Fasig-Tipton has catalogued 252 selected yearlings for its Saratoga Sale to be held Aug. 8-9. Sessions will begin each evening at 6:30 p.m in the Humphrey S. Finney Pavilion. This year's catalogue cover features Saratoga's four 2015 Eclipse Champion sale graduates.
“We are thrilled with the catalogue,” said Fasig-Tipton President and Chief Executive Officer Boyd Browning, Jr. “It is a spectacular group of horses, both on the front cover and the back cover and everything in between. We're really proud of it. We're proud of this year's group and we're proud of our graduates.
He added, “Saratoga produced four Eclipse Champions in 2015–American Pharoah, Songbird, Stellar Wind, and Tepin–more than any other individual Thoroughbred auction in the world. And, not only are these horses great champions, they are arguably some of the most accomplished racehorses we've seen in some time–a testament to the type of quality our consignors offer at Saratoga.”
Some potential highlights of this year's catalogue include hip 122, a War Front filly out of MGISW millionaire and GI Kentucky Oaks winner Plum Pretty (Medaglia d'Oro); and hip 49, a Tapit filly out of MGISW Her Smile (Include), one of 13 in the catalogue for her hugely successful sire. Hill 'n' Dale Sales Agency as agent consigns another potential headline act in the form of hip 61. The dark bay, foaled on St. Patrick's Day 2015, is a Ghostzapper daughter of the talented Ivanavinalot (West Acre), making her a half-sister to the aforementioned and still-undefeated Songbird as well as the dam of GSW Mico Margarita (Run Away and Hide). There will also be yearlings offered by Galileo (Ire), Animal Kingdom, Bernardini, Uncle Mo, the late Scat Daddy, Pioneerof the Nile, Medaglia d'Oro, Paynter and Curlin. Browning Jr. is particularly impressed with the depth of quality in terms of the Saratoga sale's sire power.
“I think all of us were a little bit fearful of what was going to happen and how we were going to replace the Storm Cats and the A. P. Indys of the world and lo and behold, there are new superstars that emerge,” he commented. “The Tapits and in the form of exciting horses like War Front and Frankel and Uncle Mo is off to a phenomenal start and we have some really nice freshman sires. It is kind of an exciting time in the Thoroughbred industry with significant performers on the racetrack and significant performers in the breeding shed.”
While the 2015 Saratoga was void of first-crop yearlings by the irrepressible Frankel, buyers will be able to avail themselves of a couple of opportunities in 2016. Indian Creek, agent, offers hip 65, a Feb. 28-foaled filly out of MGSW J'ray (Distant View), making her a half-sister to MSW General Jack (Giant's Causeway). Hip 148 is a colt out of champion She Be Wild (Offlee Wild) from the consignment of Bluewater Sales, as agent. And after a year's absence, Galileo offspring–a pair of colts and one filly–return to Saratoga.
“We're really excited about that,” Browning Jr. said when asked about the opportunity to bring yearlings by Frankel to the marketplace. “His 2-year-olds are off to a fantastic start; he was a brilliant racehorse and obviously he's off to a very successful start as a stallion, so we're very please to have the opportunity to have some Frankels this year. We didn't have any last year, but it's just reflective of the growing international nature of our business.”
And not to be forgotten is the inherent allure of Saratoga.
“The great thing about Saratoga is if you're a racing enthusiast–whether a racing fan or a breeding fan or a sales fan–there is almost magical pixie dust in the air,” he said. “The quality of racing is fantastic, the atmosphere around it is so good, you see multiple generations of families with a Form talking about 'who do you like in the third?' or who's going to be a really hot sales sire this year. Saratoga puts a little bounce in everyone's step, whether you're a consignor, buyer, trainer, owner, fan or a bettor. There's always a sense of anticipation when you get to Saratoga and we're thrilled to be a big part of that.”
The catalogue may now be viewed online. Print catalogues will be available from all Fasig-Tipton offices beginning July 1.
Not a subscriber? Click here to sign up for the daily PDF or alerts.
