Brisk Trade As Fasig-Tipton New York Sale Concludes With $380k Practical Joke Colt On Top

SARATOGA SPRINGS, NY – The two-day Fasig-Tipton New York-Bred Yearlings Sale concluded with a day of brisk trade Monday in the Humphrey S. Finney Pavilion which produced–from a significantly larger catalogue–the auction's highest-ever gross.

“We concluded another successful New York-bred Yearling sale today,” said Fasig-Tipton President Boyd Browning, Jr.

“It continued the strength and momentum that we have witnessed at this sale in recent years, and also the strength that we saw at the selected sale last week. There was very good activity and lots of outstanding horses on the sales grounds.”

With 217 head sold–compared to 188 a year ago–the New York-bred sale grossed a record $20,806,000, surpassing the record of $20,175,000 set last year. The average dipped 10.7% to $95,800, while the median increased 1.4% to $75,000. With 83 horses reported not sold, the buy-back rate was 27.7%. It was 19.3% a year ago.

“The average declined slightly, probably as a result of some additional horses entered in the sale,” Browning said. “And being realistic, there is probably a slight decline in the middle market. The pinhookers last year had a relatively tough year and they are being more selective this year. And there is increased selectivity throughout the marketplace. But I think, all in all, it was a healthy market, a fair marketplace. The buyers are complaining they couldn't buy the horses they wanted and the sellers are saying they wished they could have a little bit more marketplace, particularly in that $30-60,000 price range, which I think is just indicative of the world we live in today. But overall, it was a very successful sale.”

The auction concluded with a pair of yearlings sharing top price of $380,000. Bloodstock agent Chris Baccari paid that price for a son of Violence during Sunday's first session of the auction and pinhooker Tom McCrocklin matched that price for a colt by Practical Joke Monday. A total of 26 yearlings sold for $200,000 or over during the two days, matching the figure from a year ago.

“The New York-bred program continues to be the leader in the United States, certainly, and probably in the world of a state-bred type program,” Browning said. “There are great incentives for people to both breed and race in New York and that was reflected in the results over the last two days.”

McCrocklin Gets the Joke

Tom McCrocklin, who made the record-setting sale-topping bid at last year's New York sale, shared the top bid this year when going to $380,000 to acquire a colt by Practical Joke (hip 628) from the Nardelli Sales consignment.

“We loved everything about the Practical Joke colt,” McCrocklin said. “I thought he was the best horse in the sale and just when Practical Joke was getting a little sleepy, he's come back to life. The filly of Chad's, Ways and Means, is a legitimate horse.”

Klaravich Stables' homebred Ways and Means (Practical Joke) was tabbed a 'TDN Rising Star' with her debut victory Aug. 6.

Hip 628 is out of graded winner Golden Mystery (Awesome Again) and is a half-brother to multiple stakes winner Apalachee Bay. The yearling was bred by Donald McCormick, who purchased the mare with the colt in utero for $60,000 at the 2021 Keeneland November sale.

McCrocklin, who was active throughout both Saratoga sales, jumped back into action with the very next horse through the ring, going to $200,000 to acquire a filly by red-hot freshman sire Flameaway (hip 629) from the Blake-Albina Thoroughbred Servies consignment on behalf of Michael Sucher's Champion Equine.

“He's so hot,” McCrocklin said of Flameway, whose daughter Dreamfyre romped to victory in the GIII Sorrento S. at Del Mar Saturday. “I thought she looked lightning fast, I thought she looked like a very fast filly. Speed kills at the 2-year-old sales.”

During the New York-bred sale, McCrocklin signed for nine yearlings. Among the purchases was a colt by Catalina Cruiser (hip 388) acquired for $150,000 and a son of Honest Mischief (hip 340) for $120,000.

“I bought a really nice Honest Mischief colt yesterday,” McCrocklin said. “I've been very impressed with those horses. It's his first crop, he stands at Sequel. He was a very good Juddmonte horse. Chad Brown trained him. I think he has a big shot because he puts a really good foal on the ground. I'd like to see him make it.”

