Fasig-Tipton Midlantic Sale Crowned by $1M Arrogate

A filly by the late Arrogate topped the second day of the Fasig-Tipton Midlantic May 2-Year-Olds in Training Sale May 23 after realizing $1 million from agent Kerri Radcliffe on behalf of her new London-based client, JDL Sarl Limited. She was consigned from Randy Hartley and Dean de Renzo’s star lineup as Hip 552.

Out of the winning mare Twixy , the juvenile is half sibling to stakes winner Twixy Roll  and from the family of Breeders’ Cup Dirt Mile (G1) winner Caleb’s Posse  . Dale Taylor bred the chestnut in Kentucky and sold her during the Keeneland September Yearling Sale for $255,000 to Hartley/de Renzo.

The top 10 horses on Day 2 came from sires Arrogate, Take Charge Indy  , Gun Runner  , Justify  , Vino Rosso  , Uncle Mo  , Carpe Diem  , Catalina Cruiser  , Nyquist  , and Mitole   and sold for $310,000 or more to nine distinct buyers.

Radcliffe was the session’s leading buyer by gross with her single purchase on Day 2, and Hartley/de Renzo finished the day selling a gross of $1,975,000 at an average of $387,500 to be the leading consignor.

“It was a great two days here again in Maryland with competition for the horses that people wanted,” Fasig-Tipton Midlantic sales director Paget Bennett said. “We got the seven-figure horse, which was a blessing. Buyers went to battle on the horses they wanted.”

At the close of business Tuesday, Fasig-Tipton reported 194 of the 222 horses through the ring changed hands for gross receipts of $16,503,500. An average price of $85,070 and a median of $42,000 were made. An RNA rate of 12.6% represents the 28 horses who failed to meet their reserve.

During the second day last year, 219 of the 251 horses through the ring were sold for gross figures of $21,542,000, at an average price of $98,365 and a median of $42,000. A low 12.7% RNA rate was representative of the 32 juveniles who failed to sell.

“Our rates were comparable with our median being the same as last year’s sale, and we almost matched the gross,” Bennett said. “Last year, we had the 3.5 million dollar horse, which played into it. We were missing that little bit this year that would put us right at the same.”

Cumulatively over the past two days, 375 horses sold of the 437 to go under the hammer for gross receipts of $34,795,500. An average price of $92,788 and a median of $50,000 was recorded. There were 62 horses who failed to attain their reserve to represent an RNA rate of 14.2%.

“I think there’s a bit more urgency in the middle market than there’s been for a couple of years at this sale, in my opinion,” consignor Tristan de Meric said.

Last year’s two-session sale sold 391 of the 482 horses on offer for $37,297,700, a record gross for the Midlantic Sale. An average of $95,391 and a median of $47,000 was made. Ninety-one juveniles failed to meet their reserve to represent an RNA rate of 18.9%.

Making three purchases for a gross of $1,520,000 and an average price of $506,667, Kerri Radcliffe, purchasing as an agent, was the sale’s leading buyer.

“It seems like a very good market up here,” de Meric said. “There’s a good market at almost all levels, which we’ve been missing for a few years.”

Over the past two days, de Meric Sales have sold 21 of its 23-head draft for $2,854,000 at an average price of $135,905 to be the sale’s leading consignor by gross.

“For the good horses, it’s been excellent,” David McKathan of Grassroots Training and Sales said. “The middle and bottom have been a little tough, but we’re getting it done.”

“Buyers came from all over; every year, we see new buyers, which is very rewarding,” said Bennett. “People know you get runners, and we proved that, the first Saturday in May at Churchill was huge. (Kentucky Derby (G1) winner Mage  was a graduate of last year’s May sale.) 

“It’s very exciting for this sale to have that success on the track that we’re seeing.”

The next Fasig-Tipton Sale will be here on the dirt track for the Midlantic June 2-Year-Olds in Training Sale, with a breeze show June 26.