'Quality' Sells at Midlantic Two-Year-Olds in Training Sale

quality road colt fasig-tipton midlantic two-year-olds in training
Fasig-Tipton Photo

A colt by Quality Road tied a Fasig-Tipton Midlantic record when sold for $1,500,000 during the opening session of the 2021 Midlantic Two-Year-Olds in Training sale Monday. The session saw across-the-board increases over both the 2019 and 2020 editions of the sale.

West Point Thoroughbreds/L.E.B., agent purchased the session-topping son of Quality Road for $1,500,000 from the consignment of Eddie Woods, agent (video). Offered as Hip 211, the dark bay or brown colt is a half-brother to three winners out of the unraced Storm Cat mare Stormy Welcome, including multiple stakes placed winner Welcoming (Tapit). The colt's third dam is Broodmare of the Year Weekend Surprise (Secretariat), who produced Horse of the Year A.P. Indy and Grade 1 winner Summer Squall. The immediate family includes champion Wolfhound, as well as Grade 1 winners Super Saver and Happy Saver. Hip 211 worked an eighth in 10.0 during the Tuesday session of the under tack show.

The colt's sale price tied the record price paid for a colt at the Midlantic Two-Year-Olds in Training sale, set in 2017 when subsequent multiple stakes winner Curlin's Honor sold for $1,500,000.

"It was unbelievable," said Fasig-Tipton Midlantic Sales Director Paget Bennett. "The pavilion was full of folks and the infield was full of cars... The consignors were here with top horses and people recognized that and battled for them and it made for a great day."

The second highest price of the session came in the form of Hip 164, a colt by Malibu Moon purchased for $700,000 by Elliott and McElroy (video). Consigned by Eddie Woods, agent, the bay colt is out of the unraced Seeking the Gold mare Seeking Atlantic, dam of four winners from as many to race, including graded stakes placed Seeking Her Glory (Giant's Causeway) and multiple stakes placed Castellani (Quality Road). His second dam is multiple graded stakes winner Atlantic Ocean. Hip 164 worked an eighth in 10.0 during the Monday session of the under tack show.

A New York-bred filly from the first crop of Eclipse Champion Classic Empire became the top-priced female of the session when sold for $550,000 to West Bloodstock, agent for Robert and Lawana Low (video). Offered as Hip 72 by Sequel Bloodstock, agent for Chester and Mary Broman, the bay filly is out of the winning Bernardini mare Newbie, making her a half-sister to four-time stakes winner Newly Minted (Central Banker) and multiple stakes placed winner New Girl in Town (Boys At Tosconova). Hip 72 worked an eighth in 10.1 during the Monday session of the under tack show.

Over the course of the session, 170 juveniles sold for $15,856,500, good for an average $93,097. The median was $45,000. The RNA rate was 19%.

Results are available online. The Midlantic Two-Year-Olds in Training sale resumes Tuesday at 11 AM.