Seven-Figure Fillies Top Fasig-Tipton Weanling Market

The aftermath of an exceptionally strong yearling market was felt during the weanling segment of Fasig-Tipton's The November Sale Nov. 2 that produced two seven-figure sales and a 15% higher average than a year ago. Fillies by the top two North American leading sires led the weanling sales. A bay filly (Hip 80) by Not This Time out of the stakes winner Feeling Mischief was the evening's most expensive weanling, selling for $1.15 million to agent Caitlin Dunne on behalf of Roger Tovar's Asagi Stables. Taylor Made Sales Agency consigned the filly for her breeder the Feeling Mischief Syndicate. Dunne also bought the second-highest-priced weanling, an Into Mischief filly (Hip 36) that she went to $1 million to acquire for Asagi Stables. Gainesway consigned the filly on behalf of her breeder Payson Stud. Dunne said she felt the prices accurately reflected the quality of the two fillies. "We felt as strong as the yearling market has been that if we saw these fillies later who knows what they would cost us," she said. "We decided to come in here and take a couple of big swings on a couple of nice jewels. We were not sure we would be able to get both (Hip 36 and 80) because of how strong the market has been. Once we got the Into Mischief, we thought we might be fortunate to get the Not This Time." Both fillies were outstanding individuals with athletic, fluid strides that were backed by sterling pedigrees. Hip 36 is the first foal out of the multiple graded stakes winner Solo Album, who is out of the grade 1-placed winner Summer Solo (Arch). Hip 80 is out of stakes winner Feeling Mischief, who is a half sister to graded-placed winner Royal Act. The immediate family also produced 2006 champion 3-year-old filly Wait a While. Both fillies also had the hardy endorsement of Dunne's father-in-law, trainer Wesley Ward. "Every time we saw the Solo Album filly, she moved so well, was so athletic, and always carried herself really well. When Wesley Ward saw her the first time, he said, 'This is my pick of the sale,'" Dunne said. "The Feeling Mischief filly also was so athletic. Every time she pushes off when she goes to walk, she just moves so fluidly. We saw her and we had to have her, too." Tovar bought several colts earlier in the year, going to $1.75 million for a Gun Runner colt and to $950,000 for an Uncle Mo colt during Fasig-Tipton's The Saratoga Sale. Dunne said they started looking for well-bred fillies to add to the stable with the long-range view of building a breeding program alongside the racing program. Brian Graves, general manager of Gainesway, said Hip 36 had all the quality of a seven-figure horse. "She was mature and precocious and an obvious kind of product to sell early," he said. "Into Mischief averages about $1 million and $600,000 for his fillies, and the owner put a $600,000 reserve on her so there was plenty of open bidding. She is a really, really nice filly." Mark Taylor with Taylor Made said Hip 80 had been prepped at another farm and, though he had seen her months earlier, had not seen her fully primed for the sale until she walked off the van at Fasig-Tipton. "As soon as came off the van, it was 'Whoa!' I knew she was special. I didn't know that she would bring seven figures but I knew it was a definite possibility," he said. The filly's dam, Feeling Mischief, sold later in The November Sale in foal to Flightline for $1.5 million. Taylor said he was not surprised to see the demand higher for the weanlings. "Quality is hard to find and quality with pedigree and sire power attached to it," he said. "Everyone knows how tough it was to buy yearlings, so if you can find those collector's items and get them in your program early, there is an added benefit. (Hip 80) is going to be a racehorse." Among first-crop weanling sires, National Treasure was represented by the highest price, a dark bay or brown colt that sold for $400,000 to Spendthrift Farm, where National Treasure stands. Sold as Hip 70, the colt is a half brother to grade 2 winner Federal Judge (Army Mule). National Treasure, who won the 2023 Preakness Stakes (G1), was represented by three sold for an average of $281,667, the highest among the first-crop sires with two or more sold. Ashford Stud's Domestic Product was represented by four sold for a $190,000 average. His top seller (Hip 39), a bay colt out of the Speightstown mare Sumerian, sold for $220,000 to Fairways Ltd. Sumerian is a half sister to grade 1 winner Fort Washington. Paramount Sales as agent consigned Hip 39. Claiborne Farm's Prince of Monaco was represented by six sold for a $114,167 average. Cavalier Bloodstock bought Prince of Monaco's top seller, a colt (Hip 12) out of stakes-placed stakes producer Mexican Hat for $160,000. The colt was consigned by Warrendale Sales as agent. Three Chimneys Farm's Gun Pilot was represented by three sold for a $101,667 average. Hip 24, a chestnut colt out of stakes winner and stakes producer Rapid Racer, brought the sire's highest price at $150,000. The colt was consigned by Columbiana Farm and bought by Three Chimneys.