Fasig Tipton’s 98th Saratoga Sale features a 255-strong catalog of yearlings, highlighted by blueblood offspring of such major sires as Curlin, Medaglia d’Oro, Tapit, and War Front as well as a first-crop brigade headed by American Pharoah. The auction is set for Monday and Tuesday evenings, beginning at 6:30 p.m. (EDT), in the Humphrey S. Finney Sales Pavilion in Saratoga Springs, New York, and live streaming is available on fasigtipton.com.
The star of the 2015 Triple Crown who capped his Horse of the Year campaign in the Breeders’ Cup Classic (G1), American Pharoah went through the Saratoga sales ring himself as a yearling, when listed as sold for $300,000. The Coolmore stallion had 15 entered, including a couple of outs. Among those still on offer are Hip No. 3 from the family of Hymn Book and Data Link; Hip 9, sharing the same female line as American Pharoah’s sire, Pioneerof the Nile; Hip 10 out of Grade 3-placed multiple stakes scorer J Z Warrior; Hip 26 out of multiple Grade 1-winning millionaire Life at Ten; Hip 35 whose dam is a full sister to classy turf sprinter Bridgetown; Hip 62, a half-brother to Upstart; Hip 225 out of a stakes-winning full sister to Jimmy Creed; and Hip 231, a half-brother to Royal Ascot Group 2 star Acapulco.
Another Royal Ascot heroine, two-time champion turf mare Tepin, has a half-sister by War Front cataloged as Hip 27. The Irish-bred yearling is also a half-sister to Vyjack.
Into Mischief, whose Hip 169 is out of a half-sister to Tepin, is represented by a couple of yearlings with red-hot pages sure to receive updates. Hip 88 is a full sister to Jerry Hollendorfer’s promising juvenile Rowayton, a smart debut winner on course for the Del Mar Futurity (G1), and Hip 108 is a half-brother to Ken McPeek’s unbeaten Restless Rider, who overcame a world of trouble to crush the Debutante at Churchill Downs.
Medaglia d’Oro has relatives of two of his leading performers – Hip 143 has a pedigree virtually identical to Elate, with their dams being full sisters, and Hip 196 descends from the extended family of Songbird. Other Medaglia d’Oro yearlings likely to attract attention are Hip 19, the first foal from champion sprint female La Verdad; Hip 47, a half-sister to Peace and War; Hip 66, a half-brother to Sparkling Review; Hip 147, whose dam is a half to Untapable and Paddy O’Prado; Hip 158 out of a sister to Archarcharch; and Hip 204, a half-sister to Exaggerator.
Uncle Mo sired Hip 255 out of a half to Songbird, along with Hip 18 out of a close relative of Fault; Hip 125, whose dam is a half to Creative Cause and Destin; and Hip 194 from the immediate family of Wonder Gadot. Candy Ride’s yearlings include Hip 93, a half-sister to Classic Empire.
Hall of Famer Curlin likewise is well stocked with the likes of Hip 20, a half-sister to Leavem in Malibu and Danzig Moon; Hip 21, a half-brother to O’Prado Again; Hip 39, a full sister to debut romper Virginia Eloise, both out of a half to Liam’s Map and Not This Time; Hip 96, a half-sister to Salutos Amigos; Hip 106, a half-sister to Power Broker; Hip 186, the first foal from Cassatt; Hip 201 out of a sister to Majestic Warrior; and Hip 214 whose dam is a half to Surfside.
The in-demand Tapit has sired Hip 98 from Seattle Smooth; Hip 137 from Twirl (a Group 3-caliber full sister to Misty for Me and Ballydoyle); and Hip 222, a half-sister to Constellation.
Distorted Humor furnishes Hip 70, a full sister to Quip, while the lone Kitten’s Joy in the catalog, Hip 185, is a full sister to Banned, and Tiznow’s Hip 195 is close relative of Gemologist. Additional siblings in the sale are Hip 51, a Tale of the Cat half-sister to Aidan O’Brien’s recent Railway (G2) winner Van Beethoven; Hip 123, a Bodemeister half-brother to Neolithic; Hip 129, a Street Boss half-sister to Sombeyay, who provided a local catalog update when taking the Spa’s July 21 Sanford (G3); Hip 144, a Flatter half-brother to Ami’s Mesa and Ami’s Holiday; Hip 153, a Declaration of War half-brother to Dali; and Hip 239, a Hard Spun half-brother to Collected.
