Flatter, Freshman Sires Headline Successful July Sale

For the second consecutive year, a colt by Flatter topped The July Sale, held Tuesday at Fasig-Tipton's Newtown Paddocks in Lexington, KY.

China Horse Club/Maverick Racing paid $440,000 for the sale topping Flatter colt, offered as Hip 22 by Indian Creek, agent. The bay colt is out of multiple stakes placed Ruth and Neva, a half-sister Graded Stakes winner Sassy Sienna from the immediate family of Champion Silvestro and Group 1 winner Romildo. The sale topper was bred in Kentucky by Susan King.

"I'd say we're happy," said Indian Creek's Shack Parrish. "We knew he was nice… he did really well."

A pair of freshman sires were responsible for the top filly and an equal-priced colt, which sold for $330,000.

First to go through the ring was Hip 246, a daughter of multiple Grade 1 winner Frosted out of the stakes placed Street Sense mare Humble Street. The gray or roan filly was purchased by Let's Go Stables from the consignment of Wynnstay Sales, agent. She was bred in Kentucky by H. Allen Poindexter.

"She had a huge walk," said Danielle Bricker, who signed the ticket for Let's Go Stables, on what drew her to the filly.  "I expected she was going to be a bit pricey. The right horses are selling for the right price."

Matching her price was Hip 333, a colt from the first crop of juvenile Champion and classic winner Nyquist. The dark bay or brown colt was purchased by Ben McElroy, agent for Corinthian Medical/Wilson Sisk from the consignment of Stuart Morris, agent for Highclere & Partners, who bred the colt in Kentucky. The colt is a half-brother to Red Vine, a multiple Grade 1 placed stakes winner of more than $775,000, from the immediate family of Grade 2 winner and sire Fort Prado.

McElroy, who selected 15-length maiden special weight winner and impressive Queen Mary S. (G2) runner up Kimari at last year's July Sale, indicated that he expected the first crop colt to be expensive. "He's a good representative of the sire… I thought he was one of the best horses in the sale. Nyquist was a Champion juvenile, won the Kentucky Derby… what's not to like?"

"The first horse in the ring brought six figures and the last horse in the ring brought six figures," remarked Fasig-Tipton President Browning. "All in all, it felt very similar to last year. It was a stable, consistent market," he added, noting that the slight decrease in average and identical median indicated strength and consistency in the marketplace compared to 2018.

Overall, 202 yearlings sold for $18,621,000, good for an average of $92,183. The median was $75,000. 

Full results are available online.