War Front filly tops Saratoga sale at $1.25 million

Owner Willis Horton and trainer D. Wayne Lukas have a close association with the family of Tuesday’s sales topper (Harold Roth/Horsephotos.com) Hall of Fame trainer D. Wayne Lukas, signing for owner Willis Horton, obtained a War Front filly for $1,250,000 Tuesday evening at the Fasig-Tipton Saratoga Sale, held at the Humphrey S. Finney Sales Pavilion in Saratoga Springs, New York. Hip No. 150, consigned by Eaton Sales, agent, proved to be the top seller at the two-day auction, and hails from a family both Horton and Lukas have a great familiarity with. The May 14 Kentucky-bred is by Charming (Seeking the Gold), who has already produced two winners from as many to race, including the Horton-owned juvenile filly Take Charge Brandi (Giant’s Causeway). Second in the July 18 Schuylerville S. (G3) at Saratoga in her stakes debut, Take Charge Brandi previously won her maiden debut at Churchill Downs by 2 1/2 lengths on June 22. Charming is herself a half-sister to Horton’s Will Take Charge (Unbridled’s Song), the 2013 champion three-year-old colt whose victories last season included the Travers S. (G1), Clark H. (G1), Pennsylvania Derby (G2) and Rebel S. (G2). Earlier this year, Will Take Charge captured the Oaklawn H. (G2) and was most recently third in last Saturday’s Whitney S. (G1).

Will Take Charge, and his Florida Derby (G1)-winning half-brother Take Charge
Indy (A.P. Indy), were both reared by multiple Grade 1 queen Take Charge Lady
(Dehere), an earner of more than $2.8 million.

John Ferguson, representing Darley, went to $800,000 to secure Hip 112, a bay
colt by Bernardini consigned by Gainesway, agent.

The January 29 Kentucky-bred was produced by the winning Tweeter (Unbridled’s
Song), a half-sister to 2003 champion three-year-old filly Bird Town (Cape Town)
and to classic winner Birdstone (Grindstone), whose top-level victories include
the 2004 Belmont S. (G1) and Travers S. (G1) and the 2003 Champagne S. (G1).

All were produced by Broodmare of the Year Dear Birdie (Storm Bird), whose
offspring also include Grade 2-placed producer Mountain Bird (Mt. Livermore) and
the stakes-placed sire So Long Birdie (Pioneering). Dear Birdie in turn was
reared by the multiple Grade 2 queen Hush Dear (Silent Screen).

An Awesome Again colt was gaveled down to Stonestreet Stables and George
Bolton for $700,000. Hip 130 was offered by Bluewater Sales, agent.

The February 18 New York-bred was produced by the unraced Zambezi Belle (Lord
at War), who has also reared the multiple stakes-winning Law Enforcement. The
colt’s second dam is Grade 2-placed stakes winner Medici Bells (London Bells),
whose maternal line includes such Phipps family-owned standouts as 1967 juvenile
filly champion Queen of the Stage (Bold Ruler) and her full brother, the noted
sire Reviewer.

Al Shaqab Racing purchased a Kitten’s Joy colt for $650,000. A February 7
foal, Hip 137 was from the consignment of James M. Herbener Jr., agent.

The Kentucky-bred is the first foal produced by Artisanal (More Than Ready),
who captured the 2011 Little Silver S. at Monmouth Park en route to a career
mark of 7-3-1-0, $112,359.

Artisanal is herself a half-sister to Grade 2-placed stakes winner P. S. U.
Grad (Harlan’s Holiday). Both were raised by Lo Cal Bread (Native Prospector), a
half-sister to Grade 1 winner and sire Richter Scale (Habitony) and the Grade 3
victor Outperformance (Aptitude). This extended family also includes the Hall of
Fame gelding Best Pal (Habitony).

At the conclusion of trading Tuesday, Fasig-Tipton reported that 50 yearlings
sold for $15,017,000, a decline of 7.3 percent over the corresponding session
last year when 58 horses brought $16,200,000. The session average was up 7.5
percent, from $279,310 to $300,340, while the median dipped 5 percent, from
$250,000 to $237,500.

The two-day auction ended with an increased gross but slight declines in
average and median. Cumulatively, 114 yearlings sold for $33,284,000, an
increase of 4.4 percent over the 2013 sale when 108 head grossed $31,870,000. The sale average
was down just over 1 percent, from $295,093 to $291,965, while the median was
off 5 percent, from $250,000 to $237,500.

For complete results, visit
fasigtipton.com.