DOWN BUT NOT OUT AT FASIG-TIPTON JULY
Courtesy of the TDN
Photo by Z

At the end of the opening session of Fasig-Tipton’s July Sale of Selected Yearlings, officials were left scratching their heads as to what to do to stop the hemorrhaging. But by the time the last yearling strolled through the ring at the end of Day 2, there appeared to emerge a glimmer of hope on the horizon as the session average of $87,117 dropped a mere 4.3 percent from last year’s $91,043. “Based on [Monday’s session], I wouldn’t have been surprised if we were down more,” said Faisg- Tipton Chairman Walt Robertson. “Truthfully, I am thrilled we were only down less than 5 percent [for average on Day 2].”

Helping to bolster that average on the second day was hip 250. Only the third horse through the ring, the daughter of sophomore sire Medaglia d’Oro offered more evidence that her sire is one of the hottest young sires in the country. In the days leading up to the sale, the bay drew plenty of admirers, but in the end, it was John Ferguson who signed the ticket for Darley. Purchased for $425,000, the Feb. 29 foal was consigned by Warrendale Sales, agent for Anne and David Hanley’s Whitechurch Farm. One of five fillies by the Darley sire offered at July, the bay is out of Ting a Folie (Arg) (Careafolie {Ire}), a multiple group winner in Argentina

Warrendale’s Kitty Taylor said, “She is just a lovely filly. She has a beautiful cap on her and has just a lovely walk. She has always had the right attitude and is by the right stallion. We felt pretty solid with the filly, so we were pleased with the price we got. I’m very pleased for the Hanley’s.”

The 13-year-old mare, who was purchased with this filly in utero by Kelly Farms Racing for $70,000 at KEEJAN in 2008, is a full-sister to dual Group 1 winner Campesino (Arg). Church secured hip 250 for $85,000 at Keeneland January seven months ago. “We really loved her,” said White Church Farm’s David Hanley. “We were very high on the stallion and obviously, Medaglia d’Oro has turned out to be a really sensational stallion. She has done really well in the time we have had her.”

At this venue last time, the White Church Farm and Warrendale duo teamed up to sell the sale topper, a filly by Exchange Rate who brought $375,000. AWe love to sell here,” said Hanley.”We have had such good success here. Fasig-Tipton also does such a great job promoting the sale, and in the time that the new management came in, they have worked so hard to improve the sale.”