Ferguson goes to $1.35 million for Empire Maker filly at
Florida Sale
Hip No. 182, a bay filly by Empire Maker, topped proceedings Thursday at
Fasig-Tipton’s Florida Sale, which was held for the first time at Palm Meadows
Training Center.
Consigned by Murray Smith, agent, the lass is out of Half A. P. (Pulpit), who
placed third in her only start on the track, and brought $1.35 million from John
Ferguson.
The juvenile filly is the first foal out of Half A. P, who is herself a
daughter of Half Queen (Deputy Minister) and half-sister to 2003 juvenile filly
champion Halfbridled (Unbridled). This is her second trip through the auction
ring, after she brought $435,000 as a Saratoga Selected yearling.
The sale topper’s third dam is At the Half (Seeking the Gold), winner of the
1993 Golden Rod S. (G3) and the producer of multiple
Grade 2 heroine Lu Ravi (A.P. Indy) and Bayou Storm (Storm Cat). Lu Ravi also
placed in the Alabama S. (G1) and two editions of the Apple Blossom H. (G1) before
going on to foal recent Pelleteri S. victress Ravi’s Song (Unbridled’s Song).
Bayou Storm is responsible for the stakes-placed Bayou Breeze (A.P. Indy).
One can also find 1981 Arlington H. (G1) scorer Spruce Needles (Big Spruce)
and Grade 3 star Knitted Gloves (*White Gloves II) in this female family.
Ferguson was responsible for the co-second highest price of the sale as well
when his bid of $750,000 was accepted for Hip 64. Stephens Thoroughbreds, agent,
entered the gray lass as the property of Vision Racing & Sales LLC. Out of dual
stakes-placed Tempting Note (Editor’s Note), the Tapit filly is a full sister to
last year’s Risen Star S. (G2) runner-up and Sunland Derby (G3) third Tempted to
Tapit.
The miss, who sold for $67,000 to Vision Sales last year during the Keeneland
September Yearling Sale, shows multiple Grade 3 winner Thinghatab (Al Hattab) as
her third dam. Thinghatab, herself a full sibling to Grade 3 vixen Tabayour,
would later foal Grade 2-placed stakes winner Habar (Track Barron).
Empire Maker was also responsible for the top-priced colt during the sale
when Hip 186 sold to Robert and Lawana Low for $750,000. Scanlon Training
Center, agent, consigned the dark bay, who is out of the unraced Henderson Band
(Chimes Band). That 13-year-old mare is a half-sister to Group 2 winner Lord
Flasheart (Blush Rambler), who finished second in the 2000 Prix du Jockey Club
(French Derby) (Fr-G1), and Group 3 runner-up Bouche Bee (Naevus).
Henderson Band achieved success in the breeding shed when producing Cash
Included (Include), triumphant in the 2006 Oak Leaf S. (G1) and third in the
next year’s Santa Anita Oaks (G1) and Fantasy S. (G2). The Empire Maker juvenile
brought $575,000 as a
Keeneland September yearling last year.
Others of note in this family include multiple Grade 1 queen By Land By Sea
(Sauce Boat), Group 3 winner Fahal (Silver Hawk) and dual Group 3-placed stakes
scorer Like a Hawk (Silver Hawk).
Hip 136 became the second highest-priced colt of the sale when Buzz Chace
made a winning bid of $700,000 for West Point Thoroughbreds. The gray juvenile,
consigned by Crupi’s New Castle Farm, is by Macho Uno out of the winning
Champagne Cocktail (Red Ransom). His dam is a half-sister to multiple Grade
3-placed stakes star Indy Wind (A.P. Indy) and stakes runner-up Romantic Comedy
(A.P. Indy).
The Canadian-bred colt, who only brought $50,000 as a Keeneland September
yearling, counts 1978 champion older mare and multiple Grade 1 heroine Late
Bloomer (Stage Door Johnny) as his third dam. Late Bloomer who also find success
in the breeding shed when producing Grade 1 hero Ends Well (Lyphard) and Grade 2
victor Fred Astaire (Nijinsky II), both sires.
All four juveniles blazed sub :11 furlong moves during the under tack show on
Monday. The Empire Maker filly and Macho Uno colt each went in :10, while the
Tapit lass drilled an eighth in :10 1/5. The Empire Maker colt flew across the
track when getting his furlong-move in :10 2/5.
Thursday’s sale saw both the gross and average decline, but the median
remained steady at $200,000. A total of 81 juveniles sold for $19,832,000, a
drop of 15.4 percent over last year when 91 were purchased for $23,430,000. The
average fell 4.9 percent, from $257,473 to $244,840.