Stormy Atlantic Colt Tops Fasig-Tipton Opening Session

The opening session of the 2004 Fasig-Tipton Midlantic 2-year-olds in training sale at Timonium started off with a bang when a colt by Stormy Atlantic   was purchased for $300,000. Jimmy Bell purchased the colt, acting on behalf of bloodstock agent John Ferguson, from the consignment of his breeder, Arthur Appleton's Bridlewood Farm.

Ferguson purchases horses for Sheikh Mohammed.

Fasig-Tipton reported that 175 juveniles were sold for a gross of $6,543,000, an average of $37,389, and a median of $21,000. Forty-nine horses failed to find new homes. Last year, 160 head were sold for a gross of $4,905,200, an average of $30,658, and a median of $22,000.

The Stormy Atlantic   colt, Atlantic Story, was produced from the unraced Siberian Express mare Story Book Girl, who was consigned but failed to meet her reserve at the 2001 Ocala Breeders' Sales Company's October mixed sale. The mare was bought back for $6,500. Story Book Girl has a yearling Halo's Image colt.

"Mr. Ferguson came in this morning and felt this colt was very special," Bell said. "He is a very fluid moving colt with room for improvement and he looked very good on the track. We are very excited to have him."

Bell said the immediate plans for the colt are unknown.

Stormy Atlantic stands at John Sikura's Hill 'n' Dale Farm near Lexington. His 2004 fee is $12,500.

New York-based trained Steve Klesaris went to $270,000 to acquire the topped-price filly of the sale when he purchased a daughter of Golden Missile   for Jeff Puglisi from the consignment of Terry Oliver, agent.

"It was a little more than I expected to pay, but sometimes you have to stretch it out a little for the good ones," said Klesaris, who has 18 horses in training for Puglisi. "She was an impressive looking, and very long legged and could cover a lot of ground."

The trainer said the filly would be shipped to Belmont Park.

Stacy Mitchell bred the filly in Kentucky from the stakes winning Norquestor mare Requesting More, who produced a Dixieland Band colt this year.

Top Turf Farm originally purchased the filly for $60,000 at the 2003 Keeneland September yearling sale. The filly was consigned to the 2004 OBS February 2-year-olds in training sale but failed to meet her reserve and was bought back for $47,000.

The sale ends Tuesday, with the final session beginning at 10 a.m.