Country House Filly, Vekoma Colt Top Under Tack Show

A Vekoma   colt (Hip 4) and a filly (Hip 61) by Kentucky Derby (G1) winner Country House   turned in the fastest works at an eighth of a mile—each completing the breeze in :10—during the June 24 under tack show for the Fasig-Tipton Midlantic June 2-Year-Olds in Training Sale.

Three hips tied for the quickest quarter-mile at :21 4/5.  All consigned by Wes Carter, they included a Tiz The Law   filly (Hip 16), a gelding by Central Banker   (Hip 56), and a Solomini   gelding (Hip 58). Hips 56 and 58 are being sold by Carter on behalf of Crossed Sabres Farm, while Hip 16 is being offered by Lemon Creek Farm.

The under tack show was held at the Maryland State Fairgrounds in Timonium ahead of the June 25 sale that cataloged 80 juveniles. So far, 11 have been withdrawn. The sale begins at 2 p.m. ET.

The Mason Springs-consigned Vekoma colt turned in a strong furlong over the dirt track just after 8 a.m. ET. A registered New Jersey-bred, out of the Pioneerof the Nile mare Elusively, he comes from the family of multiple graded stakes winner Sharp Cat. 

The Indiana-bred filly by Kentucky Derby (G1) winner Country House that tied for the fastest eighth of a mile is consigned by James Layden. Out of the stakes-placed winner Bud's Little Edge  (Valid Expectations), the pinhook prospect was purchased by Layden at the 2023 Fasig-Tipton Kentucky October Yearlings Sale for a modest $15,000 from Four Star Sales.

Eleven juveniles clocked an eighth of a mile in :10 1/5 during Monday morning's under tack show.

Clovis Crane of Crane Thoroughbred Services had two complete an eighth-mile in :10 1/5. Hip 63, a colt by Travers Stakes (G1) winner Catholic Boy   out of the Galileo mare Celestial Storm; and Hip 30, a filly by Munnings   out of the stakes-placed Honor Code  mare Roadrunner's Honor; are among the standouts in Crane's consignment. 

"The track was great, the horses performed well, and we were thankful for the cooler weather," said Crane. 

Crane believes his Munnings filly is the most talented 2-year-old he is offering, adding that Hip 30 had the fastest gallop-out at the under tack show.

A strapping Dialed In   colt (Hip 65) offered by Crane did not have the fastest work of the day, but the consignor said the colt is something special. After an injury last December, he has taken the time needed to heal, breezing only a handful of times. The colt worked a respectable :10 2/5 during the under tack show.

The three juveniles that worked in :21 4/5 are all New York-breds. Hip 16 is a filly out of the Smart Strike winner Marcy Darcy, who is a half sister to multiple graded stakes winner Pauline's Pearl  (Tapit  ) and grade 3-placed multiple stakes winner Union Jackson  (Curlin  ). Hip 56 is a gelding out of the Kitten's Joy winner Artillery Punch, who has produced two winners from four to race so far. Hip 58 is out of the winning Tapit mare Amber Ash, who is a half sister to grade 1 winner Pampered Princess  (Indian Charlie).

The Midlantic June sale, which Fasig-Tipton added to its calendar last year, is the last United States 2-year-olds in training sale for the year. Last year's inaugural sale sold 59 horses for a gross of $2,541,000. The overall average was $43,068.