Victory Speech Colt Tops Illinois Sale

Frank Calabrese and a 2-year-old colt by Victory Speech combined to top Saturday's Illinois sale. Calabrese paid $100,000 for hip #25 at the June 23 Illinois Thoroughbred Breeders and Owners Foundation sale at Arlington Park. The auction combined two separate sales offering 84 2-year-olds in training and one horse of racing age.

The sale topper was foaled in Kentucky and consigned by Robert Cunningham. Calabrese also bought the sale topper at the 2000 edition of the auction.

The sale averaged $16,779, a 7.4% increase from last year's $15,625 figure. This year's median was $10,000. Gross sales totaled $704,700. A total of 33 horses failed to meet their reserve, including the only 3-year-old up for auction, a filly named Pourquoi (The Name's Jimmy--I Ninety Salad). Exactly fifth per cent of the horses who went through the ring sold, with the remainder failing to reach their reserve.