The demand for offspring of Medaglia d’Oro continued during the Aug. 7 session of The Saratoga Sale, when a dark bay or brown filly by Darley’s outstanding stallion elicited a final bid of $1.3 million from representatives of Phoenix Thoroughbreds.

The filly sold just minutes after a Medaglia d’Oro colt established a new high price for the 2018 auction when he was purchased for $1.35 million by a partnership led by Terry Finley of West Point Thoroughbreds.

Consigned by Warrendale Sales as Hip 204, the filly is a half sister to multiple grade 1 winner Exaggerator. She is out of the Vindication mare Dawn Raid, who is a half sister to Canadian champion Embur’s Song.

“I liked everything about her. She’s a work of art,” said trainer Steve Asmussen, who was seated alongside the Phoenix Thoroughbreds team. “She’s a beautiful filly. I don’t think you’re very likely to find another like her.

“She’s a beautiful pedigree as well as the physical to go with it.”

Amer Abdulaziz of Phoenix Thoroughreds commented that the strength of the market forced him to stretch his pockets to land the desirable filly.

“We saved the money for tonight,” Abdulaziz said. “We bought what we wanted. We were prepared to go higher.”

Hunter Simms of Warrendale Sales said the final price was in line with their expectations of the filly.”We did expect her to bring that price. She had the residual value, the pedigree, the looks,” Simms said. “All the big players were lined up on her. She was very well-received. We were expecting around $1 million.”