Inglis Digital USA June Sale Opens for Bidding

Bidding is now open for the Inglis Digital USA June Sale, with a slate of 29 entries that includes a half sister to two grade 1 winners, a recent Saratoga Race Course maiden winner, and a graded black-type producer. Buyers may place bids now in the online auction, and the first lot will close June 25 at 2 p.m. EDT, with subsequent listings hammering in three-minute increments. Bidders seeking a runner for the summer and fall racing seasons that can then become a cornerstone member of their broodmare band should take notice of Hip 6, Tap the Champagne. The 4-year-old filly by Tapit is a daughter of the blue-hen mare Champagne Royale, whose notable foals include the grade 1-winning millionaire Majestic Harbor, and Danza, who won the 2014 Arkansas Derby (G1) en route to a third-place finish in the Kentucky Derby (G1). Both became sires. Champagne Royale's other foals of note include stakes-placed Tickled Pink and multiple graded stakes producer Totally Tucker, who is responsible for grade 3 winners Totally Boss and Super Steed. Tap the Champagne is trained and offered by Pavel Matejka. She most recently finished second by a half-length in a Churchill Downs maiden special weight June 18, making her first start on turf. "The filly came back from her race in great shape," Matejka said. "She ran incredible first time on grass after a layoff. We'll be looking for even bigger improvement for her next race. Ellis Park, Saratoga, and Kentucky Downs are on our radar. Del Mar, with its 'Ship and Win' incentive, is another possibility." Tap the Champagne is available for inspection at Matejka's barn at The Thoroughbred Center near Lexington. The June sale also features Hip 7, Tralee Girl, who graduated in style during the Belmont Stakes Racing Festival at Saratoga Race Course June 5. The New York-bred 3-year-old Mendelssohn filly made her move in the far turn of the 1 1/16-mile turf maiden special weight, and she dug in to win by a neck for trainer Miguel Clement and owners New Phoenix Stable, Kenneth and Gail Beitz, and Steven Bouchey. She enters the sale with conditions still available to run through, and she is being pointed toward the $150,000 Suzie O'Cain Stakes—a 1 1/16-mile turf race for New York-bred fillies—July 16 at Saratoga. "She won really well at the Belmont Festival," Clement said. "We've been really happy with her and have a New York-bred stakes picked out for her at Saratoga in July." Tralee Girl is out of the Pioneerof the Nile mare Kerry Girl, and her page is rich with high-level black type, including grade 2-winning second dam Caroline Thomas and grade 1-winning third dam Bit of Whimsy. Also on offer is Hip 30, Ultimate Prize, a Smart Strike mare whose four winners include grade 3-placed Boltage and multiple stakes-placed Mr Loooch. Offered by Phoenix Farm, Ultimate Prize hails from a family rich with black type. Her third dam is the grade 1 winner Too Chic, who is the pivot point for grade 1 winners Brahms, Queena, Chic Shirine, Serra Lake, Keen Ice, Olympiad, Preservationist, Verrazano, Harmonize, and Somali Lemonade. Ultimate Prize is offered in foal to first-year stallion Arabian Knight, a grade 1-winning son of Uncle Mo, on a March 11 cover date. She is available for inspection at Phoenix Farm near Nicholasville, KY. The catalog also includes mares in foal to California stallions Storm the Court and Tizamagician. Some of those mares are offered with foals at side by Tizamagician and Eight Rings. The catalog also features several yearlings, including offerings from the first crops of Kentucky stallions Mystic Guide, Pinehurst, and Sir Winston. "We had some momentum from our May sale, and we are very pleased with the sellers who continue to support us," said Kyle Wilson, senior director of sales and recruiting for Inglis Digital USA. "We have some really quality offerings, and we're excited to get started with our sale." To view the catalog and register to bid, visit www.inglisdigitalusa.com.