Wildcat Heir colt sells for $85,000 at Fasig-Tipton

The session topper is a half-brother to Calder stakes winner Many Kisses (Jim Lisa Photo/Calder Race Course) A colt by hot freshman sire Wildcat Heir was sold to M H & B for the top price of $85,000 at Monday's opening session of the Fasig-Tipton Kentucky Fall Yearlings Sale at Newtown Paddocks near Lexington, Kentucky. Cataloged as Hip No. 152, the Florida-bred chestnut was consigned by Beth Bayer, agent. Numbers were mixed at the close of the day's trade. In all, 173 yearlings grossed $1,933,500, down 11 percent from the opener last year, when 182 horses changed hands for $2,173,100. The average dipped 6.4 percent, from $11,940 to $11,176, but the median rose from $5,000 to $6,000, a jump of 20 percent from 2008. The session topper, who had RNA'd for $32,000 as an OBS August yearling, is a half-brother to stakes winners Lizzy's Township (Delaware Township) and Many Kisses (Unbridled's Image) as well as the stakes-placed Minnamana (Wekiva Springs). Lizzy's Township captured the 2005 Mountaineer Juvenile Fillies S., while current sophomore Many Kisses won the Lulu's Ransom S. at Calder in June and was most recently sixth in the Garden City S. (G1).

The February 2 colt is out of the unraced Black Tie Affair (Ire) mare

Tarahumara, who hails from the family of French highweight, classic winner and

successful sire Hernando (Fr) (Niniski) and French Group 1 victor Johann Quatz

(Fr) (Sadler's Wells).

Baccari Racing Stable went to $75,000 to purchase a Mr. Greeley colt, Hip 87,

from the consignment of Dromoland Farm, agent. The Kentucky-bred bay is the

second registered foal from the unraced Sparky Three (Monarchos), who is herself

a half-sister to top sire and multiple Grade 2 star Distorted Humor (Forty Niner)

as well as the stakes-winning Dancing Gulch (Gulch). The yearling's second dam

is Grade 2 victress Danzig's Beauty (Danzig), runner-up in the 1990 Acorn S.

(G1).

The April 2 colt was making his third appearance in a sales ring. A $150,000

Keeneland November weanling, he failed to reach his reserve when bringing

$85,000 at Keeneland September.

The day's priciest filly, and joint third-best seller overall, was a $62,000

daughter of Offlee Wild who was snapped up by Eisaman Equine. Sporting Hip 66,

the February 12 Kentucky-bred was offered by Double R Consignment, agent. The

dark bay is out of the stakes-placed Slews Majesty (Slew City Slew), making her

a half-sister to the multiple stakes-placed Her Royal Nibs (Formal Gold). This

is the family of Grade 3-winning sire Strike Gold (Mr. Prospector), and further

back, $3 million earner Concern (Broad Brush), hero of the 1994 Breeders' Cup

Classic (G1), and multiple Australian Group 1 victor Mentality (Flying Spur).

The filly, who is inbred 3 x 3 to Seattle Slew, was sold for only $6,500 at

Keeneland January.

Also fetching $62,000 was Hip 290, a colt from the first crop of multiple

Grade 1 winner Silver Train. Dapple Bloodstock bought the March 4 colt from

Woodford Thoroughbreds, agent. The Kentucky-bred dark bay is the second

registered foal from the multiple stakes-placed A Real Lady (Real Quiet), and he

comes from the same female line as multiple Grade 2 scorers Improviser (Speak

John) and Raise a Stanza (Raise a Man).

The three-day sale resumes Tuesday, beginning at 10 a.m. (EDT). For more

information, as well as live video of the auction, log onto fasigtipton.com.