$2.1M Kalypso Tops Yoshida's Fasig-Tipton Haul

Starting off the racing/broodmare prospects section Nov. 6 at The November Sale, Fasig-Tipton's marquee breeding stock sale, with a bang was Japanese buyer Katsumi Yoshida, who went to $2.1 million for grade 1 winner Kalypso .

The 4-year-old daughter of Brody's Cause  , consigned by Gainesway as Hip 192, sold for the partnership of David Bernsen, Gainesway Stable, Rockingham Ranch, and Chad Littlefield.

The filly was initially purchased by Cool Breeze Sales in 2019 for $240,000 from Four Star Sales' consignment to The July Sale, Fasig-Tipton's selected yearling sale in Kentucky.

Bred in Kentucky by Spendthrift Farm, the filly made 15 starts, the first 10 for trainer Bob Baffert and the rest for Steve Asmussen. She earned $600,638 with a 4-4-3 record, including wins last year in the La Brea Stakes (G1), Santa Ynez Stakes (G2), and Anoakia Stakes. In 2022, she won the Memorial Day Sprint Stakes and was runner-up in the Seeking the Pearl Stakes. Her last out was a fourth in the Oct. 3 Roamin Rachel Stakes at Parx Racing.

Agent Shingo Hashimoto signed the ticket for Yoshida.

"She looked very nice, we know that she was racing well," Hashimoto said. "She had an outstanding racing career, so we thought she was a very good mare candidate to bring to Japan.

"We're very excited that we could (buy) her. We're going to breed her for sure. We haven't decided whether to keep her in the U.S. or in Japan."

The price of Japanese currency has deflated this year, which makes buying in the American market more difficult, though Hashimoto says it was not unexpected.

"It was tough; we were thinking it was going to be a tough market to buy today. It's very tough in the beginning," Hashimoto said. "We wish it was a little bit easier to buy, but it's not always like that, it's part of the game...It's 30% the exchange rate has been depreciated for Japanese yen."

Kalypso is out of the Malibu Moon  mare Malibu Cove, who has three winners from four foals to race. Malibu Cove also has a 2-year-old Mor Spirit   colt named Quick Hammer, a yearling Jimmy Creed   colt, and a 2022 Authentic   colt. She was bred back to Authentic for 2023. 

Ultimately, the filly proved to be just a warm-up for Yoshida, who returned to make several more high-dollar purchases—including grade 3 winner Beautiful Gift , whom he secured for $2 million. 

Consigned by Hill 'n' Dale at Xalapa as Hip 262, the 4-year-old daughter of Medaglia d'Oro   was a homebred for Baoma Corp. She made six starts with Baffert, winning the Santa Ysabel Stakes (G3) and placing in the Santa Anita Oaks (G2) in 2021. Her last start was an allowance optional claiming race earlier this year at Santa Anita Park.

Beautiful Gift is out of the A.P. Indy mare Sea Gift, who has seven winners from 10 foals to race, including 2014 Sunland Derby (G3) winner Chitu  . The dam also has a yearling Justify   filly. She was bred back to Curlin   for 2023. 

Only a few hips later, Yoshida went to $1.85 million to take home 2021 Longines Test Stakes (G1) winner Bella Sofia . The 4-year-old daughter of Awesome Patriot  was cataloged as Hip 266 by Taylor Made Sales Agency for owners Michael Imperio, Medallion Racing, Sofia Soares, Vincent Scuderi, and Parkland Thoroughbreds.

This year the filly took the Vagrancy Handicap (G3) and the Bed o' Roses Stakes (G2), both at Belmont Park. She has earned $871,600 from 10 starts. 

Bella Sofia is out of the Consolidator  mare Love Contract, who has three winners from three foals to race. The dam's last foal is a 2-year-old V.E. Day colt named War Empire. She was bred back to Uncle Mo   for 2023.  

The Japanese buyer also struck for grade 1 winner Going to Vegas , purchasing the 5-year-old daughter of Goldencents   for $1.5 million.

Taylor Made consigned the mare as Hip 293 for the partnership of Abbondanza Racing, Medallion Racing, and MyRacehorse. 

The mare arrived at the sale after starting in the Nov. 5 Maker's Mark Breeders' Cup Filly & Mare Turf (G1T) at Keeneland, where she finished last of 12. She has a record of 8-11-3 from 29 starts, including wins in the 2021 and 2022 Rodeo Drive Stakes (G1) at Santa Anita Park. 

Going to Vegas was bred in Kentucky by Kirk and Judy Robison out of the stakes-winning Johannesburg mare Hard to Resist. The dam has two winners from two foals to race. She also has a 2-year-old Grazen  filly named Brand Loyalty, a yearling Om   colt named Captain Fabulous, and dropped a Grazen colt this year. She was bred back to Charlatan   for 2023.

The cheapest of Yoshida's five purchases was grade 2 winner Plum Ali , who brought the hammer down at $600,000. Consigned by ELiTE as Hip 220, the 4-year-old daughter of First Samurai   was campaigned by Michael Dubb, Madaket Stables, and Michael Caruso.

Christophe Clement trained the filly to a win in the 2020 Miss Grillo Stakes (G2T), 2021 Winter Memories Stakes, and Plenty of Grace Stakes. She was runner-up last out at Belmont at the Big A in the Oct. 22 Noble Damsel Stakes (G3T). 

Bred by Stone Farm in Kentucky, the filly has earned $817,042 from 17 starts with a record of 5-4-1. Plum Ali is out of the Stroll mare Skipping, who has a 2-year-old full sibling to the filly named Heiress and a yearling Mastery   colt named Speedtail. The dam was bred back to Quality Road   for 2023.