Three US$800,000 plus Darley-sired two-year-olds at Fasig-Tipton

The two-year-old sales continued to gain strength at Fasig-Tipton’s Florida Sale on March 26 and the demand for Darley-sired juveniles was no exception.

The performance of Bernardini’s progeny on the track has been nothing short of phenomenal, translating into great demand for his offspring in the sales ring. Hip 40, a beautiful colt consigned by Hartley/De Renzo Thoroughbreds, agent, fetched a fantastic price of $875,000 with John Ferguson signing the ticket on behalf of Sheikh Mohammed. The colt is a half-brother to the Stakes-winning/Graded-placed Millennium Storm and Stakes-placed Merrill Gold.

A US$550,000 price was paid for another Bernardini offspring, a filly from the consignment of Becky Thomas’ Sequel Bloodstock. Out of the Stakes-placed Gone West mare Running Ute, the track-bound juvenile was purchased by Todd Pletcher acting as agent.

Just behind the high-priced Bernardini was a US$870,000 Hard Spun colt. Consigned by Eddie Woods, agent, the dark bay or brown juvenile is out of the multiple Stakes-winning/G1-placed mare Lucky Lavender Gal, also dam of Stakes winner Lavender Lass and Stakes-placed Lavender’s Lad.

Darley’s popular freshman sire Street Boss also garnered a great deal of interest illustrated by sales prices of US$875,000 and US$430,000 and with an average of US$627,500 that led all first-year sires. His top-priced offering was an outstanding looking colt who is a half-brother to Stakes winner and multiple Graded-placed Swingforthefences. Another juvenile from the consignment of Eddie Woods, agent, he was purchased by Steve Young, agent.

And last but not least was a US$220,000 colt by Any Given Saturday whose daughter Princess Arabella is now among the favorites for this year’s G1 Kentucky Oaks. Purchased by Katsumi Yoshida, he is out of a full sister to G2 winner Adriano and a half-sister to Stakes-placed Gold d’Oro, by other Darley stallion Medaglia d’Oro.