Average Up, Median Steady at F-T Opener

The Fasig-Tipton October Fall Yearling Sale, the last major yearling sale of the year, opened a three-day stand in Lexington yesterday with generally positive results. From 263 horses sold for $8,956,600, the session average of $34,056 was up a strong 19.4% from a year ago, when 258 horses sold for $7,358,00. The median of $17,000 which was essentially flat against last year’s $16,500, indicated a boost at the higher end of the market. Indeed, yesterday’s topper, a Super Saver–Crocodile Tuff (Petionville) ridgling who made $370,000 –was well in advance of last year’s session-one leader, a Harlan’s Holiday colt who brought $250,000. 

The Super Saver ridgling was hammered down to Brookdale Farm’s Fred Seitz Jr., who was acting on behalf of Oussama Aboughazale’s International Equities. Co-breeder Crestwood Farm consigned the colt as Hip 292. 
In all, 21 horses brought six figures yesterday. Last year, only 12 horses hit that mark.

 “We had a pretty good day of trading,” said Fasig-Tipton Vice President of Sales Bayne Welker. “Numbers were up, and I think what we are seeing is certainly indicative of what the marketplace has been as a whole this year.” 

Yesterday’s marathon session, which included 412 catalogued hips, was slow to get going. Hip 28, a colt by Distorted Humor–Wild Poppy, brought $230,000 early on, but 200 hips passed before another horse made more than $150,000. 
“It sputtered a little bit in the beginning, but certainly gained momentum from lunchtime on,” said Welker. “I certainly hope to see that keep up through tomorrow and Wednesday. I think certainly where we see good horses, we will have good money. I think overall we have to be happy with the trade we saw here today.” 

The lone knock on the first day of the October Sale was a reasonably high RNA rate. There were 106 horses who didn’t sell, an RNA rate of 28.7%. Last year’s corresponding session RNA rate was 19.6%.

 “I think the market has become a little bit more selective this year,” Welker commented. “We certainly don’t see the same kind of clearance from those middle- market horses, and especially the bottom horses. We are fortunate enough that we have a very strong base of Koreans here that are buying in this sale, and there are some South Americans that are helping move some horses from that $10,000-$30,000 range. I think we haven’t quite seen that this year in the open market place. The select market place has been fairly good and fairly robust, but I think in the open, you’ve had your highs and lows. We haven’t had enough overall buying power to make the impact to keep the RNA rate in a lower spot.” 

The second session of the sale begins this morning at 10:00. For complete results, catalogue and outs, visit www.fasigtipton.com.

A Scratch at September, ‘Super’ Colt Soars at F-T…
The McLean family, which operates Crestwood Farm, 
knew they had a hot prospect in the form of a homebred Super Saver ridgling from the stakes-placed Crocodile Tuff (Petionville). But when the striking chestnut banged his leg on the day he was set to ship to Keeneland September, forcing a late scratch, they worried what a switch in sale engagements would mean for his value. 
“He was positioned really well at that sale–he was in Book 4, I think–and we were really disappointed when we had to scratch him,” explained Pope McLean, Jr. 

That disappointment was understandable if ultimately misplaced. Yesterday, the Super Saver colt was finally put before the buying public at Fasig-Tipton October, and touched off a spirited bidding duel that concluded with a $370,000 bid from Oussama Aboughazale’s International Equities. Brookdale’s Fred Seitz Jr., perched in the press box, represented International Equities and saw off several bidders from out back. The colt was the lone horse on the day to eclipse the $300,000 mark. 

Catalogued through Crestwood as Hip 292, the colt is a son of the 2010 GI Kentucky Derby winner Super Saver (Maria’s Mon), who, from his first crop, has been represented by the GI Hopeful S. winner Competitive Edge and the GII Saratoga Special S. winner I Spent It. Super Saver stands at WinStar, which bred yesterday’s session topper with the McLean family as part of a foal-share arrangement. 

“The stars aligned,” said McLean. “He’s was the right physical, the sire’s hot, and his x-rays were clean. The only ding was that he was a ridgling; I thought it might put some people off, but obviously it didn’t. [The price] was probably toward the higher end of what we through he could bring, but we thought it was possible.” 
The colt is the first produce from Crocodile Tuff, a mare that the McLeans were plenty familiar with. They raised the 8-year-old full-sister to SW Snake Proof for a client, and when Crocodile Tuff’s race career was through, they purchased her as a broodmare prospect. 

“She has a Get Stormy colt on the ground, and she’s back in foal to Overanalyze,” said McLean, who added with a smile, “We’ll probably go back to Super Saver.” 

Aboughazale Makes Splash Once Again… 
International Equities’ Oussama Aboughazale, who purchased yesterday’s $370,000 Super Saver session topper, is better known as the owner of Sumaya US Stables. Sumaya campaigned the very good filly Wild Spirit (Chi) (Hussonet) a decade ago. With trainer Bobby Frankel, Wild Spirit won the GI Ruffian H. in 2003 over You (You and I), following wins in the GII Shuvee H. and a six-length tally over Take Charge Lady (Dehere) in the GII Delaware H. Aboughazale is a regular client of the Seitz family’s Brookdale Farm. 

