/2 furlongs and being the first winner for Uncle Mo is extremely impressive and he comes from a beautiful family. There is a lot to like about him and we felt like that when we stood him. He was received extremely well.”

He continued, “They are big, good-looking horses. Physically, they are well developed, which bodes well for them being 2-year-olds.”

Taylor Made Sales consigned the top-priced Outwork colt, who they purchased as a weanling for just $50,000. They also sold a filly by the stallion (hip 84), who was a $150,000 post-sale purchased by Crow-Sharp Ventures.

“From what I've seen go through, I think he is doing a great job,” said Taylor Made's Duncan Taylor. “We had a filly that was bought back, but was sold after the sale, so I think he is doing exceptional.”

SPEIGHTSTER

Standing alongside Outwork at WinStar is another promising freshman sire in GIII Dywer S. victor Speightster, whose sire Speightstown also resides in Kenny Troutt's stallion barn. Jacob West went to $285,000 to secure a colt from the young stallion's first crop (hip 169) on behalf of owners Robert and Lawana Low.

“Speightster only got to show his brilliance a handful of times during his race career, but he was a brilliant horse,” West said. “He is very well-bred and has a license to become a brilliant stallion.”

The bloodstock agent continued, “This colt in particular is from a very fast family with [Grade I winner] Capo Bastone (Street Boss) under the second dam. I have a lot of respect for him. We just thought he looked like a fast horse with a fast pedigree. Mr. and Mrs. Low got in behind and we got the horse.”

West was not surprised by the colt's price tag despite the fact his sire is still unproven.

“From the second I saw him, I knew he was going to be expensive,” West said. “I loved him. We were prepared to spend that much. We had an idea he would be very popular.”

Consigned by Denali Stud, Hip 169 was bred by WinStar out of the Mizzen Mast mare Cheap Perfume, a half-sister to the aforementioned Capo Bastone, winner of the GI King's Bishop S. and a 'TDN Rising Star.'

“We really liked him and thought he was one of the top five colts in the sale,” Walden said. “[WinStar's] David [Hanley] put him in here to showcase the stallion.”

Speightster stood his first season in 2017 for a fee of just $10,000 and he was offered at the same price in both 2018 and 2019. His six yearlings sold Tuesday averaged $140,833 with a median of $122,500.

“We have liked all the Outworks and the Speightsters,” said Walden. “We really liked an Exaggerator, Hip 9, earlier in the sale as well [who brought $170,000 from Ciaran Dunne's North London Bloodstock]. So we are happy with all of the stallions, Tourist (Tiznow) as well.”

Dunne was also quite pleased with his purchase of Hip 9, saying, “Exaggerator could run and the colt we bought was smooth and an easy mover. I think we very lucky with the Exaggerator colt because we got in there early and we bought him. I'll tell you next year how lucky we were.” —@CDeBernardisTDN

McPeek, Leeds Make it Work

Two years ago at the Fasig July sale, Ken McPeek acquired a colt from the first crop of Cairo Prince for Scott Leeds's Walking L Thoroughbreds. The yearling turned into graded stakes-winning juvenile Cairo Cat. McPeek was back in action on behalf of the owner Tuesday in Lexington, going to $300,000 to purchase a colt from the first crop of GI Wood Memorial winner Outwork (Uncle Mo) from the Taylor Made Sales Agency consignment.

“There was a lot of Uncle Mo coming out in this colt,” McPeek said. “I was fortunate enough to be around him a bit when he was young and he looked a lot like him. He might even be a better-looking horse than Uncle Mo himself. It looks like he'll grow into himself.”

The yearling (hip 134) is out of graded stakes-placed Back Spin (Successful Appeal). Bred by Jose Luis Espinoza, the colt was purchased by D W Partners for $50,000 at last year's Keeneland November sale.

“We bought him to pinhook,” said Taylor Made's Duncan Taylor. “You never expect $300,000, but he was a very nice horse. We had a lot of interest, a lot of activity and he looked very good. It exceeded our expectations.”

McPeek purchased 11 horses Tuesday for a total of $1.4 million. He also purchased a filly by Runhappy (hip 202) for $225,000 and a colt by Summer Front (hip 360) for $200,000. @JessMartiniTDN

Young Strikes for Empire Maker Colt

A colt from Empire Maker's second crop since being repatriated to Gainesway from Japan sold for $300,000 to bloodstock agent Steve Young Tuesday at Fasig-Tipton. The yearling (hip 320) was consigned by Shawhan Place as agent for his breeders, Austin and Brenda Paul.

