Fasig-Tipton pioneers Turf Showcase yearling sale on Sunday

Fasig-Tipton will break new ground Sunday afternoon at its Newtown Paddocks location, staging the first North American yearling sale specifically for turf-oriented yearlings. Presented by Woodbine Racetrack, the single session opens at 4 p.m. (EDT) with a 171-strong catalog.

“We are very pleased with the quality of this catalogue for the inaugural sale,” Fasig-Tipton President Boyd Browning said in a press release. “These yearlings have sire power, depth of pedigree, and physical conformation that will appeal to a broad range of domestic and international buyers.”

The lone War Front cataloged figures to be popular as a half-sister to Parading (Hip No. 101), while Exceed and Excel also has one well-related yearling out of a half to Vacare (Hip 28). Medaglia d’Oro has two in the sale, a half-brother to Finnegans Wake (Hip 92) and a grandson of Danelagh (thus a nephew of Vengeance of Rain) (Hip 112). Among More Than Ready’s listings is a sister to Consumer Credit (Hip 117), and Kitten’s Joy’s draft features a half-brother to Dak Attack (Hip 56).

That sire power also includes Arch, Artie Schiller, Distorted Humor, Elusive Quality, English Channel, Exchange Rate, Ghostzapper, Gio Ponti, Hard Spun, Lemon Drop Kid, Malibu Moon, Mizzen Mast, Scat Daddy, Stormy Atlantic (including one from the immediate family of Monday’s Hopeful [G1] winner Sporting Chance, Hip 157), Street Sense, Tale of the Cat, and Temple City.

Young sires have a presence too, with first-crop yearlings by Magician, Noble Mission, Real Solution, War Command, and Verrazano, and second-crop progeny of Animal Kingdom (including a half to Laverock, Hip 129, from the immediate family of Pierro), Declaration of War (including a half to Separationofpowers, Hip 125), and Point of Entry.

Browning went on to describe the significance of the sale that caters to domestic and international demand.

“In North America this year, 40 percent of all graded stakes races will be conducted on turf, along with nearly 7,000 races. Internationally, U.S.-breds continue to excel on the world’s biggest stages.

“This sale represents a perfect opportunity for buyers from around the globe to find yearlings that suit their racing programs – in a convenient, single sale session.”

For the complete catalog, updates, and live video of the sale, log onto fasigtipton.com.