Romans, who stood near the auction stand in the Calder Race Course paddock, made his offers through Fasig-Tipton executive Boyd Browning via cell phone.
A handsome bay Storm Cat colt became the first horse Tuesday to command a seven-figure price at the Fasig-Tipton Florida select sale of 2-year-olds in training when he brought a $2.2-million final bid from Dale Romans a little bit after noon. The trainer said he was acting on behalf of a partnership, whose members he declined to name. "But it will come out," he said.Consigned by Hartley/De Renzo Thoroughbreds, agent, the colt is out of the 10-year-old grade III-winning Broad Brush mare Brushed Halory. She is a half-sister to graded or group winners Halory Hunter (by Jade Hunter), Van Nistelrooy (by Storm Cat), Prory (by Procida), and Key Lory (by Key to the Mint)."We thought he was the horse with the best stallion potential in the sale," Romans said. "He was pretty cheap for a Storm Cat out of that kind of mare."