This year’s edition of the Fasig-Tipton Midlantic May 2-Year-Olds in Training Sale is ushered in after Mage , a $290,000 graduate of last year’s sale, stormed home in a thrilling finish during the 149th Kentucky Derby (G1) May 6 at Churchill Downs. Over two days, 603 juveniles will be on offer this year, allowing buyers to add race-ready horses to their stables.
“We are ramping up for what we hope will be another exciting sale here in Maryland,” Fasig-Tipton Midlantic sales director Paget Bennett said. “There are a lot of new people coming into the game, and no better way to get into the game than coming to a 2-year-old sale and getting one you can see the talent in and go right on with.”
Last week the juveniles took to the classic dirt surface at the Timonium Fairgrounds, where six horses recorded the co-fastest eighth-mile breeze in :10 and two individuals clocked the co-fastest quarter move in :21 2/5. The Maryland location is the only 2-year-old sale offering a dirt surface for consignors to showcase their horses.
“We have been coming to this sale for 30 years; we love getting on the dirt track. It was a little tough this year, I think they added more cushion to try and be safer, and I think it was pretty safe for everybody. It’s the most important thing right now in our industry; we have to try and make things as safe as possible. We didn’t get the heavy rains to help tighten down the track,” consignor Randy Hartley said. “We love coming here and having the thrill of the Preakness going on; I think it brings a lot to the sale. We have sold some outstanding horses here; we love Fasig-Tipton and try and support their sales; we go everywhere they go, from Calder to Palm Meadows to Adena Springs and Gulfstream. They treat you well and get the right buyers in here.”
Buyers inspect the Hartley/De Renzo consigned Arrogate filly, Hip 552 at Fasig-Tipton
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Of the top workers, Hartley/De Renzo Thoroughbred’s Justify colt, Hip 322, turned in the co-fastest quarter, and their Arrogate filly, Hip 552, was responsible for sharing the top time at an eighth mile. The partners offer a draft of seven well-bred individuals for this sale.
“To come to this sale, you must have the horses prepared and have a good breeze show; it’s all about the breeze,” commented Hartley. “I know the track is hard (difficult) for a lot of people, but when you get on the dirt, it separates horses. You can go from a :10 flat to an :11 3/5, a major separation. I like to get here in plenty of time to get our horses used to the track.”
Similarly, stalwart consignor Randy Miles, who offers eight horses, pinpoints this sale yearly with particular runners. The success of the sales graduates helps keep the momentum rolling into the weekend.
“The excitement is pretty high. If you watched the races from this weekend, many horses that won came out of this sale, not just Mage. Maple Leaf Mel won the Miss Preakness Stakes May 19, and Straight No Chaser in the Maryland Sprint Stakes (May 20) came from this sale; it produces a lot of good horses,” said Miles. “The track provides a lot of insight into the talent of these horses; you can’t hide on this racetrack, which the buyers appreciate. I bring horses here that need to be shown off on the dirt track.”
Last year over the two-session sale, 391 horses of the 482 on offer were sold for a gross of $37,297,700, at an average price of $95,391 and a median of $47,000. An RNA rate of 18.8% represents the 91 horses who failed to sell.
Last year’s sale was highlighted by the record-breaking sale of Hejazi (Bernardini—G Note ), the colt consigned by Sequel Bloodstock, for Chester and Mary Broman, selling to Gary Young, agent for Zedan Racing at $3,550,000. Young was the leading buyer in 2022 with his single purchase, and Sequel Bloodstock sold eight of eight for gross receipts of $4,290,000 to be the leading consignor.
The colt was sent west to trainer Bob Baffert, and he placed in the American Pharoah Stakes (G1) last year at 2 and was runner-up this year in the Lafayette Stakes at Keeneland.
Graduate and Starlet Stakes (G1) winner Faiza (Girvin —Sweet Pistol ) went into the Black-Eyed Susan Stakes (G2) May 19 for owner Michael Lund Petersen, finishing third in a challenging field. Agent Donato Lanni sourced the filly for $725,000 during last year’s sale from consignor Paul Sharp. The filly was the second highest price of last year’s sale.
“We have always believed in this sale, and it’s just now, with these graduates doing what they have done and achieving the big races is huge. It has gotten a lot of people’s attention,” Bennett said. “There were a lot of believers for a long time, but others are feeling the need to be here too. It’s fun because it just keeps building. Last year having a horse sell for $3.5 million and selling the Kentucky Derby winner, anything can happen.”
The action gets underway Monday at 11 a.m. ET and concludes Tuesday. Day 1 includes Hips 1-300, followed by Hips 301-603 on Day 2. As of Sunday evening, 118 horses had been withdrawn from the sale.