A $250,000 colt by late California sire Vronsky led Tuesday's one-session Fasig-Tipton California Fall Yearlings and Horses of Racing Age Sale, topping a dozen lots to sell for six figures. While the $5,751,500 gross for 185 head and $15,000 median (-11.76%) declined somewhat from the 2022 edition, average was up slightly from $30,522 in 2022 to $31,089 (+1.86%) this year. The buy-back rate, 25.7% in 2022, rose to 34%.

“Buy-backs may be up a little bit,” said Fasig-Tipton's California representative Mike Machowsky. “But the guys that breed these Cal-breds are happy to race them. The Cal-bred program is a very strong program and, as you see, we get great horses out here. It's solid. We're very happy and things are going the right way.”

Now in its fifth edition, the sale was headed by a new buyer to the California market in West Point Thoroughbreds. The organization, a major yearling purchaser in Kentucky and New York, was making their first purchase at the California sale.

“We're very pleased we had some new people buying before that we haven't had in the past,” said Machowsky.

“Overall the yearling market was very positive,” continued Machowsky. “It was strong all the way through. People are always looking for quality, what kind of fits their program, whatever they need. We had some very nice horses.

“It's resilient, this business. We'll be looking forward to next year and hopefully the Breeders' Cup [at Santa Anita] will add a little confidence. It turned out to be a really good sale in the yearling market. We're moving upward and next year hopefully we can capitalize on it again. We're here to make it work.”

The horses of racing age portion of the sale was led by Hip 357, an 2-year-old daughter of Outwork named Work It who broke her maiden on debut Sept. 15 at Los Alamitos. G. Chris Coleman picked up the Havens Bloodstock Agency-consigned filly for $85,000.

John Sadler, second from right, and the West Point team | Fasig-Tipton

Sadler Picks Up Vronsky Colt for West Point

West Point Thoroughbreds, which sprung for all or part of 14 yearlings at the recently concluded Keeneland September Yearling Sale, including the $3-million Into Mischief topper, added a California-bred Vronsky colt to the stable Tuesday. Out of Seasontoperfection (Poteen), the Jan. 23-foaled colt topped the Fasig-Tipton sale at $250,000.

Consigned by Harris Farms, Inc. and bred by Old English Rancho and Ken Tevelde, the colt is a half to Sept. 16 E.B. Johnston S. winner Kings River Knight (Acclamation). Trainer John Sadler, representing West Point, said the breeders “stayed in for a leg.”

Sadler trains Kings River Knight.

“We have the half-brother,” said Sadler, “who won three or four stakes this year. This horse looks a lot like the brother so we thought he'd be good for the Cal-bred program.”

In addition to Hip 211, West Point also bought a Violence filly out of Tryst (Candy Ride {Arg}) for $32,000. Consigned by McCarthy Bloodstock, agent, Hip 270 is out of a half-sister to GISW A Z Warrior (Bernardini) and additional GSWs/GISPs JoJoWarrior (Pioneerof the Nile) and E Z Warrior (Exploit).

Knapp Springs for Full-Brother to Finneus

California trainer Steve Knapp, whose Bus Buzz (Stay Thirsty) won Del Mar's Real Good Deal S. Aug. 4 after being purchased out of this same sale for $97,000 in 2021, made the $225,000 winning bid for Hip 165–also by Stay Thirsty–on behalf of owner Todd Sheehan. The Apr. 22 colt, already named Rumble King, is by the current second-leading California sire by 2023 progeny earnings.

A son of stakes-winning My Fiona (Ghostzapper), the colt was bred in California by Terry C. Lovingier and consigned by his Lovacres Ranch, where Stay Thirsty also stands. The colt is a full-brother to Golden State Juvenile S. winner and GI Runhappy Del Mar Futurity runner-up Finneus, as well as a half to Melair S. winner Fi Fi Pharoah (American Pharoah).

Knapp was bullish on getting the colt. “He's beautiful and the whole family has won nothing but money. The mama's won almost $500,000 and the two babies have both won stakes races, so it's a good family.

