Florida Derby winner Empire Maker possibly the best bargain in this year's Derby field.
Probable Kentucky Derby (gr. I) favorite Empire Maker has never been offered at public auction. He's a homebred who races for Prince Khaled Abdullah's Juddmonte Farms. But most of the Derby candidates have passed through a sale ring at some point in their lives. Some brought hundreds of thousands of dollars, others much less.The most expensive was Atswhatimtalknbout, who was purchased by B. Wayne Hughes for $900,000 at the Fasig-Tipton February sale of 2-year-olds in training. Indian Express cost about as much as an old used car, bringing only $4,500 at the Fasig-Tipton Kentucky October yearling sale.Peace Rules is a $35,000 graduate of the Ocala Breeders' Sales Company's (OBS) March auction of 2-year-olds in training. He was bought back for $11,500 as a weanling at the OBS October mixed sale. Funny Cide was a bargain at only $22,000 when he was offered at the Fasig-Tipton Saratoga preferred yearling sale.Scrimshaw has been through the auction ring three times. He sold for $125,000 as a yearling at Keeneland's January horse of all ages sale. He was bought back for $145,000 at the Keeneland September yearling sale. And he sold for $550,000 to Robert and Beverly Lewis at the Keeneland April sale of 2-year-olds in training.Following of are the sale histories of other Derby candidates:Brancusi--$100,000 Keeneland November breeding stock sale weanling; $375,000 Fasig-Tipton Saratoga select sale yearling.Lone Star Sky--$50,000 Fasig-Tipton Kentucky July yearling; $190,000 OBS Calder 2-year-old.Offlee Wild--$325,000 Keeneland September yearling.Outta Here -- $37,000 Keeneland September yearling.Sir Cherokee -- Bought back for $27,000 at the Keeneland September yearling sale.Ten Cents a Shine--$19,000 Keeneland November breeding stock sale buy-back as weanling; $47,000 Keeneland October yearling sale buy-back.Ten Most Wanted--$70,000 Fasig-Tipton Saratoga yearling; $145,000 Fasig-Tipton Florida Calder 2-year-old.Buddy Gil, Domestic Dispute, Eye of the Tiger, and Supah Blitz have never been offered at public auction.