At the select sale last week, McCrocklin made three purchases. Leading the way was a filly by Munnings (hip 57) who was purchased for $775,000.

“The Munnings filly was a phenomenal physical horse with a big pedigree,” McCrocklin said. “It was a lot of money, but I got more commentary post-sale about that filly than any horse I've ever bought. She was very well-respected by good horse people. So I'm very happy to have her.”

McCrocklin purchased a full-brother to Grade I winner Cave Rock (Arrogate) for $700,000 at last year's New York sale and resold the colt this year for $1.05 million at the OBS March sale.

“It's a little bit of trying to look into the future,” McCrocklin said of the pinhooking game. “That's what we do. It's a lot of risk and it's a lot of money, but it worked out last year on a few horses. It's extreme risk mitigated by expertise. Sometimes we get it right and sometimes you get punished. I think we are all adrenaline junkies a little bit, so we will play the game.”

MyRacehorse Gets More Authentic

Authentic took MyRaceHorse Stable on the ride of a lifetime when he won the 2020 GI Kentucky Derby and GI Breeders' Cup Classic and now the micro-share partnership is reinvesting in the  champion's first crop of yearlings. Roderick Wachman purchased a son of the Derby winner (hip 407) for $360,000 early in Monday's session of the Fasig-Tipton New York-Bred Sale.

“We liked this horse because he was a nice big, scopey, athletic two-turn looking colt,” Wachman said. “I think he's going to develop significantly more and I am really looking forward to seeing him get under tack. Obviously, Authentic is a big draw card because MyRacehorse were partners in him.”

MyRacehorse also purchased a colt by Authentic (hip 9) during last week's Fasig-Tipton Saratoga sale.

“We bought one last week that was more of a sharper model than this one,” Wachman said. “Again, both very correct, well-made horses. He really does seem to put down a nice horse. When I look at the Authentics, I think Into Mischief. So hopefully he can go on that trajectory.”

Wachman signed for the colt in partnership with Dr. Ramon Tallaj's R T Racing Stable.

Hip 407, who was consigned by Winter Quarter Farm, is out of Savvy Sassy (Street Sense) and is a half-brother to stakes-placed Brattle House (Malibu Moon) and Bourbon Bay (Bayern).

The yearling was bred by Richard Leahy's Oak Bluff Stables and trainer Christophe Clement. The mare was purchased for $80,000 at the 2016 Keeneland November sale. The partners sold Brattle House for $775,000 at the 2019 Fasig-Tipton New York-bred Sale.

The 12-year-old Savvy Sassy produced a colt by Medaglia d'Oro this year and was bred back to Not This Time.

Hip 407 | Fasig-Tipton

Munnings Filly to Ward

“Hopefully we will be back here next summer to win one of these New York-bred stakes,” trainer Wesley Ward said after signing the ticket at $340,000 to acquire a filly by Munnings (hip 463). Ward signed for the yearling in the name of David Reid's Preferred Equine.

“She was a standout individual in the sale,” Ward said of the filly. “She made Ben McElroy's short list, so I came over to look at her. She is the sale topper so far for fillies, so there were a lot of people interested in her. Ben is a great judge of a horse and we were happy he tipped us off and we got her. She looked like the best filly that we saw in the sale.”

The dark bay filly is out of To the Moon Alice (Malibu Moon), a half-sister to graded winner Unchained Melody (Smart Strike). She was bred by Walt Borisenok's Old Tavern Farm and was consigned by Denali Stud.

Ward is based at Keeneland, but said a trip back to her home state would be in the plans for the newly acquired filly.

“We train out of Keeneland, so it's convenient to go back and forth to New York,” he said. And we've been very successful doing that.”

Spoor Back in the Game

Richard Spoor took a 15-year break from the sport, but he's getting back in the game with the help of bloodstock agent Niall Brennan who signed for three fillies on behalf of the owner during the New York-bred sale. Spoor's JR International Holdings went to $325,000 to acquire a filly by Munnings (hip 619) from the Hunter Valley Farm consignment. The yearling is out of multiple stakes winner Freudie Anne (Freud).

