F-T Under Tack Show Works Begin in Rain

With steady rain falling, the under tack show for the Fasig-Tipton Midlantic 2-year-olds in training sale began May 17, with two juveniles sharing the top eighth of a mile workout time of :10 and four equaling the best quarter-mile time of :21 3/5.

The best eighth-mile workers were Hip 6, a Shackleford   colt whose dam is a half sister to $1.5-million earner Gold Mover, and Hip 185, a Gone Astray   filly whose dam is a half sister to grade II winner Runaway Dancer. The Shackleford colt is consigned by Justin Casse’s Casse Sales for Kinsman Farm, which purchased the Ontario-bred youngster for $95,000 from Darby Dan’s consignment to last year’s Keeneland September yearling sale.

Consigned by Crane Thoroughbreds, the Gone Astray filly named Wrong Way Jane was also a product of Darby Dan’s Keeneland sale last year, selling to Harry Weisleder for $19,000.

The four 2-year-olds sharing the quarter-mile best time were:

—Hip 85, Tybee, a New Jersey-bred filly sired by Wicked Rich from the family of grade II winner Groovy Feeling, consigned by breeder Wes Carter.

—Hip 112, Lunar Eclipse, a Malibu Moon   filly produced from the stakes-winning Touch Gold mare Our Fantene, the dam of grade III winner Javerre. Was bought by consignor De Meric Sales for $250,000 from Joe Dodgen at last year’s F-T Kentucky July sale.

—Hip 162, a filly from the first crop of The Factor   produced from a half sister to grade I winner Buddy Gil. Consigned by Eddie Woods, the filly was purchased by Gainesway for $250,000 from Morris B. Floyd and Chuck Givens at last year’s F-T July sale.

—Hip 170, a Maryland-bred Ice Box   colt who is a half brother to multiple stakes winner Bessie's Boy. Consigned by Ciaran Dunne’s Wavertree, the colt was purchased by Takin’ Chances for $30,000 Paramount Sales at the F-T Midlantic October yearling sale.

Despite the rain, the surface remained in good shape throughout the breeze show and the maintenance crews did not have to seal it, according to Paget Bennett, F-T Midlantic sales director.

“We had good times for the track that we had,” Bennett said, adding that there were no problems during the works. “This track can hold a lot of moisture and the rain we got today was manageable because it was steady.”

Consignor Clovis Crane of Crane Thoroughbreds said times for horses that worked during the first set were noticeably slower than the later sets.

“The first set horses were really hindered by the precipitation," Crane said, adding that the track improved throughout the day.

Crane said not only did the Gone Astray filly have one of the best eighth-mile breezes of the day, but she galloped out three furlongs in :33 2/5,

“She has been very talented and fast all along,” he said.

“The track was slower today because of the rain,” said Scott A. Bergsrud, who consigns under the SAB Sales banner.

Bergsrud said his horses consistently breezed about two-fifths of a second slower May 17 than they had in their other workouts.

The under tack show continues through May 19 at 8 a.m. EDT daily. The sale will be held May 23-24 at 10 a.m. daily.