Classic Winners Headline July Sale's First-Crop Sires

The auction debut of this year's first-crop yearling sires during Fasig-Tipton's The July Sale include the progeny of two 2023 American classic winners—Kentucky Derby (G1) winner Mage and Belmont Stakes (G1) winner Arcangelo. The July sale, being held July 14, not only gives auction buyers a first look at these first-crop yearlings, they also are seeing some of the most forward, earlier developing members of the 2025 foal crop. "We have historically used The July sale to show off yearlings that we're proud of and our Mage colt (Hip 55) we have always thought was ideal to be the first one to market and set the table for the season ahead," said Bret Jones, president of Airdrie Stud, where Mage stood this breeding season for $15,000. Hip 55 is a gray or roan colt out of the stakes-placed winner and multiple stakes-producing mare French Politics (Political Force), the dam of stakes winner Hurricane Nelson (Khozan) and two other stakes-placed winners. The immediate family also produced 2002 champion sprinter Orientate and 1987 Oak Leaf Stakes (G1) winner Dream Team. "He is very much like his sire in that he is a well-balanced, soundly made colt," Jones said. Regarding Mage's progeny overall, Jones said his first crop exceeded the high expectations they had for the son of Good Magic. "Mage is perfectly balanced with everything in the right place. I have never seen a light-hipped Mage," Jones said. "They also seem to have his same attitude, which allowed him to be in front of 150,000 people and have his best day on the racetrack. This is an exceptional crop, based on the many we have raised and the ones we see on other farms. We are coming into this sale season really thinking he has a chance to make a significant impact." C & S Thoroughbreds and Warrendale Sales have Mage progeny in their consignments as well and described those yearlings similarly, as big strong individuals with big hips and shoulders that look like their sire. C & S Thoroughbreds is selling Hip 132, a chestnut filly out of the family of 2014 champion older mare Close Hatches and two-time champion older dirt female Idiomatic. "This filly is well-suited to the sale," said Sarah Estrada with C & S Thoroughbreds. "I think there is a buzz about the Mages as well. Overall, he has a good first crop that should sell well." Warrendale Sales has Hip 223 in its consignment, a chestnut Mage colt out of the Cupid mare Winter Love, whose dam Street Love (Street Boss) is a full sister to 2013 King's Bishop Stakes (G1) winner Capo Bastone. Hip 223's 2-year-old half sister, Ruby Express (Tom's d'Etat), ran third on debut June 12 at Lone Star Park. Warrendale partner and director of bloodstock services Hunter Simms said of Hip 223, "He has a big hip and a great shoulder." "We had a couple of the Mages in November that did very well as foals," he continued. "They were well received, and I think that will continue on through the yearling sales." Estrada also has high expectations for Hip 121, a gray or roan filly by Arcangelo, a son of Arrogate and the 2023 champion 3-year-old colt after winning the Belmont Stakes and the Travers Stakes (G1). Hip 121 is out of the Indian Charlie winner Morea, making her a half sister to graded-placed stakes winner Half Is Enough (Frosted). "She is a really lovely filly," Estrada said. "I think some of the Arcangelos might need a bit more time overall but, for The July sale, it all comes down to the individual, and this filly fits this sale." Taylor Made Sales Agency, as agent for DJ Stable, has the only other Arcangelo yearling in the sale. Hip 81 is a gray or roan filly out of the Bernardini daughter Ice Cream, who has already produced stakes-placed winner Braums Run (Golden Pal). The sale filly's second dam, Frozen Treat, is the dam of stakes winners Value Engineering and Catrageous, and the granddam of graded stakes winner High Velocity. Arcangelo stood this year at Lane's End for $30,000. Top First-Crop Yearling Sires By Weanling Average The leading first-crop yearling sires by their 2025 weanling average include Darley Stallions' 2023 Horse of the Year Cody's Wish ($281,071 from 14 sold); Lane's End's three-time grade 1 winner Up to the Mark ($182,444, nine sold); Spendthrift Farm's 2022 champion 2-year-old colt and Florida Derby (G1) winner Forte ($166,875, 24 sold); Ashford Stud's multiple grade 1 winner Gunite ($166,765, 34 sold); Spendthrift's multiple grade 1 winner Taiba ($143,500, 27 sold); and, Mage ($116,190, 21 sold). St George Sales has the only Cody's Wish yearling in the sale, cataloged as Hip 193. The dark bay/brown filly is out of the Take Charge Indy stakes winner Takechargedelilah, a half sister to stakes winner and millionaire Mo Dont No (Uncle Mo). Up to the Mark is represented by three in the sale, including Hip 25 in the Highgate Sales consignment. Hip 25 is a bay colt out of the Tapit mare City Tap, who is out of the immediate family of 2003 Canadian champion grass horse Perfect Soul (IRE). "He is a racy, athletic colt with a lot of quality and strength. We have liked him all along," said Hillgate owner Jill Gordon. "He is well-balanced, very fluid in motion, and has always been a forward type that is eager to work and have a job." Highgate also has a Gunite filly (Hip 148) out of the City of Light mare Quantum Light. The yearling's third dam is Baffled, the dam of multiple grade 1 winner and prominent sire Constitution. "She is a great representation of her sire," Gordon said of Hip 148. "She has plenty of size, is a beautiful physical, and has a lot of presence. The Gunites have been a very uniform group of horses that move well, and she is consistent with that." Simms said he has been impressed with the uniformity of Forte's progeny, too. Warrendale's consignment includes Hip 161, a bay Forte filly out of the winning Smart Strike mare Screaming Skylar. Hip 161 is a half sister to this year's Frank E. Kilroe Mile Stakes (G2T) winner Final Boss (American Pharoah). "She has a lot of scope, a great walk, and great mind," Simms said. "She is correct and light on her feet and has been an easy keeper since the group that owns her bought her in November. She has progressed every day. I just like her athleticism and the way she moves." Todd Frederick bought her for $75,000 as a weanling at the November Breeding Stock Sale last fall at Keeneland. Regarding expectations for the first yearling sale of 2026, Jones said he hopes buyers give equal attention to the July offerings as they will to later yearling sales. "This is a sale that buyers should shop hard because it has always been an incredible place to buy racehorses and find value. It is a really important sale," he said. "During the 2-year-old sales, we saw records broken on an almost per-sale basis. There are a lot of reasons for people to buy racehorses right now, and we know some really top horses will come out of this sale, like there always are."