Uncle Mo Colt Tops Midlantic Opener

TIMONIUM, MD. – Fasig-Tipton's 2018 Midlantic Fall Yearlings Sale began its two-day run in Timonium Monday evening, with 103 horses selling for a total of $2,384,700. A Maryland-bred Uncle Mo colt (Hip 12) topped the action, hammering for $200,000 to bloodstock agent Jimmy Crupi, anchoring a session which saw an average of $23,152 and a median of $15,000.

With the sale entering its second year of a two-day format in which the first 150 lots are offered on Monday evening, the 2018 renewal saw a marked decrease in RNAs, with just a 20.16% buy-back rate–compared to 36.72% during last year's opening session.

A more robust session featuring the final 350 lots will be held Tuesday, with action resuming in Timonium at 10 a.m.

Uncle Mo Colt Catches Crupi's Eye

Jimmy Crupi purchased the mighty Uncle Mo for $220,000 on behalf of Repole Stables as a Keeneland September yearling in 2009, so it came as little surprise that Hip 12–a son of the 2010 champion juvenile–was on the Florida horseman's radar. Crupi helped get the Midlantic sale off to a flying start Monday afternoon when securing the colt, a half-brother to MSW Who's in Town (Speightstown), for $200,000 on behalf of owner Albert Frassetto.

“I bought Uncle Mo, so I look for the Uncle Mos,” Crupi said, joking that he was fortunate to secure the Maryland-bred at a price just above his reserve out of the Northview Stallion Station consignment. “For an Uncle Mo, he's well worth that money. He stuck out, and he looks like he can run.”

Frassetto enjoyed considerable success in recent years with veteran turf campaigner Can'thelpbelieving (Ire) (Duke of Marmalade {Ire}), who captured the GII Sky Classic S. and GIII Cliff Hanger S. and placed in two Grade I events for trainer Graham Motion.

Hip 12's dam Who's Cozy (Cozzene) was graded stakes-placed, while his second dam is MGSW Who Did It and Run (Polish Numbers), herself the dam of MSW and MGSP Giant Run (Giant's Causeway).

“He'll go straight to the farm and he'll be a racehorse–no doubt about it,” Crupi concluded.

Timely Update for Declaration of War Filly

Hip 144, a Declaration of War filly from a deep Juddmonte family of Grade I performers, received a further boost when Qabala, her 2-year-old half-sister by Scat Daddy, won her debut in a maiden event at Newmarket for trainer Roger Varian Saturday. That update proved to be well-timed, as the Declaration of War filly was purchased for $102,000 over the phone late Monday by Ocala horseman Ciaran Dunne.

Newtown Anner Stud acquired the Scat Daddy filly alongside her dam Entwine–herself a half-sister to GSW and MGISP Filimbi (Mizzen Mast) out of GI Kentucky Oaks and GI Alabama S. winner Flute (Seattle Slew)–and parted ways with her for $300,000 at Fasig-Tipton's 2016 November Sale. Entwine, who was carrying Hip 144 in utero when Newtown Anner snagged her for $170,000 at the 2016 Fasig-Tipton July Sale, has quickly proven to be a promising acquisition.

“It's a filly from a beautiful female family, and I think they did great,” said Nick Sallusto, who along with Hanzly Albina manages the U.S. bloodstock of the Regan family's Newtown Anner. “The update was very timely. That Scat Daddy filly was absolutely a star when we had her. We bought the mare with the Scat Daddy by her side, and she really sold the mare to us. She was spectacular. It looks like things are playing out in the right direction. There's a beautiful Mineshaft filly on the ground. Hopefully we can keep one of these one day and keep developing them ourselves.”

Dunne, speaking shortly after placing the winning bid, said the filly was purchased to pinhook and will possibly go to the Fasig-Tipton Gulfstream Sale next March.

“She's a really attractive, racy filly,” Dunne said. “Her half-sister won a good maiden at Newmarket first-out on Saturday and is highly thought of.”