Texas Sale Sees Mixed Results

By Shelby Downs

A Louisiana-bred Stormy Atlantic filly topped the Fasig-Tipton Texas 2-Year-Olds in Training Sale April 1, bringing a bid of $160,000. The sale, held in the Texas Thoroughbred Sales Pavilion at Lone Star Park, offered 260 head and concluded with 168 sold for a total of $2,883,000. The gross dipped 11.7% from the 2007 sale, when 183 horses were purchased for $3,263,200.

While the average fell slightly to $17,161 from $17,832, a 3.8% drop, the median climbed 50% to $15,000 from $10,000. The buyback rate also decreased from 39.2% last year to 35.4%.

“I was happy with the median being up and that the buybacks went down a bit,” said Tim Boyce, director of sales for Fasig-Tipton Texas. “The horses that had some pedigree and worked well ended up selling well. We had a lot of buyers here, so overall I was pleased.”

The distaff set ruled the day, with fillies fetching the six highest prices. Chief among those was Akiane, who sold for $160,000. The Stormy Atlantic -- Win for Stacy filly is from the consignment of Keith and Marilyn Asmussen’s Asmussen Horse Center, agent. The success came quickly on the heels of their son Steve’s victory with Curlin in the Dubai World Cup (UAE- I) March 29, and the Asmussens had just returned from the United Arab Emirates in time to oversee their consignment.

“There’s something special about seeing your child rewarded for his efforts when you know it’s absolutely what he loves to do and the sacrifices he made,” Marilyn Asmussen said. “To see that dream come true, well, it was exciting.

“Now we’re back in the real world, and we’re really pleased with the filly. She just has presence, and she looks like she’s going to run early and all day. She worked really nice and smooth and did it really easy.”

Louisiana horseman Charles Castille purchased the filly, who breezed an eighth-mile in :10 3/5 during Sunday’s under tack show.

“I loved this filly,” he said. “She’s the only one I came here for. She took up my whole budget today, but I’d rather have one good one than four average ones.”

A Texas-bred daughter of Trippi named Trippin sold for the sale’s second-highest price aof $117,000 fter working an eighth-mile in :10 3/5. A half-sister to gade. III winner Go Again Valid, she was purchased by Christopher Bardasian from Hank Bird, Steephollow Farms, agent.

The highest-priced colt was a Kentucky-bred son of Milwaukee Brew consigned by Twin Oaks Training Center, agent. Bardasian bought the half brother to three stakes horses for $50,000 after a :10 4/5 work.