Medaglia d’Oro, Bernardini spark robust session at Fasig-Tipton

Medaglia d’Oro, Bernardini spark robust session at Fasig-Tipton

Sheikh Mohammed’s rep bought the session-topping Medaglia d’Oro filly (Harold Roth/Horsephotos.com) John Ferguson, representing Sheikh Mohammed, purchased the top three lots at Monday’s opening session of the Fasig-Tipton Saratoga Selected Yearlings Sale, and all three were sired by stallions who stand at Sheikh Mohammed’s Darley near Lexington, Kentucky. Medaglia d’Oro was responsible for the session topper, a $1.5 million filly, while yearlings from the first crop of champion and Preakness S. (G1) winner Bernardini were also hot commodities. Besides Ferguson’s prominence, the evening’s other major theme was one of resurgence, as the sale posted across-the-board gains. The $1.5 million filly was consigned by Taylor Made Sales Agency, agent, and sported Hip No. 88. The Kentucky-bred is the second foal from the winning Cat Dancer (Storm Cat), who is herself a full sister to Monmouth Oaks (G2) victress and Spinaway S. (G1) third Magic Storm. The dark bay’s fourth dam is the influential matron Luiana (*My Babu), the dam of 1974 champion three-year-old colt Little Current (*Sea-Bird), who captured the Preakness and Belmont S. (G1). Luiana also produced Prayers’n Promises (Foolish Pleasure), winner of the Matron S. (G1) and Spinaway and later a successful broodmare. A more recent descendant of Luiana is $2.6 million earner Hard Spun (Danzig), hero of the 2007 King’s Bishop S. (G1) and now a Darley stallion himself.

Luiana is a half-sister to 1963 champion three-year-old colt Chateaugay
(Swaps), whose victories include the Kentucky Derby and Belmont, and 1962
champion handicap mare Primonetta (Swaps), who went on to become Broodmare of
the Year in 1978.

Ferguson also purchased the most expensive colt, a son of Bernardini who
brought $1.3 million. Cataloged as Hip 79 and consigned by Gainesway, agent, the Kentucky-bred
bay is out of Bird Town (Cape Town), a half-sister to Belmont hero and
emerging classic sire Birdstone (Grindstone). Bird Town was honored as the
champion three-year-old filly of 2003 after capturing the Kentucky Oaks (G1) and
Acorn S. (G1) and placing in such events as the Test S. (G1) and Beldame S.
(G1). She retired with $871,251 in earnings from a record of 12-4-6-1. Bird Town
has yet to produce a runner from two named foals of racing age.

Birdstone burst onto the scene with a score in the 2003 Champagne S. (G1),
and the following season, he garnered the Belmont and Travers. By siring
Kentucky Derby (G1) upsetter Mine That Bird and Belmont victor Summer Bird in
his first crop, Birdstone has gotten off to a terrific start at stud.

Bird Town and Birdstone are both out of Broodmare of the Year Dear Birdie
(Storm Bird), who is herself a daughter of two-time Diana H. (G2) and Long
Island H. (G2) heroine Hush Dear (Silent Screen).

Ferguson snapped up another Bernardini colt, Hip 34, for $1.2 million.
Consigned by Eaton Sales, agent, the bay
is a half-brother to four-time stakes winner and Grade 2-placed Stormy West
(Gone West). He is also a three-quarter brother to Debutante S. (G3) runner-up
and stakes producer Renaissance Lady (A.P. Indy).

The Pennsylvania-bred is out of the multiple stakes-winning Storm Cat mare
Storm Beauty, who is herself a half-sister to champion sprinter Gold Beauty (Mr.
Prospector), the dam of English Horse of the Year Dayjur (Danzig) and multiple
Grade 1 queen Maplejinsky (Nijinsky II). In turn, Maplejinsky produced champion
and nine-time Grade 1 star Sky Beauty (Blushing Groom [Fr]). Others descending
from Maplejinsky include Pleasant Home (Seeking the Gold), queen of the 2005
Breeders’ Cup Distaff (G1), and multiple Grade 1 hero Tale of Ekati (Tale of the
Cat), winner of last year’s Cigar Mile (G1) and Wood Memorial (G1).

Ken McPeek, agent, was the only other buyer to venture into seven-figure
territory, acquiring a Bernardini colt for $1 million. Hip 107 was offered by
Lane’s End, agent. The yearling is out of Fillies’ Mile (Eng-G1) queen Crystal Music
(Nureyev), who also finished second in the Irish One Thousand Guineas (Ire-G1)
and Coronation S. (Eng-G1). A half-sister to Group 3 scorers Dubai Success
(Sadler’s Wells), State Crystal (High Estate [Ire]) and Solar Crystal (Alzao),
Crystal Music is already the dam of multiple English stakes-placed Crystany
(Green Desert).

The Kentucky-bred bay colt hails from the black type-rich family of English
champion Royal Palace (*Ballymoss), winner of the 1967 Two Thousand Guineas and
Derby S., as well as 1981 One Thousand Guineas (Eng-G1) victress Fairy Footsteps
(Ire) (Mill Reef).

Commanding a bid of $900,000 was an A.P. Indy colt, the first foal from
multiple Grade 1 winner Splendid Blended (Unbridled’s Song). Touring the ring as
Hip 28, the dark bay Florida-bred was snapped up by Spendthrift Farm from the
consignment of Eaton Sales, agent.

Splendid Blended compiled a career mark of 13-7-1-0, $742,060. Successful in
the Hollywood Starlet S. (G1) as a juvenile, she added the Vanity Invitational
H. (G1) at three and three other stakes, chief among them the Shirley Jones H.
(G2), as a four-year-old. Splendid Blended is a half-sister to multiple Grade
3-winning sire Richly Blended (Rizzi), hero of the Gotham S. (G3) and Withers S.
(G3). Further back, this is the family of Grade 1 victress Kamikaze Rick (Hasty
Flyer).

A notable RNA was Hip 39, a Bernardini filly out of a half-sister to
champion and Belmont heroine Rags to Riches (A.P. Indy), who failed to
reach her reserve when bringing a bid of $1.6 million. Produced by the winning
Teeming (Storm Cat), the bay was offered by Eaton Sales, agent.

On Monday, 76 horses were sold for $25,470,000, up a strong 40.3 percent from
opening night last year, when $18,160,000 was realized by 60 yearlings. The
average increased 10.7 percent, from $302,667 to $335,132, while the median
climbed 6.4 percent, from $235,000 to $250,000.

The two-day auction concludes Tuesday, beginning at 6 p.m. (EDT). For more
information, as well as a live broadcast of the sale, visit fasigtipton.com.