Shoppers seemed to be liking the horses at the Fasig-Tipton Saratoga select yearling sale, which is scheduled to begin its two-night run Aug. 4 in New York.
“They’re up to snuff,” said Barry Irwin of Team Valor International. “There are plenty of good horses, and a couple of spectacular ones.”
Seth Semkin, who was helping Spendthrift Farm’s B. Wayne Hughes inspect yearlings, also was enthusiastic.
“I think it’s a nice bunch,” he said.
Following are horses scheduled to be offered during the auction’s first session that buyers and consignors said were impressive:
Hip No. 1, a colt by Mr. Greeley– Madame Boulangere, by Royal Applause. Consigned by Stonestreet Thoroughbred Holdings.
“He’s just a really, really top horse; I love him,” said John Moynihan, an adviser to Stonestreet’s Jess Jackson. “He’s a big, strong colt. He looks like he’ll be fast, and he also looks like he’ll run far. When Mr. Greeley gets a good one, it looks like this kind of colt.” Stonestreet’s Forestry filly (Hip No. 71, out of Summerwood) “also is really nice,” Moynihan said.
Hip No. 2, a filly by Ghostzapper – Madame Pietra, by Roy. Consigned by Hidden Brook, agent for Adena Springs.
“She’s a very attractive, racy filly by one of the most exciting young sires,” said Sergio de Sousa of Hidden Brook. “She’s feminine, she has all the parts, and she’s strong. She presents herself very well. Ghostzapper’s yearlings have good range, and they’re pretty correct with a lot of bone. They have a lot of him in them.”
Hip No. 7, a colt by Unbridled’s Song – Moonlightandbeauty, by Capote. Consigned by Eaton Sales, agent.
“He’s big, pretty horse with a good walk, and he’s correct,” said Archie St. George. “He’s a half-brother to a good horse (stakes winner Giant Moon), and he’s got a lot of what people would like.”
Hip No. 10, Princess Aurora, a filly by Mr. Greeley – My Reem, by Chief’s Crown. Consigned by Kaizen Sales, agent.
“She’s a very athletic, nicely balanced filly that is a tremendous replica of her sire, and she’s a registered New York-bred to boot,” said Kaizen’s Richard Kent.
Hip No. 13, a colt by Indian Charlie – Near Mint, by Dehere. Consigned by Dromoland Farm, agent.
“He’s very, very athletic, with a great walk,” said Dromoland’s Gerry Dilger. “He has a very good mind, and he’s a well-balanced horse. The sire is doing very, very well at the moment.”
Hip No. 21, Forest Valentine, a filly by Forestry – People’s Princess, by Meadowlake. Consigned by Lane’s End, agent.
“She’s a grand-looking; she’s very sound, and she’s very racy,” said Lane’s End’s Will Farish of this yearling, which is a full sister to grade III winner Carolyn’s Cat.
Hip No. 24, a colt by A.P. Indy– Platinum Tiara, by Cozzene. Consigned by Taylor Made Sales Agency, agent.
“He’s one of the best A.P. Indys we’ve ever had,” said Mark Taylor of Taylor Made. “He’s got great scope and great balance, and he is very correct. I love the way he was bred. He’s out of a Cozzene mare that was really good at two; she was second in the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies (gr. I). He’s got really good race potential and, ultimately, really good sire potential.”
Hip No. 28, a colt by Mr. Greeley – Potential Pleasure, by Unbridled. Consigned by Legacy Bloodstock, agent for J & J Mamakos & Venture I.
“He’s a good walker; he’s well-balanced; and he’s a good-minded horse,” said Legacy’s Tommy Eastham. “He’s a smooth mover, real athletic.”
Hip No. 31, Pyramid Indy, a colt by A.P. Indy – Pyramid Lake, by Broad Brush. Consigned by Hunter Valley Farm, agent.
“He’s a very good colt,” said Hunter Valley’s Fergus Galvin. “He’s the complete package. He’s a very good-looking horse and a very good walker. He’s got a stallion’s pedigree as well. He jumps through all the hoops.”