“Stay Thirsty has had a lot of nice babies. Of all the ones they've given me, all of them can run. He's great for California. We like to keep them in California and run for the big money at Del Mar.”

Hip 81 | Fasig-Tipton

Wallers Get Back into Family with Improbable Filly

Eric and Sharon Waller bred and raced GII Sorrento S. winner and MGISP Spectator (Jimmy Creed), but had sold her dam, Diva's Tribute (Henny Hughes) when that filly was just a weanling. They got back into the family for $200,000 with Hip 81, an Improbable half-sister to Spectator.

“Not only did we breed Spectator, but we bred [her first two dams], which is where it all started,” said Eric Waller. “[Spectator's] mother was injured in a paddock accident so she never raced, then I bred her to Into Mischief and that foal had a paddock accident so she couldn't race. We ended up selling the mare at Keeneland before Spectator won a graded stakes, so I wanted to get that family back. This filly is the spitting image of Spectator, so I couldn't let her go.”

Waller lives in California and has “raced Cal-breds my whole life.” He indicated the Mar. 29 filly would go to Phil D'Amato, who also trained Spectator. Richard Barton Enterprises bred the Diva's Tribute filly in Kentucky and his California-based operation, Barton Thoroughbreds, agent, consigned.

Flatter Colt to Gasparrelli

A colt from the penultimate crop of Flatter, who died last year at 23, hammered for $200,000 to Steve Gasparrelli's Slugo Racing. Consigned by Lovacres Ranch LLC as Hip 197, the Apr. 26 colt is out of the winning Arch mare Rapid Repair.

“I like the Flatters,” said Gasparrelli. “They did pretty well at Del Mar, maybe a little more on the turf side but they ran good on dirt, too. Bottom line is the Flatters did pretty good at Del Mar and I like him with an Arch mare.”

Gasparrelli indicated the colt would be sent to trainer Mike Puype, who has all of the approximately 30-strong Slugo stable.

“We probably won't run him early. Puype's pretty conservative so we'll see. We'll let the horse tell us.”

Bred in California by Terry C. Lovingier, the $200,000 colt is out of a half-sister to MGSW & GISP Kitten's Point (Kitten's Joy) from the extended family of GISWs Marquetry (Conquistador Cielo) and You (You and I), as well as MGSW & GISP Five Star Day (Carson City).

“I just liked the horse's conformation,” said Gasparrelli. “He is a nice size, not too big, not too small. And he's a Cal-bred. I'm going more for the Cal-bred angle.”

The post ‘Very Positive’ Fasig-Tipton California Sale Topped by $250K Vronsky Colt appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions.

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The catalogue offers selected horses of racing age and breeding stock. Included among these are 37 offerings from the partial reduction of Lovacres Ranch, which are catalogued as hips 33-69.

“This is our first digital sale following a summer break, and we are very pleased with the quality of our catalogue as there is something for everyone in here,” said Leif Aaron, Fasig-Tipton Director of Digital Sales. “The partial reduction of Lovacres Ranch should draw significant interest from both breeders and racing stables, as the Lovacres program is annually at the top of breeding and racing ranks in California.”

For the complete catalog, click here.

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Lovingier, who has bred or owned in partnership nine California-bred Champions, campaigned both last year's champion California-bred 2-year-old male Finneus (Stay Thirsty) and 2-year-old female At the Spa (Outwork), in partnership.

Lovacres currently stands seven stallions, including Stay Thirsty, California's leading sire of 2018, 2019, and 2021. Also the state's current leading sire in 2022, Stay Thirsty is represented as covering sire of several mares being offered as part of the Lovacres reduction.

“I love horse racing,” said Lovingier. “I'm not going anywhere, but with the success of Stay Thirsty, I just need to make room for more outside mares at the farm. This reduction is necessary to expand boarding and breeding opportunities for clients of Lovacres.”

Leif Aaron, Fasig-Tipton's Director of Digital Sales, added, “The Lovacres racing and breeding program has raised and campaigned many of the top horses in the California-bred program. This partial reduction gives buyers access to a program with a tremendous track record of success.”

