Speedy Conclusion to F-T Under Tack Show

Either the Fasig-Tipton Midlantic track was playing faster or the horses were just faster as the under tack show for the May 23-24 sale of 2-year-olds in training concluded May 19 with five of the eight fastest clockings over the course of the three days of workouts.

During the session, an Uncle Mo   filly and a daughter of Into Mischief   each breezed the fastest quarter-mile in :21 2/5 and three 2-year-olds equaled the under tack show fastest time of :10 for an eighth of a mile; three other 2-year-olds had previously breezed one furlong in :10.

Consigned by Pike Racing as Hip 490, the Uncle Mo filly is a half sister to grade II-placed Lassofthemohicans and was produced from a half sister to three stakes winners, including two-time champion sprinter Housebuster. She was bred in Kentucky by Tom Van Meter, Gaines-Gentry Thoroughbreds, and Fox Strauss and had been a Keeneland September buyback on a final bid of $80,000, and was eventually bought by consignor Al Pike for client Danny Saloom.

“We thought all winter she had the makings to be a star,” Pike said of the Uncle Mo filly. “You can’t tell from watching her how fast she is going because she does it so easily. She is just a special filly”

The Into Mischief filly bred in Florida by Murray Stroud is consigned by de Meric Sales as Hip 527 and is a half sister to Panamanian champion Normandia. She had been acquired for $110,000 earlier this year from the F-T March 2-year-olds in training sale at Gulfstream Park.

“The way she prepped and came into the work we were not surprised by the time,” Tristan de Meric said of the filly. “She’s a nice filly. She was bought at the March sale specifically for this sale."

Sharing the :10 best time for one furlong during the final session were Hips 461, 568, and 592.

Hip 461, a Friesan Fire   colt from Scanlon Training & Sales, is from the stakes-winning Crafty Prospector mare Crafty Toast and had been purchased for $35,000 from Bill Reighter’s consignment at last year’s F-T Midlantic yearling sale. He was bred in Pennsylvania by Hope Hill Farm.

"We waited for this sale because he is a late foal," David Scanlon said. "He has been one of the quickest horses at the farm all year. He has good balance. He checks all the boxes. They will be as happy with the horse they pull out of the stall as they are with the work when they see him. We’re looking for big things from him."

Consigned by Justin Casse’s Casse Sales, Hip 568 is a First Samurai   filly from a solid female family that includes grade I winner Folk Art and the stallion Sportin’ Life. Named Mistress Ofthedark, the fily bred in Kentucky by Sun Valley Farm had been bought for $87,000 from Dynasty Thoroughbreds at the 2015 F-T July yearling sale.

For Casse, the filly was one of three with bullet works from his consignment.

"If they liked her breeze, they will like her even more when they see her at the barn," Casse said. "All three that worked in bullet times worked in similar fashion at the farm. I couldn’t dream of having a bullet worker three days in a row, especially with a nine-horse consignment."

Hip 592 is a More Than Ready   filly bred in West Virginia by James Miller and purchased by her consignor, Grassroots Training and Sales, for $25,000 at the F-T Kentucky October yearling sale.

"She’s been really good all year,” said David McKathan of Grassroots. “She’s a west Virginia bred and may be a little light on pedigree but the sire carries her. She’s typical of More Than Ready conformation-wise. That sire will carry her a long way. None of these horses are buybacks. They were targeted for this sale with these horses."

The sale in Timonium, Md., will be held May 23-24, with sessions beginning at 10 a.m. EDT daily.