Fasig-Tipton July set to begin Monday

Fasig-Tipton will hold its July Selected Yearlings Sale, the first North

American yearling auction of 2009, on Monday and Tuesday. A total of 494 horses

has been cataloged for the two-day sale at Newtown Paddocks in Lexington,

Kentucky. Each session will kick off at 10 a.m. (EDT).

The first 213 yearlings to tour the ring during Monday's opener comprise the

New Sire Showcase. Sires with first-crop yearlings on offer include champion

Bernardini and Grade 1 winners Aragorn (Ire), Artie Schiller, Bandini, Bellamy

Road, Bluegrass Cat, Borrego, First Samurai, Flower Alley, Good Reward, Henny

Hughes, Pomeroy and Silver Train. Grade 2 victor Rockport Harbor is also well

represented in this category, with no fewer than 15 youngsters cataloged.

Among young stallions whose first runners are just hitting the track, Horse

of the Year Ghostzapper, champion Afleet Alex, and Grade 1 scorers Consolidator,

Eddington, Forest Danger, Purge, Rock Hard Ten, Roman Ruler, Southern Image and

Wildcat Heir all have yearlings entered at Fasig-Tipton.

The progeny of established sires will be out in force for the remainder of

the auction, with yearlings by the likes of A.P. Indy, Awesome Again, Cherokee

Run, Dehere, Distorted Humor, Dynaformer, El Prado (Ire), Forestry, Fusaichi

Pegasus, Giant's Causeway, Hennessy, Holy Bull, Indian Charlie, Maria's Mon,

More Than Ready, Mr. Greeley, Pulpit, Quiet American, Silver Deputy, Smart

Strike, Street Cry (Ire), Tale of the Cat, Tiznow and Unbridled's Song.

The catalog also features yearlings by such up-and-coming stallions as

Birdstone, Candy Ride (Arg), Medaglia d'Oro, Proud Citizen, Sky Mesa,

Speightstown and Tapit.

The 494-strong catalog is slimmer than the past two years. In 2008, 568

yearlings were cataloged, and 582 were featured in 2007.

"We started this year with a goal to improve the overall quality of yearlings

in the July Sale," Fasig-Tipton President Boyd Browning said. "Although our

total nominations were up significantly this year, our standards for acceptance

were higher and, accordingly, we have cataloged fewer yearlings."

For more information, visit fasigtipton.com.