A striking Munnings filly soared to new heights for her sire Aug, 8 at The Saratoga Sale, Fasig-Tipton's selected yearling sale in Saratoga Springs, N.Y., when she sold for $700,000 to become the highest-priced yearling for the Ashford Stud stallion to date.
Ben McElroy who snatched up the filly consigned by Denali Stud as Hip 19. She was bred in Kentucky by Baron Thoroughbreds out of the Malibu Moon mare Malibu Treasure, and was purchased to be sent to trainer Wesley Ward.
"(I loved) everything (about her). I've had a lot of luck with Munnings," Ward said. "Ben's bought the ones I've had luck with. He picked her out and took me to his shortlist. This was my pick of the sale."
Ward has seen recent success with the multiple graded stakes-winning daughter of Munnings Kimari, who climbed from a $152,000 yearling purchase to a $2.7 million buy at the 2021 Fasig-Tipton Kentucky Fall Mixed Sale to M.V. Magnier from the Eaton Sales consignment. She is currently owned in partnership by Westerberg, Mrs. John Magnier, Jonathan Poulin, Derrick Smith, and Michael Tabor.
Winner of the 2021 Madison Stakes (G1), Kimari most recently landed the July 27 Honorable Miss Handicap (G2) at Saratoga Race Course.
With his top choice secured, Ward says he is still looking to make additional purchases at The Saratoga Sale, although he did not acquire any further horses on Day One.
"We're not going to stop now," he said. "(Hip 19 is) a quality filly and the sire's doing tremendously. Physically she was a 10 out of 10, so we knew we'd have to pay dearly for her."
