Elusive Quality Colt Tops Second Session of FTK Fall Yearling Sale

A strapping bay son of Elusive Quality   topped the second session of the three-day Fasig-Tipton Kentucky fall yearling sale at the sale company's Newtown Paddocks near Lexington.

The Kentucky-bred colt, consigned by Paramount Sales, agent, was purchased for $280,000 by bloodstock agent Buzz Chace on behalf of Ernie Paragallo's Paraneck Stables.

For the day, Fasig-Tipton reported 215 head sold for $3,780,900. The average was $17,586 and the median $8,000 with 91 horses failing to find new homes.

During the first two days of the auction, the sale company reported 431 head sold for $6,798,700, to average $15,774. The two-day median is $8,000 with 188 horses failing to find new homes.

Last year's second session saw 211 head sold for $4,455,400, to average $21,116. The median in 2005 was $9,000, with 75 horses failing to meet their reserves. During the first two days of the 2005 sale, 403 head sold grossed $7,723,100. The average was $19,164 and the median $9,000, with 165 horses failing to meet their reserves.

"It was a much stronger sale overall today than yesterday," said Terence Collier, Fasig-Tipton director of marketing. "The better pedigrees today matched up to the physicals, and there was money to be spent."

Chace said the session-topping colt would be sent to Classic Mile Training Center near Ocala, Fla., to be broken. "He's a nice horse and had the pedigree to go with it," said Chace.

Seasongs Farm bred the colt from the French-bred stakes winner Louve Mysterieuse (by Seeking the Gold), who is from the family of French group II winner Lascaux, English group II winner Leonardo Da Vinci, and French group III winner Louveterie.

Louve Mysterieuse has an unraced 3-year-old Giant's Causeway   filly, Satin Smooth, and a 2-year-old Theatrical filly, Drama Princess. Both fillies were bred in Kentucky by ClassicStar, which purchased Louve Mysterieuse, in foal to Giant's Causeway   for $650,000 at the 2002 Keeneland November mixed sale from the Taylor Made Sales Agency consignment. The mare produced an A.P. Indy colt this year for Seasongs Farm.

The Elusive Quality colt was previously consigned to the 2006 Keeneland September yearling sale by Taylor Made, where he failed to meet his reserve and was bought back for $245,000.

Chace also signed the ticket for the second-highest offering on the day, paying $270,000 for a daughter of Chief Seattle from the consignment of Oakleigh Farm, Paul Sutton, agent.

The filly was bred in Kentucky by the Harvey Clark Racing Stable from the De Niro mare Kwik as a Wink, who is dam of stakes winner Nine Best. Kwik as a Wink is a half-sister to the late stakes winner Snack.

"She's a big, strong, good-looking filly," said Chace, who purchased the filly on behalf of a fellow New Jersey client.

Chace said the filly would be sent to David McKathan's M& H Training Center near Reddick, Fla.

The sale continues through Oct. 25, with the final session beginning at 10 a.m.