By Sarah Mace
At the conclusion of Fasig-Tipton’s 2023 Kentucky Winter Mixed sale, Fasig touted the auction’s final 13.9% RNA percentage, pointing out that the figure was “second lowest in 10 years, behind only last year’s all-time record low.” As it happened, New York-breds contributed more than their fair share to the sale’s success in this department. Of 46 New York-bred racing/broodmare prospects, broodmares, and short yearlings offered, 44 individuals successfully changed hands (including two-post sale transactions) for an enviable RNA rate of 4.3%. In all, the New York-breds brought $1,201,700 in total sales with an average price of $27,311 and an $11,500 median
The auction, held Monday and Tuesday, February 6-7 at the Newtown Paddocks in Lexington, was the final mixed sale before the beginning of the North American breeding season.
Wasp, a 6-year-old stakes-placed daughter of American Pharoah offered by Taylor Made as a racing/broodmare prospect, was the New York-bred topper (Hip 592). Offered as the antepenultimate lot of Tuesday’s second and concluding session, she was purchased by Bullseye Bloodstock with a final bid of $200,000. (Inspection video)
Bred by Joanne T. Nielsen, Wasp went on to earn $242,380 in 14 starts for owner A1A Racing. Wasp is one of three winners out of Visions of Annette, an unplaced half-sister to stakes winners Saucey Evening and Petition the Lady. Another half-sister, Jewel of the Night, is the dam of multiple Grade 1 winner and million-dollar earner Evening Jewel. Wasp’s second dam Jeweled Lady is sister to multiple Grade 1 winner General Challenge, an earner of over $2.8 million. Mrs. Nielsen purchased Visions of Annette at the 2013 Keeneland November sale for $150,000.
The top-selling New York-bred short yearling of the auction was a dark bay or brown Nyquist filly purchased by Ramon Tallaj, C & S TBS, Agent, for $100,000. Offered by Hidden Brook as Hip 56, the filly was bred in partnership by Spruce Lane, Becker, Hidden Brook, Conley, Gibson & Hartman, and foaled at McMahon of Saratoga Thoroughbreds on March 20, 2022. (Inspection video)
The six-figure filly is the first foal out of Brand New Game, a Kentucky-bred daughter of First Samurai who was unplaced on the racetrack but is a half-sister to Arravale, 2006 Sovereign Award winner for Horse of the Year and Champion Grass Mare. Another half-sister, Hollywood Hideaway, is also a stakes winner. McMahon & Hill Bloodstock purchased Brand New Game at the 2020 Keeneland November sale for $155,000.
The same connections, Ramon Tallaj, C & S TBS, Agent, went to $90,000 to scoop up the top-priced New York-bred male yearling, a dark bay or brown colt by Munnings from the family of Affirmed Success. Bred by Dr. Jerry Bilinski & Harry Patten, the colt was consigned by Stuart Morris, Agent, on behalf of Waldorf Farm as Hip 296. (Inspection video)
The colt’s first dam, My Dixie Doodle, has produced three winners from four foals to start: stakes-placed Prince of Pharoahs, who has earned $276,098 in 24 starts to date, and Chrome Dixie, an earner of over $90,000 in 19 starts. My Dixie Doodle is a half-sister to stakes winner and regional sire Southern Success, as well as multiple graded-placed runner Taste Like Candy. The colt’s third dam is Towering Success, dam of Affirmed Success, multiple Grade 1 winner and earner of $2.2 million.
Next month, the attention of the North American Bloodstock world will turn to the juvenile market, which will kick off on March 20-22 with the Ocala Breeders’ Sales Company’s 2023 March Sale of 2-Year-Olds in Training in Ocala, FL. The under-tack shows will be conducted March 14 to 17.
