Six to Watch for From Fasig-Tipton

This week's Fasig-Tipton Gulfstream Sale again featured a very promising group of 2-year-olds, including many who turned in extremely strong works. You don't need me to tell you how good the toppers looked, so here are six prospects under $450,000 (in the bottom 75% or so of those who sold) who might be worth keeping an eye out for.

HIP 11, c, Union Rags–Woodford Girl, by Honour and Glory
Breeder: Lantern Hill Farm (Ky)
Consignor: Eddie Woods, Agent LIII
Buyer: Whitehorse & Three Chimneys
Price: $435,000
This $195,000 KEESEP acquisition immediately reminded me of his accomplished and precocious sire coming through the lane in his :10 2/5 breeze. He's fairly compact, but extremely well-muscled and powerful-looking, and looks like he should come to hand pretty early. He got over the ground very fluidly and appears to have some speed.

HIP 21, c, Tale of the Cat–Awesome Bull, by Holy Bull
Breeder: Edition Farm (NY)
Consignor: Wavertree Stables, Inc. (Ciaran Dunne), Agent II
Buyer: August Dawn Farm
Price: $250,000
NFL Hall of Famer Bill Parcells has already enjoyed racetrack success with a New York-bred son of Tale of the Cat in MSW Saratoga Snacks, and he looks to be poised for a similar outcome with this latest purchase. Having previously sold for $160,000 at the Fasig-Tipton Saratoga New York-bred Preferred Sale, this Feb. 22 foal looked very athletic while really striding out nicely, stopping the clock in :10 2/5. By a racehorse sire, he seems capable of handling longer distances.

HIP 48, c, Curlin–Dress the Part, by Malibu Moon
Breeder: Lochlow Farm (Ky)
Consignor: Consigned by William B. Harrigan (Miacomet Farm Ltd.), Agent
Buyer: Mike Ryan, agent
Price: $170,000
He “only” worked in :10 4/5, but if this well-bred colt runs to his pedigree, we might be talking about him come this time next year. Purchased for $500,000 in utero at Fasig-Tipton November and then for $240,000 at Fasig-Tipton Saratoga, this relatively late foal (Apr. 22) is out of a mare who took some time to develop and who was a stakes-winning router at five. Dress the Part is also a full-sister to the undefeated, but ill-fated MGSW Onlyforyou. Hip 48 might not have run a hole in the wind from a time perspective, but he wasn't pushed on too hard and showed off an athleticism that might suit him well as the trips get longer.

HIP 117, c, Paynter–Perfect Wave, by Boston Harbor
Breeder: Millennium Farms & Payner Syndicate (Ky)
Consignor: SGV Thoroughbreds (Steven Venosa), agent
Buyer: Steven W Young, agent
Price: $425,000
This is one of the first we've seen on the track from Paynter's first crop, and if the rest are anything like him, look out. This $170,000 Fasig-Tipton October grad looked quick and athletic while breezing in a willing and fairly unpressured :10 1/5. His dam was two-for-two sprinting as a juvenile, but a SW/MGSP half-sister was later developing and preferred a route of ground. Hip 117 seems versatile himself, and could be quick and precocious while also able to handle added real estate.

HIP 150, c, Flat Out–Story Untold, by Old Fashioned
Breeder: Machmer Hall (Ky)
Consignor: Consigned by Q Bar J Thoroughbreds LLC (Jenn & Quincy Adams), Agent
Buyer: John C Oxley
Price: $400,000
A great pinhooking score as just a $50,000 FTKJUL yearling, this colt's MGISW sire seemed to get better with age, but he looks like he inherited serious speed and precocity from his dam's side. The :10 1/5 breezer is a half to Arella Rockstar (Astrology), a front-running debut winner last summer at Saratoga who took the GIII Matron S. off the claim for Rudy Rodriguez next out. Hip 150's unraced dam is a half to Feline Story (Tale of the Cat), a freakishly fast 2-year-old who won her debut by almost 12, annexed the Astoria S. by daylight second up and grabbed the GIII Sorority S. by 5 3/4 lengths two starts later.

HIP 152, f, Malibu Moon–Stylish Wildcat, by Forest Wildcat
Breeder: Redmon Farm, LLC
Consignor: De Meric Sales, agent
Buyer: Lawley-Wakelin Bloodstock, LLC
Price: $285,000
Bred just like 2-year-old sale topper and speedy GSW juvenile Corfu, this $200,000 Fasig-Tipton Saratoga acquisition looked to be built downhill with a nice, big stride as she stopped the clock in :10 2/5. Her dam won the first two starts of her career at three, and was a front-running MSW turf sprinter. Her third dam, for what it's worth, was 1985 champion juvenile filly Family Style.