The Lothenbach dispersal of Horses of Racing Age on Fasig-Tipton Digital, run Jan. 29 to Feb. 2, closed with 66 horses selling for $4,840,000 with MSP Minnesota Ready (More Than Ready) leading all lots at a final price of $380,000, changing hands to Richard Colton Jr..
The first in the digital ring, Minnesota Ready was most recently seen Jan. 20 in the Duncan F. Kenner S. at the Fair Grounds, where he again ran third in a blanket finish with SW Sosua Summer (Summer Front) and MSW & MGSP Just Might (Justin Phillip) and wrapping his 2023 season before that Dec. 23 in the Richard R. Scherer Memorial S. behind those familiar foes.
The four others who went beyond the $300,000 mark include Dazzlin Dictator (American Pharoah), a two-time winner at Turfway Park, who went to Rodolphe Brisset, agent for Ann Harrison; Tickle Me Unclemo (Uncle Mo), a $350,000 KEESEP yearling, went to Robert Salome for $320,000; and Practically Dark (Practical Joke), recently second in a maiden special at the Fair Grounds, sold to C2 Racing Stable for $310,000.
Most notable of that group is GSW & GISP Happy American (Runhappy), who went as a racing prospect and sold to trainer Neil Pessin for $340,000. A frequent face in the graded ranks across the country, he won the GIII Louisiana S. in 2023 and ran third that summer in the GIII Blame and GI Stephen Foster S.. After uninspiring finishes in the a pair of graded efforts in Kentucky, he returned to the Big Easy and hit the board in the Tenacious S. to cap his season. He'd made his 2024 bow in the GIII Louisiana S. Jan. 20, finishing third in his title defense attempt.
In addition to the $4.84-million aggregate, the average was $73,333 while the median was $41,000 with 16 horses selling for $100,000 or more with Taylor Made Sales consigning. A total of 741 potential buyers from 46 states and seven countries registered to bid, placing a total of 3,047, and averaging 46 bids per offering.
“All I can say is, 'Wow,'” said Leif Aaron, Fasig-Tipton's Director of Digital Sales. “We have to thank the estate of Mr. Lothenbach for trusting us with this dispersal of racing stock. This is exactly what the digital platform was built for: horses and buyers from all over the country. These are phenomenal results.”
The dispersal of Lothenbach's breeding stock and yearlings will come during the Kentucky Winter Mix sale Feb. 5 to Feb. 6 with the catalogue available online.
Full results for the Lothenbach dispersal are available here.
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