Hip No. 32, a filly by Ghostzapper – Questress, by Seeking the Gold. Consigned by Hill ‘n’ Dale Sales Agency, agent.
“It’s Ghostzapper’s first crop, and there is a lot of buzz about his yearlings,” said Andrew Cary of Hill ‘n’ Dale. “She’s very well-related, being a half-sister to (grade I winner) Pomeroy. She has a bright future, not just as a racehorse, but also as a broodmare.”
Hip No. 35, a colt by Pulpit– Ramatuelle, by Jeune Homme. Consigned by Stonetreet Thoroughbred Holdings, agent.
“He’s a great colt; he’s outstanding,” said John Moynihan, an adviser to Stonestreet’s Jess Jackson. “This is the mare’s first foal, and he’s just a really, really top horse.”
Hip No. 37, a colt by Dixie Union– Rare Gift, by Unbridled’s Song. Consigned by Lane’s End, agent.
“He’s very correct,” said Lane’s End’s Will Farish. “He’s just a very, very attractive Dixie Union.” Hip No. 73, a Dixie Union – Sweetest Smile filly, is “very popular, too,” according to Farish.
Hip No. 40, a filly by Mr. Greeley – Redmond, by Red Ransom. Consigned by Gainesway, agent.
“She’s an elegant, ‘scopey,’ filly with a big walk and a nice family,” said Gainesway’s Neil Howard. “Mr. Greeley has shown he can be both an American sire and international sire, so she works for everybody.”
Hip No. 50, a colt by Ghostzappper – Savorthetime, by Gilded Time. Consigned by Taylor Made Sales Agency, agent.
“With Ghostzapper, I think everybody is anticipating his first crop, and they’re really excited about them,” said Mark Taylor of Taylor Made. “But most of them are going to be in the Keeneland September (yearling) sale. There are only two of his colts in this sale, and I think this colt is just exceptional. He has great balance and a great mind, and he just looks like a racehorse. His mother was really, really fast, and really, really sound. She made 32 starts and earned $605,356. Everybody talks about how we need more soundness in the breed, and he looks like he’ll be a fast, sound horse.”
Hip No. 54, a filly by Distorted Humor – Seven Four Seven, by Colonial Affair. Consigned by Taylor Made Sales Agency, agent.
“Her pedigree has got a wonderful family all the way through,” said Marshall Taylor (a son of Duncan Taylor) of Taylor Made. “I like the way she looks; you can tell she’s got a lot of class just standing there. She’s got a great neck and shoulder.”
Hip No. 62, a filly by Ghostzapper – Spy Novel, by Broad Brush. Consigned by Paramount Sales, agent.
“She’s a big, strong filly with a great stride on her; she’s a great walker,” said Paramount’s Pat Costello.
Hip No. 63, a filly by Tiznow – St Ballado’s Image, by Saint Ballado. Consigned by Denali Stud, agent.
“She’s just a beautiful filly,” said Denali’s Craig Bandoroff. “She’s big and strong; there’s a lot to her. She has a lot of class and quality.”
Hip No. 68, a colt by Distorted Humor – Stupendous Miss, by Dynaformer. Consigned by Denali Stud, agent.
“He’s the only Distorted Humor colt in the sale,” said Denali’s Craig Bandoroff. “He’s a man; he’s a very nice horse. He’s big, and he’s got a lot of leg. He just looks like that classic two-turn horse that buyers want, something that can withstand the rigors of racing.” Bandoroff said to also keep an eye on Hip No. 53, a Rock Hard Ten – Serena’s Sister colt that is “a really fancy, pretty yearling from a great family.”
Hip No. 80, a filly by Storm Cat– Totemic, by Vanlandingham. Consigned by Hill ‘n’ Dale Sales Agency, agent.
“She is a big, beautiful specimen,” said Andrew Cary of Hill ‘n’ Dale. “She’s already a proven commodity because of the fact that she’s a full sister or half-sister to three stakes winners, including (grade II) winner Lil’s Lad. She’s a relatively safe investment as far as buying an expensive yearling goes. She’s got a great, long-term future that’s not just on the racetrack.”