The Saratoga Sale, all you need is …….
The Saratoga Sale is a horse auction like no other. Regardless of the champions that have come out of that sale, or even the ones that did not turn out, this is the sale the major players want to be at. They’re all there with their checkbooks open.
The old Lotto saying was “all you need is a dollar and a dream.” While the odds of hitting the big one might not be all that far off, you’ll need more than a dollar to have a shot at this dream.
They say a good horse can come from anywhere, and the history of The Sport of Kings rings that true. That said Saratoga is not only the racetrack everyone wants to win at, it hosts the sale everyone wants to buy, and also sell at.
There are no guarantees you will be a champion no matter how deep you go into your pocket. The only guarantee at the Saratoga Sale is you will overpay but nobody is complaining and they line up to do it. The allure of Saratoga and its history is strong.
Of course Past the Wire and Past the Wire TV were there, watching not buying. Relative newcomer John Stewart and his Resolute Racing made their share of noise at the sale. Stewart spent $1.7 million for Hip 75, a Gun Runner half to grade 1 winner and sire Leofric from Bluewater Sales, agent. Earlier Stewart paid $1.5 million for Charlatan colt and half-brother to leading freshman sire Complexity from Warrendale Sales, agent for Stonestreet Thoroughbred Holdings. His splash was not the biggest, however.
Zedan Racing agent Donato Lanni signed a ticket for $3.4 million for Hip 72 after a protracted bidding battle on the first night of the Fasig-Tipton Saratoga Sale for a Not This Time colt out of the Tiznow mare Kayce Ace the highest price for the session and possibly the entire sale. Some of you will recall the bidding war between the late Roger King and Satish Sanan at this sale some years back. That was a fun one to watch as Sanan offered to partner with King as opposed to continuing the bidding war. Legend has it King went outside for a smoke and to ponder the offer. He returned and outbid Sanan.
“We came here to try to buy a horse that you can get to the Derby,” said Baffert. “That’s why we bought him.” Obviously the lifted ban of Baffert-trained horses from The Kentucky Derby has Bob smiling.
“Mr. Zedan and Bob Baffert really wanted this horse,” said Lanni. “He’s a beautiful horse and the sire has done very well. He’s just a very beautiful horse and they wanted him.”
Enjoy your look into the fascinating Saratoga Sale:
