Fasig-Tipton 2-Year-Old Sale Review

TIZNOW FILLY TOPS FASIG-TIPTON SALE

EIGHT JUVENILES BRING SIX-FIGURE BIDS AT F-T SALE

BY TRACY GANTZ

After a year’s interruption due to the pandemic, Fasig-Tipton conducted its second California 2-year-old sale at Santa Anita June 23. Eight horses brought six fgures, topped by a $250,000 daughter of California-bred Tiznow. One of the eight was a Cal-bred, a daughter of Shaman Ghost who sold for $100,000.

Al Pike’s Pike Racing of Louisiana sold the sale-topper to trainer Carla Gaines for B. Wayne Hughes’ Spendthrift Farm. California-based agent Bruno DeBerdt’s Excel Bloodstock consigned the Shaman Ghost flly, and trainer Brian Koriner purchased her for High Tech Racing.

Geof Nixon’s Tolo Toroughbreds and Art Tanaka bred the sale-topper, who is a Kentucky-bred out of the Empire Maker mare Soot Z. Te mare has also produced 2019 Sorrento Stakes (G2) winner Amalf Sunrise and two stakes-placed runners.

Excel sold the Shaman Ghost flly as agent for Lebherz Racing of Phil Lebherz. Bred by Premier Toroughbreds, she is out of the winning Greeley’s Galaxy mare Pearls for Girls and from the family of 2002 Rufan Handicap (G1) winner and millionaire Mandy’s Gold.

“I bought her for a new partnership,” said Koriner. “She was a very good individual. Her knees are open, so she’ll need a little time.”

DeBerdt called the Shaman Ghost “a really special flly.”

“She moved very forwardly for us, handled the pressure of the sale, and breezed like we expected,” he added. “She was very athletic and always gave you 100% every time you asked her.”

Excel sold three Cal-breds for Lebherz, including two fllies by Smiling Tiger, the successful California sire who ran for Lebherz and Alan Klein. One of the Smiling Tigers, Hong Kong Tiger, is out of the Friends Lake mare Hong Kong Lake and sold for $50,000 to Loyd Bonfunte.

Fasig-Tipton sold the horses from the Santa Anita winner’s circle, a change from the frst sale in 2019, when the company used the walking ring. Tat allowed prospective buyers to sit in the shade of the grandstand, and a large crowd gathered.

A total of 53 2-year-olds sold for $2,981,000, an average of $56,245. Fifteen did not sell for a buy-back rate of 22%. Te catalog initially comprised 105 hips, with an additional 10 in a supplemental catalog. Te sales company listed 44 as withdrawn prior to the sale.

“We saw today there’s a viable marketplace,” said Boyd Browning, president and chief executive ofcer of Fasig-Tipton. “Tere were plenty of buyers in attendance at the sale. Overall, I thought horses sold well—they were well received. Te demand outstripped supply by a considerable amount.”

Much of the catalog came from Florida and Louisiana consignors, and Browning said he had hoped for more Cal-breds in the catalog.

“I think the California industry has to make a decision whether it wants to have a viable sales marketplace or not,” he said. “We had very little support from the signifcant California breeders this year. And ultimately the strength of any sale is based upon the quality of product that you’re able to attract.”

Fasig-Tipton will return to conduct its yearling sale, which is scheduled for Sept. 28 in Pomona.

“We’re going to try to have a great yearling sale in September,” said Browning. “We’re going to do everything that we can to put the best group of horses on the grounds at Fairplex in Pomona.”

PHOTOS BY Z

Cal-bred Shaman Ghost flly fetches $100,000 at Fasig-Tipton Santa Anita juvenile sale