The Fasig-Tipton Saratoga select yearling auction could close out its two-night run Aug. 7 in New York with a bang, based on the positive reviews for a number of the horses on offer. Read what people had to say about the yearlings they believe could be the evening’s standouts:
Hip No. 97, a colt by Malibu Moon – Spinnette, by Spinning World. Consigned by Paramount Sales, agent.
“He’s just absolutely spectacular,” said Paramount’s Pat Costello of this bay yearling, which is a half brother to French stakes winner Green Lyons (by Green Desert). “He has a fantastic walk and is a super, super individual. When he walks, he takes your breath away.”
Hip No. 99, a filly by Tiznow – Storm Tide, by Storm Cat. Consigned by Eaton Sales, agent.
“She is a leggy, yet refined, Tiznow filly,” said Eaton’s Reiley McDonald of this dark bay or brown yearling, which is a full sister to grade III winner American Lion . “She has a racehorse top line – a beautiful neck, great shoulder, long back, and a big hip.”
Hip No. 100, a colt by Empire Maker – Stunning Image, by Kris S. Consigned by Glennwood Farm, agent.
“He is a very correct, athletic, quality yearling,” said Glennwood’s Eoin Ryan of this dark bay or brown yearling, which is from the family of grade I winners Seeking the Gold and Fast Play. “He is a great mover and he’s exceptionally balanced. He’s elegant.”
Hip No. 101, a filly by Malibu Moon – Stylish, by Thunder Gulch. Consigned by Taylor Made Sales Agency, agent for Spendthrift Farm.
“She’s one of these fillies that you’ve got to see to really appreciate her,” said Taylor Made’s Mark Taylor of this dark bay or brown yearling, which is out of a multiple grade III winner. “She’s just absolutely got as racy of a top line as you ever are going to find on a horse. She’s got enough stretch to her that she looks like she would run all day, but she also looks like she would be fast. I think she’s one of the best fillies that we’ve seen in this crop.”
Hip No. 102, a filly by Dynaformer – Super Freaky, by Smart Strike. Consigned by Paramount Sales, agent.
“She’s out of a fantastic mare (that was a grade III winner) and she’s probably one of the best examples of Dynaformer that you’ll see,” said Paramount’s Pat Costello of this bay yearling that is from the family of champion and dual classic winner Silver Charm.
Hip No. 107, a colt by Street Cry – Sweet Talker, by Stormin Fever. Consigned by Lane’s End, agent.
“He’s a really special colt,” said Lane’s End’s Bill Farish of this dark bay or brown yearling that is out of a grade I winner. “He looks like a racehorse. He has good bone and a lot of leg under him. He’s very powerfully made.”
Hip No. 111, a colt by Unbridled's Song – Tom’s Cat, by Storm Cat. Consigned by Taylor Made Sales Agency, agent.
“He is a big, good-looking Unbridled’s Song,” said Taylor Made’s Mark Taylor of this gray or roan yearling, which is a half brother to grade II winner Cowtown Cat (by Distorted Humor ). “He reminds me a lot of Dunkirk. He’s a big horse, but his hocks and knees are real close to the ground. He has short cannon bones and good bone. He’s a beautiful mover. We begged for this mare to go to Unbridled’s Song. She is by Storm Cat and that has worked great for him (the stallion). The second dam is by Meadowlake, who is the broodmare sire of Old Fashioned (by Unbridled’s Song). Blood-wise he’s perfect.”
Hip No. 114, Howlin’atthemoon, a colt by Malibu Moon – Unenchantedevening, by Unbridled's Song. Consigned by Lane’s End, agent.
“He is a just very, very nice version of what you get from Malibu Moon,” said Lane’s End’s Bill Farish of this bay yearling, which is a half brother to added-money winner Indian Evening (by Indian Charlie) and is from the family of Horse of the Year Favorite Trick. “We’re very happy with him.”
Hip No. 117, Wait No More, a filly by Medaglia d'Oro – Wait a While, by Maria's Mon. Consigned by Three Chimneys Sales, agent for Arindel Farm LLC.
“She has a gorgeous walk and a nice amount of stretch,” said Three Chimneys’ Guinness McFadden of this gray or roan yearling that is the second foal out of a champion. “She looks like a super racy filly. From what I hear, she’s a little bit better type than her mother. She’s really classy and you couldn’t have a better pedigree. The 2-year-old (out of Wait a While) is looking really good and we think this filly is special.”
Hip No. 118, a filly by Medaglia d'Oro – West Coast Swing, by Gone West. Consigned by Denali Stud, agent.
“She’s big and she’s strong; she’s just a beautiful filly,” said Denali’s Craig Bandoroff of this bay yearling, which is the first foal out of an added-money winner and from the family of Canadian Horse of the Year and Eclipse Award winner Dance Smartly and grade I winner and top sire Smart Strike. “She’s the whole package. She’s a good mover and she has a lot of class.”
Hip No. 126, a filly by Galileo – Adoration, by Honor Grades. Consigned by VanMeter Sales, agent.
“She is by the preeminent sire in the world and she’s out of a grade I-winning American mare,” said Tom VanMeter of this bay yearling. “She has the eye of an eagle, a huge walk, and great balance. I hope and think that she’s a collector’s item that somebody will want to have.”
Hip No. 134, a filly by Distorted Humor – Appealing Storm, by Valid Appeal. Consigned by Sweezey & Partners, agent for Chesapeake Farm.
“She has all the credentials,” said Wayne Sweezey of this chestnut yearling, which is a half sister to grade I winner Vacare (by Lear Fan), grade III winner Single Solution (by Flatter ), and French group III winner Abtaal (by Rock Hard Ten). “A lot of people have come and looked at her, and they spend a lot of time with her. You can tell when folks look at her that they’re interested.”
