A flashy Unbridled's Song filly became the highest-priced horse sold so far at the Fasig-Tipton Kentucky fall yearling sale when she brought $210,000 during the lunch hour of the auction’s second session Oct. 25.
Mark Roberts signed the sale ticket for the Adena Springs operation of multiple Eclipse Award-winning breeder and owner Frank Stronach. The sale’s previous high price was the $200,000 brought by a Medaglia d'Oro –Especially Me colt during the first session Oct. 24 in Lexington.
“She's not typical for the sire, but I thought she was a very, very nice filly,” said Roberts, who is the general manager of Adena Springs South in Florida. “She’s maybe not as big and as coarse (as some of the stallion’s offspring); she’s a very smooth filly.
"Her pedigree was a big incentive; you don’t get that kind of family just anywhere. I thought the price was fair."
The filly will be sent to Adena Springs South to be broken, joining yearlings bred by Stronach and numerous young horses he has purchased at yearling auctions this year. Stronach has a specific plan that involves racing the horses he has bought, but Roberts declined to provide any information.
The details will be revealed “in good time,” he said. Rumors that Stronach is starting some sort of partnership venture are widespread.
A chestnut with four white feet, the filly is a full sister to the winner American Song and a half sister to another winner, High Stakes Player (by A.P. Indy). Their dam, Pure Symmetry (by Storm Cat), finished third twice in six career races.
She is a full sister to English group I and French group III winner Sophisticat, grade II winner Grand Reward, and grade III winner Schramsberg. Pure Symmetry also is a half sister to grade II winner Harlington (by Unbridled) and added-money winner Serena’s Tune (by Mr. Prospector).
The $210,000 yearling’s second dam is Serena’s Song (by Rahy), who was 1995’s champion 3-year-old filly.
Peter O’Callaghan of Woods Edge Farm, as agent, consigned the Unbridled’s Song filly to the Fasig-Tipton Kentucky auction. The Robert and Beverly Lewis Trust bred the yearling in Kentucky.
She was a $100,000 buy-back when offered by Denali Stud, agent, at the Fasig-Tipton New York Saratoga select yearling sale earlier this year. Florida horseman Justin Casse purchased her privately afterward and sent her to O'Callaghan to be resold. Casse said he was going to buy his wife a new car with his proceeds from the Fasig-Tipton fall auction.
In another notable transaction, Canada-based trainer Mark Casse, as agent, purchased a Lemon Drop Kid–Present Danger colt for $190,000. He declined to reveal who would own the yearling, but he has been active at the sales in recent years buying horses for John and Debby Oxley.
Gerry Dilger’s Dromoland Farm, agent, consigned the colt.