Fasig-Tipton's August Digital Selected Sale opens for bidding Thursday and closes next Tuesday. In addition to the Lovacres offerings, there are currently an additional 27 entries of breeding stock and horses of racing age that will be offered in the catalogue.

The full catalogue for the August Digital Selected Sale may be viewed this Thursday at digital.fasigtipton.com when bidding opens at noon ET.

The post Lovacres Ranch Reduction Part of Fasig-Tipton August Digital Sale appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions.

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V. E. Day is a 10-year-old son of English Channel, out of the Deputy Minister mare California Sunset, who was out of a full sister to champion Sunshine Forever. V. E. Day earned $1,044,061 on the track, racing in Europe and the United States and winning on both dirt and turf.

V. E. Day won the Grade 1 Travers Stakes as a 3-year-old, defeating Bayern, Wicked Strong and Tonalist among others. He also was second in the Grade 2 Brooklyn Invitational Stakes.

His first crop of foals are 3-year-olds of this year.

The post V. E. Day Moves To Loveacres Ranch In California appeared first on Horse Racing News | Paulick Report.

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Held as a yearling sale in 2019 and 2020, the 2021 renewal included 21 mares and weanlings among the 272 head cataloged. Tuesday's bullish session resulted in across-the-board gains over the sale's first two editions, soundly confirming its placing in the California market.

A filly by 2021 Hall of Fame inductee American Pharoah topped the sale when sold for $350,000 to Beckerle & Grey from the consignment of Lovacres Ranch, agent (video).

Offered as Hip 196, the chestnut filly is out of EZ Indy (A.P. Indy), an unraced half-sister to champion filly Banshee Breeze and stakes winner Unbridled Wind. EZ Indy is also a half-sister to the dams of multiple Grade 2 winner American Anthem and stakes winner Whirl. Hip 196 was bred in California by Terry C. Lovingier.

Current number-two first-crop sire Practical Joke was well represented when a filly from his second crop sold for $300,000 early in the sale (video).

Brian Koriner, agent for Jay Em Ess Stable, purchased Hip 10 from the consignment of Barton Thoroughbreds, agent. The filly is out of Miss Lavinia (Speightstown), whose four winners to date include stakes placed Arch Cat (Arch), a 15-time winner of more than $450,000 to date. Miss Lavinia is a half-sister to Breeders' Cup champion and stakes winner producer More Than Real, and to the dam of Breeders' Cup champion Structor. Hip 10 was bred in California by Richard Barton Enterprises.

Last year's champion freshman sire Nyquist was responsible for the sale's top colt, purchased for $275,000 by Sausalito Partners (video).

Offered as Hip 83 by Woodbridge Farm, agent, the colt is a half-brother to three winners from as many to race, including There Goes Harvard (Will Take Charge), who was recently second in the Ellis Park Derby. Hip 83 is out of the winning Fusaichi Pegasus mare Soul Crusader, a half-half sister to two full stakes winners and to the dams of Grade 1 winner Killer Graces; Grade 2 winner Chocolate Ride; and multiple stakes winner Mrs. Orb. The colt was bred in California by Bud Petrosian.

Rounding out the top four was Hip 171, a colt from the first crop of Breeders' Cup Champion City of Light, purchased for $260,000 by Slugo Racing/Steve Gasparelli. Consigned by Excel Bloodstock (Bruno DeBerdt), the colt is out of the winning Cherokee Run mare Chicalelee, a half-sister to multiple stakes winner O K to Dance and a full sister to stakes winner Running Bride. Hip 171 hails from the immediate family of multiple Grade 1 winner Devil His Due and was bred in California by PT Syndicate #1.

The top-priced yearling by a California-based sire came in the form of Hip 30, a colt by pensioned California stalwart Square Eddie. Boomer Bloodstock and Radley Equine purchase the colt for $200,000 from the consignment of Fairview. The colt is out of stakes winner North Freeway (Jump Start). That mare has produced four winners to date, including Grade 1 placed multiple stakes winner Take the One O One (Acclamation) and stakes winner Square Deal, a full brother to Hip 30. The bay colt was bred in California by Thomas W. Bachman.