Hip No. 135, a colt by Bernardini – A Precious Memory, by Honor Grades. Consigned by Select Sales, agent.
“He’s beautiful,” said Select Sales’ Jenny Barnett of this bay yearling, which is from the family of grade I winners Hard Spun and Drill and champion and dual classic winner Little Current. “But what his best feature is, to us, is his walk. He’s incredibly balanced and he walks through his shoulder. He just blows everyone away as soon as he takes one step. I think that’s something that sets him apart from others.”
Hip No. 137, a colt by War Front – Auntie Boo, by Fusaichi Pegasus . Consigned by Nursery Place, agent.
“He’s got a lot of length and substance for a War Front,” said Nursery Place’s Griffin Mayer of this bay yearling from the family of Breeders’ Cup Sprint (gr. I) winner Desert Stormer. “He carries himself extremely well for a big, strong horse. The sire couldn’t be any hotter right now.”
Hip No. 141, a filly by Distorted Humor – Be Gentle, by Tale of the Cat . Consigned by Taylor Made Sales Agency, agent.
“This is a filly that we kind of earmarked for Saratoga early in the process,” said Taylor Made’s Mark Taylor of this bay yearling, which is out of a multiple grade II winner. “She’s one that the more you look at her, the more you like her. You have to have a filly up here that stands up to scrutiny and she’s just hard to pick apart. She has a beautiful body on her and great balance. She doesn’t have a lot of flash; she’s a solid bay filly. But she has got so much quality to her that I really think that people are going to like her.”
Hip No. 142, a filly by Unbridled's Song – Be My Prospect, by Forest Wildcat. Consigned by Eaton Sales, agent.
“She has just a stunning top line,” said Eaton’s Reiley McDonald of this gray or roan filly that is from the family of grade II winner Eight Belles (by Unbridled’s Song). “She also has a great walk and a great attitude. She’s really a special filly.”
Hip No. 146, Cry Joy, a colt by Street Cry – Blushing Ogygian, by Ogygian. Consigned by Taylor Made Sales Agency, agent.
“He is a full brother to (grade I winner) Street Boss,” said Taylor Made’s Mark Taylor of this bay yearling. “He’s a May foal and we really debated about whether to bring him here or to take him to the Keeneland September sale to give him more time. We usually don’t bring May foals up here, but Fasig-Tipton just lobbied so hard to get this horse. He came to this sale well and he is a very nice horse in all regards. When you see him walk, you can’t stop watching him. His movement is just beautiful.”
Hip No. 149, a filly by Medaglia d'Oro -- Bsharpsonata, by Pulpit. Consigned by Woodford Thoroughbreds, agent for Cloverleaf Farms II.
“She’s the second foal out of a (grade II-winning) mare that was a homebred that we raced,” said Woodford’s Matt Lyons of this dark bay or brown yearling. “She is a big, strong filly that looks like her sire and she has a great mind.”
Hip No. 164, a colt by War Front – Dancing Trieste, by Old Trieste. Consigned by Hill ‘n’ Dale Sales Agency, agent.
“He’s strong and balanced, and he has plenty of bone,” said Hill ‘n’ Dale’s John Sikura of this bay yearling that is from the family of Argentine champions La Galerie and Guernika. “He’s a really good horse.”
Hip No. 169, a colt by Bernardini – Dawn Chorus, by Unbridled's Song. Consigned by Four Star Sales, agent.
“He’s everything that’s good about the stallion,” said Four Star’s Kerry Cauthen of this bay yearling from the family of champion Countess Diana. “He looks like his sire, and if you like the stallion you’ve got to like him. He’s a colt that has truly bloomed in the last month. He’s added some substance and is just an absolute tremendous horse.”
Hip No. 171, a colt by Tiznow – Double Cat, by Storm Cat. Consigned by Lane’s End, agent.
“He has a fair amount of Storm Cat in him,” said Lane’s End’s Bill Farish of this bay yearling, which is out of a stakes winner and is from the family of champion and Breeders’ Cup Distaff (gr. I) winner Hollywood Wildcat and Breeders’ Cup Mile (gr. IT) winner War Chant. “He’s been really well-received.”
Hip No. 174, a colt by Tapit – Element of Truth, by Atticus. Consigned by Gainesway, agent.
“He is very well-related; he’s a half brother to a Royal Ascot 2-year-old winner (Zaidan, by Street Cry) that went on to be a top horse in Hong Kong,” said Gainesway’s Michael Hernon of this chestnut yearling. “He’s very balanced, correct, and a good mover. He walks right along like a soldier every day. He’s a popular horse as he should be. Tapit continues to produce the goods and we expect this horse will be one that you’ll be reading about in future stakes racing results.”
Hip No. 177, a filly by Tapit – Express Chick, by Hennessy. Consigned by Gainesway, agent.
“She is a very attractive chestnut filly by Tapit,” said Gainesway’s Michael Hernon of this yearling that is out of a half sister to grade I winner Gozzip Girl (by Dynaformer). “She’s out of a Hennessy mare and that cross (with Tapit) has already produced Alabama Stakes (gr. I) winner Careless Jewel. This filly is a super mover. She’s correct and has a world of potential.”
Hip No. 184, a colt by Bernardini – Galaxy Dancer, by Kingmambo. Consigned by Three Chimneys Sales, agent.
“He’s very much like his dam’s side; we see a lot of Kingmambo coming out in him,” said Three Chimneys’ Guinness McFadden of this bay yearling that is from the family of grade I winners Lotka and Stephan’s Odyssey. “He is just a really classy individual that moves very well. He’s nicely balanced.”