“She's a very, very good Munnings,” Brennan said. “He's a great stallion–doesn't matter if it's fillies, colts, turf or dirt. The mare was excellent. They do a great job at Hunter Valley, they raced the mare and they raised this filly. I thought she would be expensive, obviously this is what people are stepping up to do now.”

Spoor, who was anxious to go back to the Hunter Valley barn to see his newest acquisition, said, “My opinion is that she is the nicest filly in the sale. And I'm very, very pleased to be the new owner.”

In addition to hip 619, Spoor purchased another filly by Munnings (hip 416) for $160,000 and a daughter of Maclean's Music (hip 415) for $150,000.

Spoor currently has 2-year-olds in training with Tony Dutrow.

“I've been in racing for 40 years,” Spoor said. “I got out in 2008. I used to train 80 horses a year and I had a broodmare band. Now I am retired and I don't do anything other than own the horses.”

Jayne Johnson purchased Freudie Anne for $9,000 at the 2013 Keeneland September Yearling Sale. Racing for Johnson, Marc Detampel, Fergus Galvin and Adrian Wallace, the filly was a two-time stakes winner in New York and earned over $260,000. She continues to reward the partners in the breeding shed.

“This is the mare's fourth Munnings and she just throws incredible physical specimens,” said Galvin. “It's the same group–most of the partnership is here, but Mark lives in Chicago, so he couldn't make it unfortunately. But she's given us lots of thrills, both on the racetrack and as a broodmare.”

Each of the mare's previous foals has brought six figures in the sales ring, but despite her success with Munnings, she had a filly by Tiz the Law this year and was bred back to that stallion.

“Unfortunately, we were doing the Munnings at the lower price and he took a hike, but we might have to go back next year,” Galvin said.

The mare's 2-year-old Lamorna (Munnings) closed to be fourth after a troubled trip in her July 20 debut going 5 1/2 furlongs on the grass at Saratoga.

“We are excited about her 2-year-old,” Galvin said. “I know Bill Mott likes her a lot. I think that she ran so well a few weeks ago, helped this filly along, too.”

Hip 410 | Fasig-Tipton

Deutsch Goes it Alone

Peter Deutsch has enjoyed success as co-owner of horses in the Mark Casse barn, but he sent the trainer to the Fasig-Tipton New York-bred sale with orders to stock his own racing stable. Casse made his first purchase for Deutsch Monday when going to $300,000 to acquire a filly by Ghostzapper (hip 410) from the Hidden Lake Farm consignment.

“I've trained for him and he owns parts of a few horses,” Casse said. “I've trained some good horses for him. But this is the first time he's buying on his own.”

Deutsch is co-owner of Ice Chocolat (Brz) (Goldikovic {Ire}), third in Saturday's GI Fourstardave S. He also campaigned 2018 GIII Forward Gal S. winner Take Charge Paula (Take Charge Indy).

Hip 410 is out of Scene Maker (Unbridled's Song) and is a half-sister to stakes winner and graded placed Big Screen (Speightstown). She was bred by Hidden Lake Farm and 3C Stables.

“We are just looking for good fillies,” Casse said. “So I am excited about it. It's a new venture.”

Also Monday, Deutsch purchased a filly by Disco Partner (hip 422) for $75,000.

Asked if there was target number of fillies to purchase, Casse said, “Not really. He will tell me when.”

Hager Stays Busy for Carem Stables

Bloodstock agent Phil Hager was busy over both days of the Fasig-Tipton New York-bred sale, buying three yearlings on behalf of Lisa Moser's Carem Stables. During Sunday's first session of the auction, Hager went back-to-back late in the day to acquire a colt by Street Boss (hip 395) for $200,000 and a filly by Frosted (hip 396) for $250,000. He returned Monday to acquire a filly by Bernardini (hip 473) for $220,000.

“We were just looking for really good physicals with some pedigree and by proven stallions,” Hager said. “Bill and Riley Mott train for them, so I took Bill through the list and he liked all three that we bought and those were the ones we wanted.”

Based in Greenfield Center, New York, Carem Stables was in the winner's circle across the street when 2-year-old Get Spooled (Hard Spun) debuted with a victory Aug. 3. The colt was purchased at last year's New York-bred sale for $230,000.

