Stars in the Making: The 2015 Fasig-Tipton Florida Sale

Stars in the Making; The 2015 Fasig-Tipton Florida Sale: Fasig-Tipton has a rich history in sales in the Thoroughbred industry and is one of the best sales for owners, breeders, and trainers to find their future champions. To serve as one of the numerous successful examples of horses sold by Fasig-Tipton, Competitive Edge, winner of the 2014 Hopeful Stakes (G1), went through the ring before going on to his successful career as a racehorse.

Gulfstream Park and Fasig-Tipton have teamed up this year to once again host the Florida Sale. This sale shows off the best two-year-olds by showing them under tack before the sale in hopes of attracting high numbers.

This year, buyers have an even greater incentive to attend the sale and race their horses in Florida. If the winner of the future 2016 Florida Derby will be sold on March 4, 2015, in the Florida Sale (watch live), the owners will receive a $1 million bonus for their participation in Florida sales and racing endeavors.

“This bonus is a unique way to celebrate Gulfstream Park’s partnership with Fasig-Tipton,” said The Stronach Group’s COO and Gulfstream President Tim Ritvo. “Gulfstream is known for its world-class racing and by the many classic and Grade I champions produced by the Florida Derby, and Fasig-Tipton’s March sale is the premier 2-year-old sale. We think this initiative will also be fun for fans as they follow the horses through the sales ring and throughout their racing careers.”

This year, there are some amazing horses being offered with pedigree, of course, playing a huge part in many selections. Choosing the best horses to buy can be a remarkably challenging task, but here are some of the hip numbers that could make a name for themselves in the future.

Hip 3: Bay Colt by Medaglia d’Oro out of Flying Passage by A.P. Indy: This colt is bred on an astonishing cross. Medaglia d’Oro has been a very successful sire, and Flying Passage has already produced multiple notable foals, specifically Soaring Empire and Hungry Island. The female family is also closely related to the families of Queena, Verrazano, and Somali Lemonade. This one will likely want two turns over any surface.

Hip 9: Bay Colt by Galileo out of Glass Slipper by Danehill: The demand for Galileo and his line, especially mares by him, has increased in the last few years. This colt has a fabulous European bloodline that includes his dam, a full sister to the very successful Danehill Dancer. This colt, whether he stays here or ships back to Ireland, will definitely want a lot of ground on the grass.

Hip 28: Dark Bay Colt by Awesome Again out of Holy Blitz by Holy Bull: Breeders admit they want to breed the fastest horse. This colt could be the epitome of that confession. This colt is a three-quarters brother to Breeders’ Cup Filly and Mare Sprint and Eclipse Award winner Judy the Beauty (Ghostzapper). This colt is bred to be fast and tough.

Hip 33: Bay Filly by Tiznow out of Kobla Cat by Tale of the Cat: Tiznow is an already proven sire, as is Tale of the Cat. Tale of the Cat is proving to be a decent broodmare sire as well (i.e., he’s the broodmare sire of undefeated three-year-old Dortmund). This filly is out of a half-sister to the 2014 Leading Freshman Sire, Quality Road. In his first crop, Quality Road is represented by Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Turf winner Hootenanny. This filly will likely prefer dirt at the middle distances.

Hip 46: Bay Colt by Street Cry out of Million Gift by Sunday Silence: This colt has a lot going for him. His sire Street Cry won the Dubai World Cup and multiple other races. His dam is a half-sister to the Filly Triple Crown winner and champion Sky Beauty. The colt’s second dam, Maplejinsky, is a half-sister to two-time champion and Horse of the Year Dayjur. Million Gift is also a full sister to Silence Beauty, dam of Tale of Ekati. This same female family can be found in Pine Island and Point of Entry.

Hip 55: Dark Bay Colt by Smart Strike out of My Miss Storm Cat by Storm Cat: This colt is a full brother to Champion Juvenile Filly My Miss Aurelia. My Miss Storm Cat was Broodmare of the Year, and Smart Strike consistently sires strong, durable, and tough runners who have grit and determination. This colt is likely to want middle distances on either surface.

Hip 79: Bay Filly by War Front out of Santa Catarina by Storm Cat: This filly has a lot of pedigree behind her. Her dam Santa Catarina was second in the 2003 Kentucky Oaks behind longshot winner Bird Town. The mare was multiple Grade 1-placed and won the Grade 2 Hollywood Breeders’ Cup Oaks. War Front is one of the most sought-after stallions and has sired multiple high quality runners. This filly will likely be able to stretch her distances from sprints to routes while handling both easily.

Hip 100: Dark Bay Colt by Medaglia d’Oro out of Speed Succeeds by Gone West: This colt is a half-brother to the highly successful runner and young sire Brilliant Speed. Brilliant Speed was a Grade 1 winner and was multiple graded stakes-placed, including the 1-1/2 mile Belmont Stakes. The colt’s second dam Daijin was a full sister to Belmont winner Touch Gold and produced Canadian Champion Handicap Mare Serenading. This colt will likely run all day on either surface.

Hip 126: Beautiful Kitten, Chestnut filly by Kitten’s Joy out of You’re Beautiful by Storm Cat: Kitten’s Joy always seems to be near the top of the list when it comes to siring successful racehorses. The “kittens” are not fragile and can be sprinters, milers, and routers on any surface. This filly is out a half-sister to multiple producers, including Tizso (Oxbow and Awesome Patriot) and Tizamazing (Paynter), and to top quality sire, Tiznow. This one will likely enjoy the turf the most.

Hip 167: Dark Bay Colt by Malibu Moon out of Dream Street by Tale of the Cat: This colt is a half-brother to graded stakes-placed filly Lassofthemohicans (Indian Charlie). What makes this colt appealing is his female family. His dam is a half-sister to two-time champion and multiple Grade 1-winning sprinter Housebuster. This colt is going to have a high cruising speed and will likely be able to carry it two turns.

Hip 170: Chestnut Filly by Candy Ride out of Ellesmere by Tabasco Cat: This filly is a half-sister to stakes winning sprinter Bridgetown (Speightstown). However, this filly is more likely to relish distance than her big brother did. Candy Ride sires all types of runners, but with Belmont winner Tabasco Cat on the bottom, I see more evidence for a distance runner in this filly.