Sales tales: From distraught foal to sale-topper
Hip 237, by Honor Code, topped the Fasig-Tipton Midlantic Fall Yearling Sale with a winning bid of $190,000. Photo by Lydia Williams.
It was one of the sale’s more heart-wrenching stories.
Mrs. Vanderbilt, a 17-year-old Citidancer mare, died in 2018 and was discovered by her foal, by Honor Code.
“Unfortunately, she died while she was in Kentucky, and actually the Honor Code colt was over trying to wake her up,” consignor Bill Reightler said Tuesday. “So this is the end of the line for her.”
The story’s ending isn’t yet written. But it took a step Tuesday when that colt, now a yearling, went through the Fasig-Tipton Midlantic sales ring and fetched a sale-topping $190,000.
“He was just a sensational colt,” Reightler said after the horse sold. “The mare’s produced a Grade 2 stakes winner, a beautiful family.”
Mrs. Vanderbilt, a three-time winner on the racetrack,is the dam of five winners, including Grade 2 Delaware Oaks winner Dancing Afleet and multiple stakes winner Tujoes.
Reightler praised the efforts of the colt’s breeder, the Delaware-based Barbara Brown. A Kentucky-bred, the colt is Delaware-certified.
“It’s a great story of a small operation, an astute horsewoman who really does a nice job,” Reightler said.
The market has, thus far, shown a lot of love to Honor Code, whose first foals are two-year-olds. His yearling sales average, $163,476, trails only that of American Pharoah among first-crop sires.
The colt was purchased by Seagull Capital, Tim Hill as agent, and they are expected to race him.
LATEST BUSINESS NEWS
Wagering handle up slightly in May
Wagering handle rose slightly in May versus May 2024, though for the year to date it continues to trail last year.
Fair Hill to get new Tapeta surface
Maryland’s Fair Hill Training Center will replace its 7-furlong Tapeta Footings track this summer, with the company’s newest iteration, Tapeta 13.
Penn National, Delaware to postpone turf stakes
Penn National will delay its Penn Mile card stakes, while Delaware Park will postpone the Cape Henlopen in the face of persistent rains.
De Francis Dash purse gets boost
The De Francis Dash and three other stakes contested on the same day will receive $25,000 purse bumps, the Maryland Jockey Club announced.
PA-bred Like a Saltshaker is Claiming Crown honoree
Like a Saltshaker’s thrilling win in last fall’s Claiming Crown Rapid Transit has earned him Claiming Crown Horse of the Year honors.
Rodolfo Sanchez-Salomon hit with 60-day suspension
Trainer Rodolfo Sanchez-Salomon has been hit by HIWU, HISA’s drug-testing partner, with a 60-day suspension for three violations in two years.
