Wicked Strong Colt Shines in Final Midlantic Workouts

Fasig-Tipton's under tack workouts for next week's Midlantic 2-Year-Olds in Training Sale concluded June 26, with a 2-year-old son of Wicked Strong  topping the work tab, getting a quarter-mile in :21 1/5.

The sale at the Maryland State Fairgrounds in Timonium takes place June 29-30, beginning at 11 a.m. ET daily.

"It was a terrific under tack show," said Fasig-Tipton president Boyd Browning Jr., who credited Don "Chief" Denmyer, the director of facilities at the fairgrounds and racetrack, and his staff for having the track at the facility ready. "They had challenging weather at the beginning of the week, and this racetrack was as good from beginning to end of any under tack show we've ever conducted.

"Consignors brought quality horses to the grounds, and we're very pleased with what we saw on the racetrack. We're big believers in dirt and believe the buyers feel the way we do about the benefit of having the under tack shows on dirt."

The speedy Wicked Strong colt consigned by Ciaran Dunne's Wavertree Stables, agent, as Hip 512 was one of three 2-year-olds purchased by a group at the Ocala Breeders' Sales March 2-Year-Olds in Training Sale to be resold at the Midlantic sale.

Produced from the winning E Dubai mare E Classic, the colt bred in Kentucky by Stoneview Farm had been bought for $20,000 from ABG Warrior Racing Stable by D and B Racing at OBS.

"He is a nice, solid colt, and he prepped really well here," Dunne said. "A group from California bought him and two others in March to wheel back in here. They obviously saw something in him. Being by Wicked Strong, he may have been a little overshadowed at OBS by all the foals by American Pharoah  and Tapit  and other big sires that were in there.

"He moves really well, so they decided to take a shot here. And it looks like it might work out. He left the quarter pole running and finished out really well. He doesn't look like a sprinter type but a horse that will want to go a lot farther."

Five juveniles shared Friday's best time for an eighth-mile of :10.

Hip 389, a filly consigned by Grassroots Training & Sales, was the first. She is by Twirling Candy  out of Apple Cider, by More Than Ready . The filly's second dam is grade 2 winner and stakes producer Who Did It and Run. She was bought for $30,000 at last year's Fasig-Tipton Midlantic Fall Yearlings Sale. 

Next to get the fastest furlong was Hip 400, a filly by Maclean's Music  out of Ava G., by Afternoon Deelites. Consigned by Scanlon Training & Sales, agent, the filly descends from multiple stakes winner and grade 1-placed Winter Treasure and grade 2 winner and multiple grade 1-placed Minstrel Miss.

Hip 505 was next to stop the clock in :10. The Fed Biz  filly consigned by Crane Thoroughbred Services, agent, is out of the unraced Awesome Again mare Dream Realized.

A filly by Frosted  consigned as Hip 518 was next. Offered by SBM Training and Sales, agent, the filly out of Enchante, by Bluegrass Cat, is from the extended female family of 2-year-old champion and sire Forty Niner and grade 1 winner Yamanin.

And finally Hip 552, a filly by Dialed In —Fall Fantasy, by Menifee, was the last to complete a furlong in the day's fastest time. Also consigned by SBM Training and Sales, agent, the filly is a full sister to multiple stakes winner and grade 1-placed mare Chalon and was bought by New Day Training Center, Kevin McKathan, agent, for $165,000 at the Keeneland September Yearling Sale.

SBM's Susan Montanye said the Frosted filly was slated to go to The Gulfstream Sale, Fasig-Tipton's selected 2-year-olds in training sale that was canceled due to the effects of COVID-19, and was targeted for the Midlantic sale because she would likely take to the dirt racing surface.

"This racetrack kind of fits her," Montanye said. "She's very straightforward."

The filly had been acquired privately after being bought back on a final bid of $185,000 last year at The July Sale, Fasig-Tipton's selected yearling sale in Kentucky, according to Montanye.

Montanye said the Dialed In filly was entered by another consignor in the OBS Spring Sale of 2-Year-Olds in Training and was withdrawn after breezing an eighth-mile in :10 during the under tack show on the artificial surface. 

"She worked beautifully; she likes the dirt," the consignor said.

That none of the workers over the three days of breeze shows bettered the :10 threshold for an eighth-mile was no surprise to consignor Al Pike of Pike Racing. He noted the track's five-eighths mile configuration meant the workouts begin as horses come out of the second turn.

"You don't get a running start at the eighth pole because it is in the turn," Pike said. "I've been coming here a long time, and I've only seen one horse work in :09 4/5."