“He’s been a great owner for us,” said Fred Seitz Jr. “He really loves the game.” 
Aboughazale, who operates a fruit company in Chile, doesn’t just own horses. In 2013, he created a bit of a stir at Gulfstream Park when a filly he trained–an A.P. Indy daughter of Wild Spirit named Diva Spirit–won on debut at 30-1. A headline in the Daily Racing Form read, “Gulfstream Park Mystery Trainer a Winner First Time Out.” 
Diva Spirit went on to win the Polly’s Jet S. at Delaware. 

“He trained himself for a year or so and did well–he won a stakes race,” said Seitz. “But now he’s training with Todd Pletcher, and Todd’s been doing lights out for him this year.” 

Among the horses Aboughazale has with Pletcher is the 3-year-old gelding Energy Spirit (Medaglia d’Oro), 
another offspring from Wild Spirit. Improbably given the connections and pedigree, Energy Spirit was let go at 26-1 in his debut at Belmont, but rallied from 11 lengths back to win by 2 3/4 lengths. 

Yet another Sumaya horse under Pletcher’s care is a colt from Super Saver’s first crop. “He hasn’t proven himself yet, but [Aboughazale’s] been watching what the other Super Savers have been doing,” said Seitz. “He’s a huge fan.” 
Seitz said yesterday’s colt fit Aboughazale’s game plan perfectly. “He’s looking for horses who can go the Classic distance, because he wants to win the Derby,” he said. “I wish he wasn’t a ridgling, but he’s a great-looking horse, and Super Saver’s as hot as they get. I hope he pans out.” 

Seitz confirmed the horse would join Pletcher’s stable next year. Asked about Super Saver’s offspring, Seitz said, “They come in different colors, but they are very similar in type. They’re all very athletic, they have good hind legs on them, and they’re well-shaped horses. It’s not a huge surprise that he’s as hot as he is as a freshman sire. He’s getting it done.”

Pike Lands Malibu Moon Colt for $265,000…
The day’s second-highest price was realized by a Malibu Moon colt who sold to Al Pike’s Pike Racing for $265,000. Bred by Tom VanMeter, Gaines-Gentry Thoroughbreds and Fox Strauss, the colt was consigned by VanMeter Sales as Hip 361. 
“He was a beautiful colt by Malibu Moon, and hopefully, we’ll be going to Gulfstream with him,” said Pike, referring to the Fasig-Tipton Florida Sale next March. 

The colt was produced by Dream Street (Tale of the Cat), an unraced half to champion sprinter Housebuster (Mt. Livermore) and GSW Quero Quero (Royal Academy). Dream Street’s latest offspring to race is the promising 2-year-old filly Lassofthemohicans (Indian Charlie), who just missed by a nose in Sunday’s finale at Keeneland, a seven-furlong maiden special. 

From Texas, Pike is based in Lafayette, Louisiana. Pike has done well both buying from and selling at Fasig-Tipton sales in recent years. Last year, he acquired Frammento (Midshipman) for $85,000 at Fasig’s July Sale, and resold him for $260,000 at The Florida Sale this spring. Frammento recently stamped himself as one to watch with a second-out victory at Keeneland Oct. 4 for trainer Nick Zito. 

Pike admitted that $265,000 was a lot to spend for a pinhooking prospect, but reasoned, “He’s the kind where if he jumps through all the hoops and does like we think he will, he could bring a lot of money.”-Lucas Marquardt

Imagine Sips the Champagne… 
An active family is an easy way to catch a few eyes at any sale. Hip 235, Majestic Champagne, drew plenty of attention when she entered the ring, as she hails from the immediate family of two Grade I winners in 2014. 
The Majestic Warrior–Champagne Royale (French Deputy) filly is a half-sister to GI Arkansas Derby winner Danza (Street Boss), who also ran third in the GI Kentucky Derby, as well as the GI Gold Cup at Santa Anita S. victor Majestic Harbor (Rockport Harbor). 

In the end, Majestic Champagne sold to Imagine for $150,000, making her one of the top-selling fillies of the session. 
“We liked her on page, but we didn’t pick her out [to bid on] until she came up [to the back walking ring],” said Marne Fauber, who signed the ticket for the Florida operation. “Typically that’s how we do it. Her family has been 97% runners, so I hope she is going to continue that 97%.” 

Majestic Champagne was consigned by Gainesway, agent. TG Group bought her for $50,000 out of the 2013 Keeneland November breeding stock sale. When the dark bay/brown filly was bred, Majestic Warrior stood for $10,000. Since then, his fee has more than doubled: he stood 2014 for $22,500. 

“I just liked her,” said Fauber of her purchase. “She’s going to be a big filly. She has a good walk, a big shoulder and a good hip.” 

Fauber said Majestic Champagne was purchased with the intention to pinhook, but Imagine was flexible about her future. 
“If we don’t sell her, we will just take her to the track,” she said. “Then, we could breed her or sell her. We will stay in as long as we need to stay in.”-Amanda Duckworth