Crimson Frost Tops Fasig-Tipton April Digital Sale

The Fasig-Tipton April Digital Sale closed April 9 with 64 horses sold for $1,822,500. The sale averaged $28,476, with a median of $15,000 and clearance rate of 74%. The catalog offered horses of racing age, racing/broodmare prospects, 2-year-olds in training, broodmares (including mares with foals at foot), and short yearlings.

Crimson Frost  (Hip 12) sold for $240,000 to Gracie Bloodstock, agent, from the consignment of Bluegrass Thoroughbred Services, agent for a major reduction of Merriebelle Stable. The Stormy Atlantic mare received a timely update when her first foal, the 4-year-old City of Light   colt Crimson Light , won his second career start April 5 at Aqueduct Racetrack to remain undefeated. Crimson Frost sold with her current produce, a colt by Forte   foaled March 16 in Kentucky.

Top hips sold also included:

• I'm Mo Joke  (Hip 107), a 3-year-old daughter of Practical Joke  , sold for $130,000 to Joe Engelhart. I'm Mo Joke has two strong runner-up finishes in two career starts, both last month at Fair Grounds Race Course & Slots. She was offered as a racing/broodmare prospect by Taylor Made Sales Agency, agent.
• A yearling colt by Tiz the Law   (Hip 36), sold for $105,000 to Machmer Hall/Evan and Scott Dilworth. The bay colt is a half brother to two winners from two to race out of the stakes-winning Smart Strike mare Smartyfly . Hip 36 was offered by Bluegrass Thoroughbred Services, agent for a major reduction of Merriebelle Stable.
• Nicole's Journey  (Hip 3), a maiden winner by Arrogate, sold for $100,000 to Shawn Dugan, agent. The gray or roan filly is a half sister to Canadian champion and 2013 Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies (G1) winner Ria Antonia , who is now a group stakes producer, and graded stakes-placed black-type winner with Cross the Line , among others. Nicole's Journey was offered as a broodmare prospect by Taylor Made Sales Agency, agent.
• Poker Joker  (Hip 20), a 4-year-old gelding by Practical Joke, sold for $100,000 to Mike Maker. The chestnut gelding is on a five-race win streak, with his most recent win coming March 22 at Tampa Bay Downs. Poker Joker was offered as a horse of racing age by Grovendale Sales, agent.

"The market was fair across the board," said Fasig-Tipton director of digital sales Leif Aaron. "There was plenty of activity on the site and the clearance rate was healthy. The sale topper was a broodmare with foal at foot, the same as last year's April sale, and we can see this part of the market really growing in the future."

Of the upcoming May Digital Sale, Aaron said, "We're looking forward to a strong contingent of racehorses next month. We've seen continued confidence from the domestic and international buying bench on this platform."

Full results are available online.

The next digital sale will be the May Digital Sale, to be held May 8-13. Entries close April 28.