Opportunity for Buyers at F-T Midlantic December Sale

The last live auction in North America for 2021, the Fasig-Tipton Midlantic December Mixed and Horses of Racing Age Sale will bring the calendar to a close Dec. 7, with the first horse to go through the ring at 11 a.m. ET in Timonium, Md.

A total of 401 hips are cataloged to the single day of selling: 92 broodmares, 15 broodmare prospects, 168 horses of racing age or racing/broodmare prospects, 18 yearlings, and 102 weanlings.

"This year we have 168 horses of racing age, which is huge to be able to have such a large group to offer to trainers and owners," said Fasig-Tipton's Midlantic sales director Paget Bennett.

"Some horses are ready to go with the turf season ending up north; they have had a little bit of a break and are ready to go for folks that are looking to head south," Bennett added. "Some 2-year-olds haven't made their first starts, but many have published works showing great promise. There is something for everyone here at Timonium."

Of the 92 broodmares in the catalog, a handful that attract attention include Moonlight Fantasy, consigned as Hip 6 by Marshall W. Silverman, agent. The 10-year-old Malibu Moon mare has a produce record full of offspring by Diamond B Farm's Boisterous  with three winners from as many starters and three, the oldest being a 2-year-old, that have not hit the track yet, and sells in foal to Boisterous. Moonlight Fantasy is out of stakes winner Mystic Chant  (by Unbridled's Song), who has produced 2018 Fourstardave Handicap (G1T) winner Voodoo Song .

The Careless Cat, a 10-year-old Tale of the Cat  daughter from a black-type producing female family, is on offer as Hip 45 with Northview Stallion Station (David Wade), agent. The mare sells in foal to Uncle Lino   on a February cover. She is out of Who Did It and Run , a grade 2 winner by Polish Numbers who has produced multiple graded-placed, multiple stakes winner Giant Run ; stakes winner and multiple stakes producer American Victory ; and the grade 3-placed, multiple stakes-producing Who's Cozy .

Not Concerned, a 5-year-old Curlin   daughter out of The Careless Cat consigned as Hip 11 by Northview, agent for Joseph Besecker (reduction of breeding stock). She delivered her first foal, a Great Notion   colt, this year. Curiosity Kills, a 3-year-old Mineshaft   filly who is also out of The Careless Cat offered as a broodmare prospect. She is consigned as Hip 82 by Northview, agent.

"There are a lot of mares that show good production and are in foal to useful sires on offer for people looking to add to their broodmare population," said Bennett. "There are some new stallions that have been added to the Midlantic market for next year. Some of these mares will cross well with them, or you have the option to head to Kentucky."

A consistent producer, Encore Saritta , a stakes-placed daughter of Consolidator , will be offered through Becky Davis, Inc. agent as Hip 87. She is selling in foal to First Mondays . The 14-year-old mare has produced a stakes winner in Downhill Racer  and four other winners. She is out of the multiple stakes winner Sutter Sutter  (by Sutter's Prospect).

A young broodmare prospect, Veladera, will sell as Hip 54 with Dreamtime Stables, agent. The 3-year-old Candy Ride   filly is out of the Danehill Dancer mare Medea , winner of the 2014 Eatontown Stakes (G3T). Veladera comes from the family of stakes winner Scoop the Gold , the dam of High Yield , a precocious grade 1 winner at 2 and 3 years old. Also on the page is the recently late grade 1 winner Medina Spirit  and Canadian Horse of the Year Catch a Glimpse .

"For people who are looking for a shorter wait, we have a bunch of weanlings so they can get a jump on their return, either back in the sales ring as yearlings or to race here in the state and take part in the Maryland Millions Program," Bennett commented.

With 102 weanlings to consider, a few of the regional offerings come as Hip 183; a Pennsylvania-bred filly by Eclipticalspraline   out of Pocahontas Stakes (G3) winner Change Up  consigned by Northview, agent. The filly, named Diane's Ecliptical, is a half sister to stakes winner Pinch Hit  and two stakes-placed runners, Pitch Count and Fair Catch. She was bred by Marie Haire.

A colt by freshman sire Divining Rod   out of the grade 2-placed, stakes-winning Boundary  mare Your Flame in Me  is consigned as Hip 167 by Bill Reightler, agent for breeders Country Life Farm and partners. He is a half brother to Bodyguard Hero, a stakes-placed winner in Turkey. The weanling is a registered Maryland-bred and is Maryland Million-certified.

"We attract buyers at all levels. People have success from this sale, even without necessarily buying the sales topper. People love this sale, and we try to provide the product that keeps them coming back for more," Bennett said.

An exciting offering among the racing prospects offered by Northview, agent for Besecker (reduction of racing stock) is Buff Hello  (Hip 333). The 2-year-old Buffum  colt became a stakes winner in the Maryland Million Nursery Stakes at Laurel Park in October. He has made five starts with a record of 2-1-0 and earnings of $96,675. Out of Spanish Dream (by Sharp Humor), his full 3-year-old brother, Latin Spice , is stakes-placed and has increased earnings of $105,972 since the catalog was printed.

Last year the mixed sale offered 237 horses at the one-day auction with 182 head changing hands for gross receipts of $2,345,600, an average price of $12,888, and a median of $5,000. Fifty-five horses failed to meet their reserve for an RNA rate of 23.2%.

The 2020 sale was topped by the racing/broodmare prospect Fly On Angel , consigned by Northview, agent for Besecker (reduction of racing stock). Cypress Creek purchased her for $195,000. The daughter of Palace Malice   won the Charles Town Oaks (G3) in August of 2020 for Besecker. Cypress Creek was the leading buyer with their single purchase.

Last year's leading consignor was Northview, with 33 horses sold from 45 offered for gross receipts of $555,100 and an average price of $16,821. This year the Warwick, Md. operation will bring a large draft of 146 offerings, 68 of which are racing prospects for Besecker (reduction of racing stock). Besecker, the co-founder of Wazuzu, landed his 1,000th victory on the oval this year when Diva's Finale  won Aug. 14 at Del Mar, making Besecker the 22nd North American owner to earn the achievement since 1996.

As of Monday afternoon, there were 60 horses withdrawn from the sale.

"We are the last stop of the year as far as mixed sales go, and we are hopeful, the foot traffic is already underway here," Bennett said.