The very next day, Carem enjoyed a maiden winner at Ellis Park when Raining Sugar (Twirling Candy) won his first start Aug. 4. Hager's Taproot Bloodstock had purchased the filly on behalf of the operation for $150,000 at the Fasig-Tipton Midlantic May sale.

“They are local and they like New York-breds,” said Hager. “They have one in Kentucky with Riley, so they are doing some of that as well. But they do like supporting the New York program.”

Of the prices at the two-day auction, Hager said, “It's always more than you want to pay. We don't want to buy cheap horses, but Saratoga probably adds a little to it.”

Also at the New York-bred sale, Hager purchased a filly by Instagrand (hip 325) for $100,000.

Pinhooker Tom McCrocklin, who went to a sale-record $700,000 to top last year's New York-Bred sale, shared the top bid this year when going to $380,000 for a son of Practical Joke Monday. Chris Baccari made that same bid to acquire a colt by Violence during Sunday's first session of the auction.

Hip 463 | Fasig-Tipton

Tallaj Buys and Sells

Dr. Ramon Tallaj, who made it to his first GI Kentucky Derby with Sun Thunder (Into Mischief) this year, purchased four colts and successfully pinhooked a filly with Carlos and Sarah Estrada's C & S Thoroughbreds during a busy day in Saratoga Monday.

Tallaj teamed with MyRacehorse to acquire a colt by Authentic (hip 407) for $360,000 and partnered with Cypress Creek, with whom he campaigns Sun Thunder, to acquire a colt by McKinzie (hip 530) for $210,000. Under the name of his R T Racing, he purchased a colt by Improbable (hip 405) for $100,000 and he completed his Saratoga grab with a colt by Vino Rosso (hip 578) acquired for $25,000.

Tallaj admitted his experience this spring with Sun Thunder, who was second in the GII Risen Star S., has impacted his purchases at Saratoga this week.

“I loved that,” Tallaj said of his trip to the Derby. “So now I want to try to figure out how to find the next one–I am looking for two-turn horses.”

Tallaj said all of his horses are owned in partnerships.

“It's the way to go,” he explained. “We need to keep encouraging people to get involved in racing. [These partners] are involved already, but hopefully we can bring in more people.”

Tallaj stressed the importance of the sport to those earning a living on the country's farms and backstretches and advocated for tax laws which would help encourage more people to own racehorses.

“People don't understand how many farmers make their living in the country,” he said. “Especially when they change the law and now the people who invest in horses can only deduct 80% for this year, it doesn't help. People who do that are really harming the people who work every day on the farms raising horses and on the racetracks.”

Tallaj has fully committed to the New York program, moving his stable from its previous Florida base to the Empire state, where his Just Katherine (Justify) was recently second in the Wilton S. at Saratoga July 14.

On the other side of the ledger, Tallaj sold a filly by Nyquist (hip 537) for $210,000 to Legion Bloodstock. The Estradas had purchased the filly for $100,000 at this year's Fasig-Tipton February sale.

“I loved the horse,” Tallaj said of the yearling. “I wanted to keep her. I've been working with Sarah and Carlos for two years. They are good people, honest people.”

Also with C & S Thoroughbreds this year, Tallaj pinhooked a colt by Munnings for $200,000 at the Fasig-Tipton July sale. The yearling had been purchased for $100,000 at this year's Keeneland January sale.

At last year's New York sale, the group sold a filly by Practical Joke for $175,000. She had been purchased for $50,000 at the Fasig February sale.

A native of the Dominican Republic, Tallaj is founder and chairman of Somos Community Care and was part of New York City Mayor Eric Adams's COVID response team.

Asked how long he has been involved in racing, the 67-year-old Tallaj said with a laugh, “Since I was able to say 'hola' as a little child–a long time.”

Sun Thunder has not started since his 11th-place finish in the Derby, but Tallaj is hopeful the colt will return to the races soon.

“Hopefully, we will see him next month,” he said. “The idea is to bring him the [GI] Clark [at Churchill Downs in November].”