Team Valor secures Mr. Greeley colt for $2.2 million

Mr. Greeley colt was the star of the show at Fasig-Tipton Saratoga (Joseph DiOrio/Horsephotos.com)

Barry Irwin of Team Valor made the winning bid of $2.2 million for the sales

topper in Tuesday's second and final session of the Fasig-Tipton Selected Yearlings

Sale at the Humphrey S. Finney Pavilion in Saratoga Springs, New York,

purchasing a colt by Mr. Greeley out of the King of Kings (Ire) mare Win My

Heart, who is a half-sister to Grade 3 victress Secret Liaison (Housebuster).

From the same family of champion Sacahuista (Raja Baba) and Grade 1 winners Geri

(Theatrical [Ire]) and Raging Fever (Storm Cat), the well-built chestnut is the

first foal from his six-year-old dam. The Kentucky-bred youngster was offered as

Hip No. 142  by Gainesway, agent.

Lukas Enterprises purchased the session's second-highest seller, and the

sale's leading filly, for $875,000 from the Eaton Sales, agent, consignment.

Catalogued as Hip 160, the daughter of multiple leading sire Storm Cat is out of

Blissful (Mr. Prospector), who is a full sister to 2000 Kentucky Derby (G1)

winner Fusaichi Pegasus. The chestnut's granddam, Rowdy Angel (Halo), is

responsible for classic winner and $2.2 million earner Pine Bluff (Danzig) and

Grade 1 hero Demons Begone (Elocutionist).

Other top sellers included Hip 189, a colt by Unbridled's Song who

was acquired by B. Wayne Hughes for $800,000. Out of the unraced Court

Reception (A.P. Indy), the dark bay is a half-brother to Grade 2

heroine Ruby's Reception (Rubiano) and was consigned by Taylor Made

Sales Agency, agent.

Lukas Enterprises bought Hip 132, a colt by Awesome Again, for

$750,000. Sold by Eaton Sales, agent, the chestnut is the first foal

from Grade 2 queen Victory U. S. A. (Victory Gallop), who placed in 2003

Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies (G1) and Frizette S. (G1). This is the

same female family of multiple Grade 2 queen Foresta (Alydar) and the

stakes-winning Goulash (Mari's Book), whose claim to fame is as the dam

of multiple champion Ashado (Saint Ballado) and multiple Grade 2 winner

Sunriver (Saint Ballado).

The session's median rose 4.2 percent, from $225,000 to $235,000, but

the rest of the numbers declined. Sixty-six yearlings sold for

$21,215,000 on Tuesday, a dip of 8.9 percent from 12 months ago when 70

horses brought $23,295,000. The $321,439 second session average dropped

3.4 percent from $332,786 in 2006.

Overall, 142 foals sold for $41,082,000, a slight decrease of 2.3

percent from last year when 130 yielded an aggregate $42,085,000. The

average fell 10.6 percent, from $323,731 to $289,310, and the $227,500

median decreased 7.3 percent from $245,000.