Kuchar Tops July Selected Horses of All Ages Sale

Ready-made racehorses were in demand Monday at the July Selected Horses of All Ages sale held at Fasig-Tipton’s Newtown Paddocks in Lexington, Kentucky. With more horses offered and sold than any of the sale’s other nine editions, Monday’s trade set sale records for gross and median.

Kuchar (Hip 547), a 3-year-old colt by Uncle Mo, topped sale when sold for $500,000 to Steven W. Young, agent, from the consignment of WinStar Racing, agent (video). Placed at 2, Kuchar is a two-time winner to date this year and twice stakes placed; the colt finished second in the blacktype American Derby at Churchill Downs on July 2 and second in the listed Oaklawn S. at Oaklawn Park on April 23. To date, Kuchar has a record of two wins, two seconds, and a third in six career starts with earnings of $201,750. He was campaigned through the American Derby by owners WinStar Farm and Siena Farm and trainer Rodolphe Brisset.

“Tremendous sale tonight,” said Fasig-Tipton President Boyd Browning. “I think it was even stronger than we anticipated. We’ve seen great demand for active horses on the racetrack with good current form, and we saw an unbelievable depth of bidding activity tonight.”

RRR Racing went to $430,000 to secure Chilean-bred First Constitution (Hip 587), the second highest priced offering of the day (video). WinStar Racing, agent, consigned the 5-year-old son of Constitution. A Group 1 winner at 3 in Chile, First Constitution is a two-stakes winner this year in North America, having captured the blacktype Jazil S. at Aqueduct on January 22 and the listed Flat Out S. at Belmont on May 6. To date, First Constitution has won five of 12 career starts, with two seconds and three thirds and earnings of $253,019. He was campaigned in North America by Don Alberto Stable, WinStar Farm, and Twin Creek Racing Stable and trainer Todd Pletcher.

Rounding out the top five prices were:

• Diamond Hands (Hip 495), a 3-year-old daughter of Frosted purchased for $375,000 by Steven W. Young, agent, from the consignment of Denali Stud, agent. A winner at 2, Diamond Hands finished second to Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies (G1) winner Pizza Bianca in the Hilltop S. at Pimlico on May 20 of this year. To date, she has a record of one win, two seconds, and a third from five starts and earnings of $103,180. She has been campaigned by owners Robert Masiello and Steven Rocco and trainer Christophe Clement.
• Song Parody (Hip 609), a 2-year-old filly by Practical Joke purchased for $360,000 by Magna Certa Bloodstock from the consignment of Taylor Made Sales Agency, agent. Song Bred was a 5 ½-length winner in her only start to date, a maiden special weight for New York-breds June 25 at Belmont, earning $41,250 for her efforts. She has been campaigned by owners Emcee Stable, Fortune Farm, and Robert Hahn and trainer Kelly Breen.
• Electability (Hip 499), a 3-year-old gelded son of Quality Road purchased for $330,000 by BBA Ireland Limited from the consignment of ELiTE, agent. A two-time winner third year, Electability was second in the listed Pegasus S. at Monmouth on June 18 and third in the Peter Pan S. (G3) at Belmont on May 14. To date, he has record two wins, one second, and one third from five starts with earnings of $144,100. He has been campaigned by Klaravich Stables and trainer Chad Brown.

In addition to the racehorses and breeding stock offered was a lifetime breeding right to Grade 1 winner and hot freshman sire Girvin, which sold for $150,000 to Champion Equine LLC, Catherine Hudson, agent. Winner of the Haskell Invitational S. (G1), Girvin is already the sire of five winners from his first crop, including Astoria S. winner Devious Dame and 12 ½-furlong debut maiden special weight winner Damon’s Mound.

“It was very encouraging,” added Browning. “A very strong marketplace overall.”

In total, 129 horses sold for $10,814,000, up 83.1% over $5,905,500 grossed for 79 sold last year. (Previously a horses of racing age sale exclusively, this year’s sale included eight broodmares sold for a total of $157,000.) The overall average rose 12.1% to $83,829 from $74,753 last year. The median rose 16% to $58,000 from $50,000. The RNA rate was 18.9%.

Full results are available online.

Sales action continues tomorrow, July 12, at 10 AM with The July Sale of selected yearlings. The catalogue can be viewed online.