By Jessica Martini
TIMONIUM, MD – Fasig-Tipton was forced to halt the under-tack preview of its Midlantic May 2-Year-Olds in Training Sale Thursday after a fatal breakdown that was followed by a sudden downpour. Sales officials announced Thursday evening that the preview would resume Sunday at 8 a.m. and that the sale, originally scheduled to be held next Monday and Tuesday, will be held in one session Tuesday beginning at 10 a.m.
The preview has been beset by weather issues and the sales company postponed Tuesday's scheduled start by a day. The Wednesday session began an hour later than originally scheduled, but proceeded without any noticeable issues.
Thursday's session, which again started an hour late, was nearing its halfway point with the sun breaking through the clouds several times, but was stopped when a filly by Practical Joke (hip 355) was injured heading into the turn after completing her furlong work.
“It's obviously something that is very sad and something everyone hates to see,” Fasig-Tipton President Boyd Browning said of the filly's injury. “We work very diligently and strive to create the highest standards of horse safety and welfare at all our auctions and really in everything we do. It's devastating when something like that happens.”
As the filly was being attended to, the clouds moved in again and soon the rain was pelting the track. With the rain picking up in intensity, a group of officials and riders gathered on the track near where the filly had fallen and were huddled up for some time. When the group dispersed, the announcement was made that the under-tack show would be abandoned for the day.
“After that [injury] happened, the clouds opened up and we got another torrential downpour that was really frankly unexpected when you looked at the forecast,” Browning continued. “We initially were going to try to plan to go [Friday] and I asked the track officials to go back over and evaluate the track and at the end of the day, they thought they needed to open up the track and give it time and opportunity to dry out over the next few days. So they are working the track tonight and tomorrow and again on Saturday. The forecast on Sunday is very favorable. So we will do the best we can under those circumstances.”
Of the area where the filly broke down, Browning added, “Whenever there is an incident that occurs, everybody wants to scrutinize the area and evaluate it. You had a lot of activity in that area with the horse ambulance there and so forth. I don't think there was anything specific to do with that location. A lot of horses went through that path, but there was no glaring issue with that area of the track.”
Browning confirmed the filly has been sent for a necropsy.
Prior to the suspension of the under-tack show Thursday afternoon, four horses shared the show's fastest furlong time of :10 1/5, with two of the quartet coming from the Pike Racing at Highlander consignment of veteran horseman Al Pike, who is overseeing his final consignment before retiring. Setting the bullet mark during the day's first set was a filly from the first crop of Yaupon (hip 219).
“I was very happy with her,” Pike said. “She's been that kind of filly at home. Just straightforward and does everything right. Just naturally has got some speed to her.”
Out of Lake Como (Salt Lake), the juvenile is a half-sister to multiple stakes winner and multiple group placed Cosmo Charlie (Stay Thirsty). She was purchased by Susan Moulton for $90,000 at last year's Fasig-Tipton July sale.
Of Yaupon's fast start at stud, Pike said, “They all show up and they all seem to be pretty quick. I've had two, I had success with one in March and this filly should sell well, too.”
The Pike Racing at Highlander consignment had a second bullet in the day's third set with a colt by Munnings (hip 258). The chestnut is out of graded-placed Minewander (Mineshaft) and is a full-brother to graded placed Landeskog. He sold to Chad Frederick for $120,000 at the Fasig-Tipton February sale last year and RNA'd for $180,000 at the Fasig-Tipton Saratoga sale in August.
“We took him to OBS March and he dumbfounded us,” Pike said. “He did not perform like we had seen him perform. So we just changed course and gave him another shot up here. He just got better every day. I think he liked the dirt and maybe he got a little more mature.”
Pike, who has been director of sales and conditioner for 2-year-olds in training at Highlander Training Center since 2023, is set to retire following the Midlantic sale next week, with Colin Brennan named as his replacement.
“This is it,” Pike confirmed of his retirement. “I have mixed emotions. But I am getting up there in age and I've got some things I want to do.”
Hip 334 | Fasig-Tipton
Also working in :10 1/5 Thursday was hip 334, a colt by Into Mischief out of stakes winner Quick Flip (Speightstown). Consigned by Raul Reyes's Kings Equine on behalf of his breeder, Spendthrift Farm, the juvenile is a half-brother to graded winner and multiple Grade I-placed Following Sea (Runhappy).
“I knew he had a lot of talent and he was fast, but I didn't know how he would take to the sloppy track,” said Reyes. “But he did pretty good.”
Wavertree Stables had its third bullet worker of the under-tack show with a filly by Girvin (hip 368, video). Out of Scarlet Dixie (Broken Vow), the dark bay was purchased for $240,000 at the Keeneland September sale.
Not a subscriber? Click here to sign up for the daily PDF or alerts.
