By Jessica Martini
LEXINGTON, KY – The Fasig-Tipton July Selected Horses of Racing Age Sale, bolstered by the last-minute addition of a newly crowned graded stakes winner, marches into its second decade with its 11th renewal Monday at Newtown Paddocks. Bidding on the first of 245 catalogued offerings is slated to begin at 2 p.m.
A common refrain from consignors heading into the one-session auction was timeliness, as the sale's place on the calendar puts it right in front of a busy summer of racing, both regionally and at boutique meets on both coasts at Saratoga and Del Mar.
“I think this sale is an extremely useful sale on the calendar because of the timing,” said Conrad Bandoroff of Denali Stud, which will offer 11 horses Monday afternoon. “It gives both buyers and sellers the option to bring in-form horses to the market and to really help to satisfy the demand for horses that have form and are running well. It is also potentially an avenue for horses that don't quite fit that mold–horses that need to be moved on and go to maybe a more regional or a softer circuit.”
The Seitz family's Brookdale Sales has been represented at every July Horses of Racing Age sale since its inaugural edition in 2013 and the consignment returns with 14 head on offer this year.
“It's a great outlet for people,” said Joe Seitz. “It is like two worlds coming together with people maybe offloading a horse that is still very raceable and that gives people the opportunity to take advantage of this regional circuit which is so hot right now. It's a great opportunity for buying and selling.”
The horses of racing age sale can provide buyers with immediate access to success on the track.
“It's about as turnkey as you can get,” Seitz said. “When you bring a horse out here that is fit and has good form and with all the X-rays and physical information someone might need when they are trying to pick out a horse, what you're doing is presenting them something they can turn around with immediately and try to have some fun with, especially with these purses.”
Nowhere in the catalogue is that current form more noticeable than in the last offering in the catalogue, Crypto Mo (Mohaymen) (hip 645). Consigned by Taylor Made Sales Agency, the 3-year-old filly captured the GIII Iowa Oaks Saturday and comes into the auction on a three-race win streak.
“Crypto Mo is a very exciting addition to the catalogue,” said Fasig-Tipton President Boyd Browning. “She is a ready-to-go graded stakes-winning 3-year-old filly with a lot of racing opportunities ahead of her. She has a similar profile to Stiletto Boy, who came into this sale off a win in the Iowa Derby a couple years back and is now a Grade I winner of $1.8 million.”
Stilleto Boy (Shackleford) sold for $420,000 at the 2021 July Horses of Racing Age sale and went on to capture this year's GI Santa Anita H. and has hit the board in five additional Grade I races.
John Ennis has made a habit of bringing in-form juveniles to the July Horses of Racing Age sale. The trainer topped the 2020 auction with County Final (Oxbow), who came into the auction off a runner-up effort in the GIII Bashford Manor S. and sold for $475,000. Ennis brings five juveniles into the 2023 auction and all are coming off maiden special weight victories.
“I usually bring 2-year-olds with form that are pretty commercial to the buyer,” Ennis said. “And the timing is great. Being in July, they can take them anywhere, Saratoga or Del Mar.”
Buying inexpensive yearlings and getting them success on the racetrack before re-offering them in July provides clients with the thrill of racing and potential profit in the sales ring, according to Ennis.
“It's enjoyable to the owners to get to go racing and hopefully be in the winner's circle and then come to the sale and hopefully make a profit,” Ennis said. “Everybody is looking for horses at the moment, so the timing is perfect. All of the horses have been really well-received so far and all of the right people have come to see them.”
Monday's Horses of Racing Age sale will be followed by the Fasig-Tipton July Sale of Selected Yearlings, which will be held Tuesday beginning at 10 a.m.
Not a subscriber? Click here to sign up for the daily PDF or alerts.
