July Sale Posts Gains Across the Board
The July Sale ended with flair Tuesday evening in Lexington, KY with the sales topper coming through the ring just one hip from the end. Inclusive of the late-session fireworks, The July Sale posted gains across the board, with significant increases in gross, average, and median over last year’s sale and the highest average since 2007. The gross and median were the highest since 2015.
A colt by Flatter (Hip 348), the penultimate yearling offered, drew the top bid of the day, hammering down to $520,000 late (video). Named Silvertonguedevil, Hip 348 was purchased by Al Rashid Stable from the consignment of Lane’s End, agent. The bay colt is the third foal out of the Curlin mare No Curfew, already the dam of two winners. No Curfew is a daughter of stakes winner Misty Hour, by Miswaki, making her a half-sister to seven winners, including Grade 2 winner India, who produced Group 1 winner Mozu Ascot, and stakes winner Pilfer, who produced Grade 1 winners To Honor and Serve and Angela Renee.
“Overall, [I’m] very pleased with the results today,” said Fasig-Tipton President Boyd Browning. “There was tremendous competition for the quality offerings and, fortunately, we had plenty of quality offerings in the catalogue this year from start to finish.”
The top priced filly on the day was a daughter of Strong Mandate (Hip 231), purchased for $435,000 by Alex and Jo Ann Lieblong from the consignment of Denali Stud, agent (video). The filly, from her Grade 1 winning sire’s second crop, is out of Fly the Flag, a Giant’s Causeway half-sister to champion Storm Flag Flying. This well-bred filly is from the deep Phipps family of that mare, champion Personal Ensign, and Grade 1 winners My Flag, Miner’s Mark, Traditionally, and Mr Speaker.
As the first event on the yearling sales calendar, The July Sale often features top quality offerings by exciting new and young sires, and this year was no different. Buyers flocked to the pavilion to see the first selected offerings of nearly 30 first crop sires, including 2015 Triple Crown champion American Pharoah and multiple Grade 1 winner Constitution, both graduates of Fasig-Tipton selected yearling sales.
The leading first crop sire by average was Palace Malice, by Curlin. Of five yearlings offered by the 2013 Belmont S. (G1) winner, four sold for a total of $750,000, good for an average and median of $187,500. His 2016 stud fee was $20,000. Of Palace Malice yearlings sold, a filly out of Southern Belle (Hip 60) led the group, selling for $275,000 to Eclipse Thoroughbred Partners from the consignment of Select Sales, agent for Machmer Hall.
Among 14 second crop sires with yearlings catalogued, Will Take Charge led the charge with four yearlings sold from four offered grossing $930,000 and averaging $232,500, with a median of $240,000. Of that group, a filly out of La Belle (Hip 291) sold best, bringing $260,000 from Jay Em Ess Stable. Hip 291 was consigned by Taylor Made Sales Agency, agent. Will Take Charge’s 2016 stud fee was $30,000.
“There was widespread competition throughout,” Browning noted. “I would characterize it as a very successful start to the 2018 yearling sales season.”
Overall, 196 yearlings changed hands for a total of $19,762,500, up 22.7% from last year when 172 horses sold for $16,107,000. The average rose 7.7% to $100,829 from $93,645, while the median increased 7.1% to $75,000 from $70,000 in 2017. The RNA rate was 30.7%. Full results are available online.