Speightstown’s Hip 37 is out of Maryfield, Hip 102’s dam is Shared Account, and Hip 205 is out of a half to Aptitude. City Zip’s Hip 252 was produced by South African star Irridescence, while Super Saver got Hip 243 from Home Sweet Aspen. More Than Ready sired Hip 32 from a half to Dream Rush and Hip 190 from a daughter of Galileo and Heart Shaped. Quality Road’s Hip 157 was produced by a full sister to Daddy Nose Best, Pioneerof the Nile has Hip 228, out of a half to Desert Party, and Malibu Moon’s Hip 92 comes from the family of Hard Not to Like. Point of Entry’s Hip 97 is out of a half to Dancing Forever, and fellow young sire Animal Kingdom serves up Hip 163 out of Arravale and Hip 182, a half-brother to Connect, each with relatives by first-crop sires in the catalog.
Palace Malice was visited by a half-sister to Connect in his first season, resulting in Hip 144, and his Hip 213 hails from the family of Pussycat Doll and Jimmy Creed. Carpe Diem’s initial crop includes Hip 73 from the family of Nyquist; Hip 175, a half-brother to Include Betty; and Hip 184 out of a half to Arravale
Champion Honor Code’s first book has yielded Hip 79, a half-sister to Egg Drop; Hip 122 out of a half to Adieu; Hip 161, a half-brother to Appealing Tale; and Hip 241 from Hollywood Story. Tonalist has come up with Hip 95, a half-brother to Bryan’s Jewel produced by a half to Left Bank; Hip 116, a half-brother to American Lion; and Hip 141, a half-brother to Grand Adventure.
Other freshmen to watch include Liam’s Map, who sired Hip 2 from Jessica Is Back and Hip 58 out of a sister to Tizahit and close relative of Folklore; Tapiture, whose Hip 17 is a half-brother to Lady Ivanka; Summer Front, sire of Hip 94 from the family of Bolt d’Oro; Lea, sire of Hip 110 from the family of Audible; Bayern, whose Hip 156 is a half-sister to American Gal; Constitution, who got a half-sister to Diamondsandpearls in Hip 168; and Competitive Edge.
Among those with first-crop juveniles, Verrazano’s Hip 105 received a hefty catalog update on Saturday when her half-sister Separationofpowers scored a memorable victory in the Test (G1). Both of Fed Biz’s yearlings have prominent relatives, with Hip 28 being out of a half to Affirmed Success and Hip 107 herself a half to Paid Up Subscriber. Up-and-comers Cairo Prince, Violence, and Will Take Charge are in the same category.
Empire Maker has yearlings sired in his first season since being repatriated from Japan, joining fellow sires Awesome Again, Bernardini, Blame, First Samurai, Ghostzapper, Lemon Drop Kid, Macho Uno, Maclean’s Music, Munnings, Sky Mesa, Street Sense, Take Charge Indy, Twirling Candy, and Union Rags in a loaded index.
“Sire power, outstanding conformation, and depth of pedigree – it’s all at Saratoga this year,” Fasig-Tipton President Boyd Browning commented when the catalog was released.
“Every current leading North American sire is represented in this year’s catalog. Thirty-eight yearlings catalogued are siblings to graded or group stakes winners, 16 of which are Grade 1 winners.”
Still the most productive North American yearling sale by percentage of Grade 1-winning alumni as well as graded stakes scorers from horses sold, according to The BloodHorse MarketWatch, Saratoga portrays the Grade 1 success of graduates Avenge, Battle of Midway, Bolt d’Oro, Moonshine Memories, Rushing Fall, and Stormy Liberal on the catalog.
“Three of our cover horses – Battle of Midway, Rushing Fall, and Stormy Liberal – all won Breeders’ Cup races last year at Del Mar,” Browning noted. “The amount of top level success that comes from this sale, which averages 200 to 250 yearlings cataloged each year, is not only remarkable but demonstrates the high concentration of quality offered annually at Saratoga.”
After the boutique sale wraps up, Fasig-Tipton will stage the New York Bred Yearlings Sale at the same venue on Saturday and Sunday, also at 6:30 p.m. The state-bred auction has garnered headlines this season, from Florida Derby (G1) hero and Kentucky Derby (G1) third Audible to the exacta in Saturday’s Whitney (G1) courtesy of Diversify and Mind Your Biscuits.
“Our consignors have once again supported us with the very best of the New York Bred yearling crop,” Browning said. “This year’s catalog, which is up in numbers, offers more selection while maintaining a high standard of quality.”
For the complete catalogs updates, results, and live video of the sales, visit fasigtipton.com.
