Fasig-Tipton’s boutique Saratoga Sale showcases yearlings by new and established sires alike. The catalog for the Monday and Tuesday evening sessions includes progeny of 2015 Triple Crown champion American Pharoah, now a hot freshman sire, as well as first-crop offerings by California Chrome, Nyquist, Exaggerator, and Frosted.
Notable among the American Pharoah yearlings are Hip No. 151, a filly out of a half-sister to current Preakness (G1) hero War of Will; Hip 191, a half-brother to Grade 3 victor You’re To Blame, out of Gio Ponti’s multiple stakes-winning and Grade 1-placed half-sister Bon Jovi Girl; Hip 199, a half-sister to this year’s Sham (G3) winner Gunmetal Gray; Hip 109, a filly out of Grade 1-winning millionaire Seattle Smooth; Hip 129, a colt from Grade 3 scorer Super Majesty; and Hip 166, a filly produced by Grade 3 vixen Agave Kiss.
Two-time Horse of the Year California Chrome, the 2014 Kentucky Derby (G1) and Preakness winner, has four in the auction. Hip 55 is a colt out of Grade 1 turfer Magnificent Song, while Hip 117 is a colt whose dam is a half to multiple graded turf winners Fire with Fire and Cosmonaut. So far “Chrome” isn’t setting the sales world alight. According to Brisnet stats, just four of his 10 yearlings to tour the ring in 2019 have actually sold, for an average of $48,750. Of his six RNA’s, the top bid was $195,000. It will be interesting to see if the Chromes can attract more interest here.
In contrast, multiple Grade 1 star Frosted, who chased American Pharoah home in the 2015 Belmont (G1), is in demand. The Tapit blueblood boasts a 2019 yearling average of $213,571, and judging by the pedigrees of his Saratoga lots, he stands to reinforce his numbers.
Frosted has half-siblings to Grade 1 winners Dance with Fate (Hip 7) and Mozu Ascot (Hip 24 out of India), Grade 2 vixen Dancinginherdreams (Hip 59), multiple Grade 1-placed Neolithic (Hip 130), and Grade 3 scorer Pleasant Prince (131).
Others by Frosted claim high-profile relatives close up on the page. Hip 98 is out of a half to Grade 2 heroine Runway Model, dam of Saturday’s Whitney (G1) conqueror McKinzie; Hip 131’s dam is a half to Creative Cause and Destin; and Hip 220 was produced by a full sister to Borrego.
Two classic winners from the 2016 Triple Crown series, Kentucky Derby champion Nyquist and Preakness victor Exaggerator, also have first-crop yearlings. Nyquist’s offerings include half-siblings to Grade 3 winners Ever So Clever (Hip 7 out of Foxy Danseur) and Unspurned (184); Hip 23, a descendant of Hall of Famer Xtra Heat; and Hip 179 is out of a stakes-producing full sister to Acoma (and half to Arch) descended from champion and noted producer Althea. Exaggerator sends out Hip 1, a half-sister to graded winners Corfu and New York Central, and Hip 214, out of a full to Harlem Rocker.
Champion sprinter Runhappy, whose Hip 154 is a half to millionaire Kobe’s Back, is another first-crop sire to watch, along with European champion juvenile Air Force Blue, Mshawish, Not This Time, Outwork, Speightster, and Upstart.
Leading freshman sire Constitution, already responsible for Sanford (G3) hero By Your Side and Saturday’s smashing Sorrento (G2) winner Amalfi Sunrise, has a half to Grade 3-placed Street Chimes listed as Hip 88. Fellow freshman Liam’s Map has several more cataloged, including Hip 165, out of a half to Japanese celebrities Hishi Akebono and Agnes World, and Carpe Diem is responsible for a half to Grade 3 veteran Harlan Punch (Hip 27).
Turning to the well-established stallions, Hall of Famer Curlin’s draft features a full sister to Exaggerator (Hip 206); Hip 132 out of a half to Justwhistledixie (dam of New Year’s Day and Mohaymen); Hip 147 out of Twirl, who is a full sister to highweights Ballydoyle and Misty for Me (dam of U S Navy Flag and Roly Poly); Hip 38, out of a half to Tiz Miz Sue and reigning Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Turf Sprint victor Bulletin; and colts produced by Grade 1 queens Taris (Hip 134) and Byrama (Hip 193).
Tapit’s Hip 54 is a close relation to two-time champion Unique Bella, being by the same sire and out of a full sister to her dam, Unrivaled Belle. Other potential gems by Tapit are Hip 90, a half to multiple Grade 1 winner Cavorting and current Penn Mile (G2) scorer Moon Colony; Hip 142, a half to Grade 1-placed Mexikoma and Grade 3 scorer Overture; and Hip 204, out of a half to Canadian champion Delightful Mary and millionaire Delightful Kiss.
The Medaglia d’Oro yearlings likewise include close relatives to two of his most celebrated fillies – Hip 150 is out of a full sister to the dam of current star Elate, and Hip 157 is a three-quarter brother to champion Songbird. The full sister to 2017 Breeders’ Cup Filly & Mare Sprint (G1) shocker Bar of Gold (Hip 39) would warrant a mention if she hadn’t been withdrawn.
War Front furnishes Hip 123, a half-sister to Princess of Sylmar, along with Hip 44 out of Group 2 scorer and Irish classic-placed Laughing Lashes. European supersire Galileo’s lone entrant, Hip 210, is a half to Group 2 winner Besharah.
Empire Maker is responsible for Hip 63, out of a half to the aforementioned stallions Liam’s Map and Not this Time. Among his late son Pioneerof the Nile’s offerings are a half to Power Broker (Hip 113) and a filly produced by 2015 Alabama (G1) winner Embellish the Lace (Hip 218).
Into Mischief sends out a three-quarter sister to Practical Joke (Hip 212); a half-sister to Salty (Hip 140); and a half-sister to the dam of recent Mother Goose (G2) romper Dunbar Road (Hip 89). Mia Mischief’s full sister, Hip 65, is an out.
Uncle Mo’s progeny include Hip 178 out of multiple Grade 1 star Artemis Agrotera and Hip 211 produced by Grade 2 scorer Dothraki Queen.
Quality Road has half-sisters to Princess Arabella (Hip 143) and Dearest Trickski (Hip 146). Also on offer are half-siblings to multiple Grade 1-winning millionaire Diversify (Hip 104 by More Than Ready), Soldat (Hip 48 by Ghostzapper), and Imprimis (Hip 114 by Violence).
Tiznow’s Hip 124 is out of a Storm Cat half to 2005 Preakness and Belmont champion Afleet Alex, while Malibu Moon sired Hip 163 from a half to former Canadian Horse of the Year Fatal Bullet, and Distorted Humor has Hip 173 out of a half to European champion and classic winner Russian Rhythm.
The action begins 6:30 p.m. (EDT) Monday in the Humphrey S. Finney Sales Pavilion in Saratoga Springs, New York. Tuesday’s concluding session (Hips 113-223) kicks off at the same time. Fasig-Tipton’s New York Bred Yearlings Sale follows on August 11 at 7 p.m., with Hip 301 opening trade, and the August 12 finale starts at noon.
For the catalogs, updates, outs, results, and live streaming of the sales, visit fasigtipton.com.
