LEXINGTON, Ky. – The Selected Yearlings Showcase concluded its two-day run in Lexington, KY on Thursday with another solid session of sales, led by a seven-figure colt from the third crop of last year’s champion first-crop sire American Pharoah.
Speedway Stables purchased the session-topper for $1,250,000 from the consignment of Denali Stud, agent. Offered as Hip 400, the American Pharoah colt is out of the stakes winning Victory Gallop mare Swingit, whose first five starters are all winners, including multiple Grade 1 placed millionaire Neolithic (Harlan’s Holiday).
This colt is also a half-sibling to Travel Column (Frosted), who broke her maiden impressively on debut at Churchill Downs on Kentucky Oaks day. The session topper hails from the immediate family of champions Housemaster and Carnuaba. Hip 400 was bred in Kentucky by Mr. & Mrs. Bayne Welker Jr.
The second highest price on the day was $800,000 paid for Hip 501, a colt by Into Mischief, last year’s champion sire, current leading sire, and sire of Kentucky Derby (G1) winner Authentic. That colt was purchased by Donato Lanni, agent for SF/Starlight/Madaket from the consignment of Indian Creek, agent. Hip 501 is the first foal out of Blind Copy, a full sister to juvenile stakes winner Lucky Folie, from the immediate family of Grade 1 winners Golden Pheasant and Henley’s Joy. Hip 501 was bred in Kentucky by Fifth Avenue Bloodstock.
The sale’s top priced filly came during the first session, when Hip 232, a filly by Quality Road out of Irish One Thousand Guineas (G1) winner Marvellous (IRE) sold to Robbie Medina, agent for Joseph Allen, for $1,500,000. The top filly was consigned by Hill ‘n’ Dale Sales Agency, agent (‘Marvellous’ Quality Road Filly Tops First Session of Selected Yearlings Showcase).
Other top sellers for the first session, Wednesday, September 9 include:
Hip 71, a colt by Candy Ride (ARG) out of the unraced Any Given Saturday mare Sweet Love bred in New York by Joe Fafone. The bay was purchased for $295,000 by Dr Dermot O’Byrne from the consignment of Eaton Sales, agent.
This colt is a full sister to graded stakes winner Adventist ($661,005). Dam is also a half-sister to nine other winners, including group stakes winner Dijeerr and multiple stakes winners Isn’t He Clever and Sharp Writer. The immediate family includes Flag Down, a five-time Grade 2 winner in North America and two-time group stakes winner in France.
Bred in New York by Barry R. Ostrager, Hip 135, a colt by Tiznow, was purchased for $300,000 by Jackson Knowlton for Sackatoga Stable from the consignment of Hunter Valley Farm, agent.
This colt is out of the stakes placed Gilded Time mare Eternal Grace. That mare has produced four winners to date, including stakes winner Bye Bye Bernie, twice Grade 2 placed; graded stakes placed Joe Franklin; and multiple stakes placed Little Dipper. This is the immediate family of Grade 1 winners Mr. Fritz and Tallon, as well as of New York-bred graded stakes winner and 13-time victor Control Group ($669,373).
Hip 285, a filly by two-time Horse of the Year Curlin, sold for $700,000. The chestnut filly was purchased by Donato Lanni, agent for Michael Lund Petersen, from the consignment of Blue Heaven Farm, also the breeder.
Curlin is the sire of top fillies like this year’s Coaching Club American Oaks (G1) Paris Lights; Eclipse Champion Stellar Wind; and multiple Grade 1 winner Curalina.
This Kentucky-bred filly is out the graded stakes winning Newfoundland mare Our Khrysty, already the dam of three winners, including Grade 2 placed filly Virginia Key. Our Khrysty is a half-sister to seven other winners, including to Grade 1 winner Bullsbay; multiple stakes winner Vegas No Show; and stakes winner Hidden Expression, who produced stakes winner Mask. The immediate family includes Grade 1 winning millionaire Grecian Flight.
“One of the greatest compliments you can have is when someone entrusts you with something of value,” said Fasig-Tipton President Boyd Browning on the success of the sale despite the uncertainty brought to the industry by the Coronavirus-19 pandemic.
“Our commitment to those men and women was that we were going to do everything we possibly could to create the most viable marketplace under the circumstances… I think we did that.”
Overall, 348 yearlings changed hands for $61,765,000. The average was $177,486 and the median was $120,000.
Results are available online.
Edited Press Release
Photos: At $1,250,000, Hip 400 was top seller for session two (left). Credit: Fasig-Tipton Photo
Hip 232, a filly by Quality Road, sold for $1,500,000 to take the lead during the first session of the Selected Yearlings Showcase. Credit: Fasig-Tipton Photo
