By Jessica Martini
The last time the Fasig-Tipton Saratoga Selected Yearlings Sale was held, Curlin recorded a memorable trifecta with the auction's top three seven-figure yearlings. Leading the way was the $1.5-million co-topper First Captain, who was tabbed a 'TDN Rising Star' and captured the GIII Dwyer S. The Hill 'n' Dale stallion will be represented by five yearlings when bidding returns to the Humphrey S. Finney pavilion in upstate New York next week.
“Curlin is truly a Classic sire,” said Mark Taylor of Taylor Made Sales Agency, which will consign two fillies by the stallion during the two-day boutique sale. “He can come up with a good 2-year-old, but when I think Curlin, I am thinking about big-time route races.”
The first of Taylor Made's offerings by Curlin is hip 63, a daughter of Classofsixtythree (Include) and a half-sister to graded stakes winner and Grade I placed Gunmetal Gray (Exchange Rate).
“This filly has grown up on Taylor Made and I have always loved her,” Taylor said. “She is a May foal and is only scratching the surface of what she will be in time. This filly is out of an Include mare and is a half-sister to Gunmetal Gray, who was a Grade I-placed 2-year-old and a top-tier 3-year-old a few years back. This filly looks like she will be a Classic two-turn filly. She's a very nice Curlin.”
Also from the Taylor Made consignment is hip 181, a daughter of Curlin whose dam Rose Garden (Pioneerof the Nile) is a half-sister to GI Preakness S. winner Exaggerator, also by Curlin.
“This filly is a late April foal,” Taylor said. “She has a ton of size and strength. For anyone trying to find an Oaks type 3-year-old, she will hit their radar. Her dam is a half-sister to Exaggerator, so Curlin has already produced a Classic winner from this immediate family. She was born and raised at Twin Creeks Farm. They have produced a bunch of classy horses over the years, including Tiz The Law last year.”
Taylor Made is no stranger to dealing with talented daughters of Curlin.
“We have sold some talented Curlin fillies in the past,” Taylor said. “The one who jumps out at me as the prototype of what I think Curlin produces is Grade II winner Point of Honor. She had strength, scope and balance. She ran to those looks and has just come up short at the Grade I level. Spice Is Nice is another beautiful Curlin filly. We did not sell her, but she was rehabbed with us for a few months. She had the same qualities as Point of Honor–just beautiful fillies.”
Rounding out the three Curlin fillies in the Saratoga catalogue is hip 128, a daughter of Leslie May (Tapit), who is a half-sister to multiple graded stakes winner Uncaptured (Lion Heart). The gray filly is consigned by Warrendale Sales as agent for her breeder Stonestreet, which campaigned two-time Horse of the Year Curlin.
A pair of colts by Curlin are catalogued for Tuesday's second session of the Saratoga sale. Lane's End will consign hip 166, a son of Often (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}), who is a half-sister to Giant's Causeway.
Gainesway consigns hip 207, a chestnut colt out of stakes winner Sweet Seventeen (Hard Spun).
Taylor is happy to have the Saratoga sale back in the line-up after a year's hiatus caused by the pandemic.
“It's great to be back at Saratoga this year,” Taylor said. “It's an important sale for buyers, sellers and consignors. Having the racing and selling all in one great town is a unique combination.”
Taylor Made has had many memorable moments at the Saratoga sale, which celebrates its 100th renewal this year.
“We have so many great memories at Saratoga,” Taylor said. “All the sale toppers over the years have been exciting and consigning great racehorses like Rushing Fall, American Pharoah, Vindication and so many others makes the effort not seem like work at all.”
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