Fasig-Tipton Florida Sale Wednesday

by Justina Severni 
The Fasig-Tipton Florida 2-Year-Olds in Training Sale will be held today at Gulfstream Park, with bidding on the first of 175 catalogued hips scheduled to begin at 4 p.m. in the track's walking ring. The boutique auction, held at Calder for a number of years, spent two years at Palm Meadows and returns to South Florida after a one-year sojourn at Adena Springs South in Williston. 

“We're very enthusiastic and excited about the sale and about the new venue at Gulfstream Park,” said Fasig-Tipton President Boyd Browning, Jr. “It's a great location, it's a great vicinity and it's a great place to be this time of year, with the best owners and trainers in the world here. There's a certain level of energy and excitement in the Ft. Lauderdale-Miami area that we haven't had for a few years. I think everyone loves to go to that part of the United States this time of the year and Gulfstream is a hotbed of racing in North America right now. I think there's a high energy and excitement level and there's just a great atmosphere. We're very excited about the new location, very excited about the quality of horses. We're going to have a good sale, and overall, we're very optimistic.” 

Fasig-Tipton and Gulfstream Park have joined together to offer a $1-million bonus to the winner of the 2016 GI Florida Derby, should that horse be a graduate of this year's sale. 

“I think the bonus demonstrates very clearly the commitment and the intention of Fasig-Tipton and Gulfstream Park to make this a signature event in the Thoroughbred industry,” Browning explained. “We want to attract quality horses, we want to attract quality buyers, we want to make this an event that people look forward to and it becomes a staple on the calendar. It's a concrete example of our commitment and Gulfstream Park's commitment to energize the sales process and bring something unique to this sale.” 

While last year's Florida sale struggled, with only 85 of 157 catalogued head going through the ring and only 47 selling for a buy-back rate of 44%, Browning still believes boutique auctions, bolstered by an impressive roster of graduates, can attract a strong buying bench. 

“We've had tremendous success from our graduates,” Browning said. “There are a lot of opportunities and options in the marketplace. We certainly believe there's a need and a place on the calendar for high-quality horses and atmospheres that are unique and different involving live racing and destination locations. We couldn't be any more bullish on the Florida sale and Saratoga this summer–it's a big part of what we are at Fasig-Tipton.” 

Last year's Florida sale featured a pair of seven-figure juveniles, with a colt by Malibu Moon topping the auction with a final bid of $1.2 million. Also bringing seven figures a year ago was Khozan (Distorted Humor). Tabbed a 'TDN Rising Star,' the Al Shaqab runner is now unbeaten in two starts and is expected to make his next start in the GI Florida Derby. Also among the 2014 graduates are GI Hopeful S. winner Competitive Edge (Super Saver) and GII Saratoga Special winner I Spent It (Super Saver). 

“Success on the racetrack is the greatest calling card, advertisement, or claim that any sales company can make,” Browning commented. “Everyone is in the game to be around quality horses–to sell good horses, to buy good horses to be cheering on a Saturday afternoon. We've certainly created a lot of interest and a lot of momentum. There's a confidence amongst the buyers that, 'Hey, we can buy a really good horse at Fasig-Tipton,' and the results of recent weeks speak for themselves.”