Of the breeding stock offered, a weanling colt from the first crop of champion Mitole (Hip 267) sold best, bringing $80,000 Blair and Rachel Bloodstock. Hip 267 was consigned by Checkmate Thoroughbreds (Adrian Gonzalez), agent, and bred in Kentucky by Lou Neve out of the winning Arch mare Raving About You.

The top-priced broodmare was Oh Pretty Woman (Hip 249), purchased for $50,000 by Donald Valpredo from the consignment of Harris Farms, agent. A six-year-old winning daughter of Scat Daddy, Oh Pretty Woman is in foal to Street Boss, carrying her first foal. The young mare is out of a full sister to multiple Grade 2 winner Liberian Freighter, from the immediate family of Grade 1 winners Memories of Silver and Winter Memories.

In its third year, the California fall sale eclipsed the 2019 and 2020 editions in every category. Overall, 177 horses changed hands for a gross of $6,933,550, up 85.6 percent from $3,735,700 in 2020. The average rose 74.1 percent to $39,173 from $22,504, while the median doubled to $20,000. Seventeen horses sold for $100,000 or more, nearly six times the three sold for six figures in 2020. The RNA rate was 24.4 percent.

Full results are available online.

The post American Pharoah Filly Leads Gains At Fasig-Tipton California Fall Yearlings And Horses Of All Ages Sale appeared first on Horse Racing News | Paulick Report.

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Stay Thirsty led all California-based sires in earnings in 2018 and 2019 and is the state's leading sire by blacktype stakes winners in 2020. The Grade 1 Travers Stakes-winning son of Bernardini sired two of the sale's top three offerings.

Hip 79, a colt by Stay Thirsty out of stakes winning Ghostzapper mare My Fiona, sold for $200,000 to top the sale. The dark bay or brown colt was purchased by Naseer Fasihuddin from the consignment of Lovacres Ranch, agent. The colt was bred in California by Terry C. Lovingier.

Fasihuddin went to $110,000 to purchase the second most expensive colt of the day in Hip 51, a colt by Stay Thirsty out of the winning Malibu Moon mare Moon River Gal. That mare is a half-sister to nine other winners, including last year's G3 Charles Town Oaks winner Lady T N T. Hip 51 was also consigned by Lovacres Ranch, agent for California breeder Terry C. Lovingier.

Nyquist, current leading first crop sire by Grade 1 winners, was responsible for the sale's top filly, which sold for $135,000 as Hip 75. The dark bay or brown filly out of G2 Santa Monica Stakes winner Lost Bus was purchased by Eclipse Thoroughbred Partners from the consignment of Fairview LLC. Hip 75 was bred in California by Thomas W. Bachman.

Overall, 166 yearlings sold for $3,735,700. The average was $22,504 and the median was $10,000.

Full results are available online.

The post Stay Thirsty Colt On Top At Fasig-Tipton California Fall Yearlings Sale appeared first on Horse Racing News | Paulick Report.

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The topper, one of three Stay Thirsty yearlings that brought at least $40,000, is out of the Forest Wildcat mare Clawpuccino. He was was bred by Terry Lovingier, consigned by Lovacres Ranch, agent, and was purchased by Craig Warren.

Next at $47,000 was a Stay Thirsty colt out of the Speightstown mare Reign who was bred by Terry Lovingier, consigned by Lovacres Ranch, agent, and purchased by Robert Jones.

The highest-priced filly was a daughter of Vronsky, out of the Poteen mare Seasontoperfection. She was bred and consigned by Hanson's River Ranch and she was purchased by Robert Hess, Jr., agent, for $35,000.

With 69 yearlings sold, the gross sales were $561,800 for an average of $8,142 and a median price of $3,000. Last year's event sold 88 yearlings at an average of $5,741.

To view the auction's full results, click here.

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