Established sires ruled during the first session of the 99th Saratoga Sale held Monday at the Humphrey S. Finney pavilion in Saratoga Springs, NY. Three-time leading sire Tapit was responsible for the two highest-selling hips of the evening.
Hip 80 topped the first session, selling for $1,000,000. The colt was purchased by West Point Thoroughbreds, L.E.B., agent from the consignment of Lane’s End, agent.
Hip 80 is the second foal out of Feathered, by Indian Charlie, winner of the G3-Edgewood S. and runner up in the G1-American Oaks and G1-Starlet S. His third dam is multiple Grade 1-winner Finder’s Fee, a daughter herself of Grade 1 winner Fantastic Find.
This March foal was bred in Kentucky by Summer Wind Equine.
Hip 82, a filly by the same popular sire, sold for $950,000 right on the heels of the session-topping hip 80. The filly was purchased by Donato Lanni, agent for Heider Family Stables from the consignment of Gainesway, agent. This March foal was bred in Kentucky by Gainesway Thoroughbreds.
This filly is by the sire of top fillies like Grade 1 winners Untapable and Stardom Bound. She is out of the winning Seeking the Gold mare Pension, whose six foals of racing age are all winners. They include Grade 2 winner Annual Report and stakes winner Giant Payday. Pension is a daughter of Grade 1 winner Furlough, making her a half-sister to graded stakes winner Happy Hunting and stakes winner Pardon. The immediate family includes Grade 1 winners The Liberal Member, Dancing Spree, Fantastic Find, Finder’s Free, and Bigger Picture.