“I liked the Empire Maker of Gainesway's,” Young said, referring to the Gainesway-consigned hip 263, a granddaughter of MGISP Resort (Pleasant Colony), who RNA'd for $245,000 earlier in the session. “I always thought that Phipps family, especially coming through Resort, would throw a terrific horse, but when we went and looked at this horse, this is a faster, quicker, athletic horse, to me, plus he comes from [GISW] Materiality's family. So, if he's as good as that horse is, we'll be all right.”

Austin and Brenda Paul purchased the yearling's unraced dam Miss Patchouli (Bernardini) for $160,000 at the 2013 Keeneland November sale. She is a half-sister to Grade I winner Snow Ridge (Tobasco Cat) and stakes winner Pavarotti (A.P. Indy). Materiality, winner of the GI Florida Derby, appears under the yearling's third dam.

“He was a rockstar for us up here from day one,” said Shawhan Place Farm Manager Gus Koch. “He's a nice big colt and very classy. He did everything we asked of him. We brought him here hoping he'd be the standout of the sale and we feel he was. So our plan paid out perfectly.” @JessMartiniTDN

Munnings Colt to Cox

A colt by Munnings will be joining the barn of trainer Brad Cox after the partnership of Rick Keuber and Ten Strike Racing purchased the yearling for $265,000 Tuesday at Fasig-Tipton. Bloodstock agent Liz Crow, standing alongside Cox in the pavilion, signed the ticket on the bay (hip 105), who is the first foal out of the unraced Walking Miracle (Into Mischief).

“Brad loved the horse and I loved the horse,” Crow said. “The Munnings side on top looks quick, you could see that physically, and the Into Mischief showed a lot through his physical as well.”

The bay colt, consigned by Eaton Sales, is from the family of Grade I winner Mast Track. Bred by McCauley Farms and Nathan McCauley, the youngster sold to Bloodstock Management Services for $55,000 at last year's Keeneland November sale.

Crow was busy during Tuesday's first yearling sale of the season, ultimately purchasing five yearlings. In addition to hip 105, she purchased another Munnings colt (hip 144) for $120,000, an Outwork filly (hip 84) for $150,000 and a Point of Entry filly (hip 229) for $130,000.

“We liked a lot of the physicals here,” she said. “[Keeneland] September is always strong and there are a lot of agents who aren't here at this sale. I always find if you don't strike now, you end up regretting it in September.” @JessMartiniTDN

Campion Strikes Early at Fasig July

Padraig Campion's Blandford Stud had just one yearling to send through the sales ring at Fasig-Tipton and the colt went through in the opening stages of Tuesday auction, but it was a good one. Hip 9, a colt from the first crop of GI Preakness S. winner Exaggerator, sold for $170,000 to pinhooker Ciaran Dunne, who signed the ticket as North London Bloodstock. Blandford Stud had purchased Radiant Ruby (Tale of the Cat), with the colt in utero, for $42,000 at the 2017 Keeneland November sale, and the yearling was co-bred by the operation and Brian O'Rourke.

“He didn't bring as much as I wanted, but he brought more than I was expecting,” Campion said with a laugh.

He continued, “I think he's a very special colt and we'll be hearing about him.”

Radiant Ruby is a daughter of Throw to Home (Grand Slam) and her second dam is Slide (Smarten), who produced graded stakes winner Santiva. Campion had plenty of experience with the family when the mare went through the ring at Keeneland.

“I had sold a bunch of horses out of Slide, so I knew the pedigree very well,” Campion said. “And we actually claimed Throw to Home. She died after having two foals, so that explains the pedigree being a little bit light there. When we saw her in the sale, we decided we'd have a crack.”

But Campion's knowledge of the pedigree wasn't the only reason to add the broodmare to his band.

“Plus, she was hip number 2346 and that was [part of] our phone number.” he said jokingly. “So I thought that was a sign. And then the colt came out looking like that.”

Blandford Stud has a broodmare band of four head and Campion said, “Radiant Ruby is the number one now.”

While the 8-year-old mare's 2019 foal died, she is currently in foal to Midnight Lute.

Hip 9 was Exaggerator's first yearling to go through the sales ring. Campion sees plenty to be optimistic about the stallion who won the 2016 Preakness, GI Haskell Invitational and GI Santa Anita Derby.

“You can't go wrong–it's the first year and they haven't done anything wrong yet,” he said. “Exaggerator was a racehorse. You win three Grade Is, that's quite a good thing. And he's by Curlin. He has every chance to make it, especially if they all look like this one.”

Blandford Stud eased into the yearling sales season with the one-horse consignment, but Campion is gearing up for a busy fall of selling.

“I have to thank Gerry Dilger at Dromoland [Farm], he got him ready for us because we only had the one horse,” Campion said. “So Gerry did his usual outstanding job.” @JessMartiniTDN