American Patriot Well Represent in HBA Summer Sale

A total of 1,265 Japanese-bred yearlings are cataloged for the Hidaka Breeders Association Summer Sale, which begins Aug. 19. While the sale was conducted over five days in past years, the HBA decided to expand to six days this year as they received more entries. The sale is conducted at Shizunai on Hokkaido Island. American Patriot, winner of the 2017 Maker's 46 Mile Stakes (G1T) who has been standing at Darley Japan since 2018, sends the most yearlings of any stallion in the sale at 42. One of them, Hip 984, is a colt out of Grace Nico. His second dam, Delmonico Cat, won the 2004 Honey Fox Handicap (G3T) and was bought by Shadai Farm at the 2006 Keeneland November Breeding Stock Sale for $450,000. Kitasan Black (JPN), leading sire at the Japan Racing Horse Association Select Sale in July, is represented by three yearlings, including Hip 965, a colt out of Outsmart. Sweettrickydancer, the colt's second dam, won the 2003 Tropical Park Oaks and 2022 Hollywood Wildcat Stakes. Hip 349, an American Pharoah colt, is one of two yearlings by the American stallion in the catalog and is the first foal out of European winner Sunset Kiss (GB). Graduates of the HBA Summer Sale are performing well. National Association of Racing's 2023 Horse of the Year Igniter (JPN) and champion 3-year-old colt Mick Fire (JPN) were both bought at the Summer Sale as was Tulip Sho (G2) winner Sweep Feet.