F-T Watch List Topped by Tapit Colts

Considering that Tapit   has been North America’s leading sire the last two years and has a lifetime yearling sale average of $234,631 (503 sold), it is not surprising that two sons of the Gainesway stallion are among the top horses to watch at the Fasig-Tipton Kentucky July sale of selected yearlings.

The auction in Lexington takes place July 12, beginning at 10 a.m. (EDT).

Hip 263, a bay colt by Tapit is out of the stakes-placed Bluegrass Cat   mare Ithinkisawapudycat, a half sister to Canadian champion Spring in the Air. The colt consigned by Ashview Farm, agent, was bred in Kentucky by Ashview and Colts Neck Stables.

There is a notable catalog update for the colt also, with Sweet Loretta, his 2-year-old full sister who was a $750,000 weanling purchase, romping to victory at Monmouth Park June 18 in her first career start for trainer Todd Pletcher.

“He is a very, very athletic horse, very straightforward,” said Ashview’s Gray Lyster of the bay colt. “The first thing that stands out about him is that he is by Tapit, who is an amazing sire. And he looks like his sister. Sometimes you have these siblings and one doesn’t replicate the other, but they are very similar.”

The other Tapit colt, Hip 283, is in the Taylor Made Sales Agency consignment and is the first foal out of grade I winner Lighthouse Bay, by Speightstown  .

“He has a great walk,” said Taylor Made’s Mark Taylor. “I thought it would be an interesting play to bring him here and the Fasig-Tipton selection team helped with that decision. I just thought it would opportunity to shine the spotlight on him.”

Taylor is also high on Hip 265, a Curlin   colt named Don Curlione produced from a winning half sister to grade II winner Citadeed, who was third in the 1995 Belmont Stakes (gr. I).

“He is a clone of Curlin—big, strong, masculine, two-turn horse,” Taylor said. “All the end-users looking for a classic horse, he’s their type.”

Other Taylor Made offerings on the watch list are Hip 61, a Violence   filly, and Hip 31, an Uncle Mo   filly.

“She is just a good-looking filly,” Taylor said of the Violence filly produced from the Pioneerof the Nile   mare Stella’s Dream. "She is very well put together with a lot of substance to her. The Uncle Mo filly is a filly that we could have taken to Saratoga or Book 1 or 2 of (Keeneland) September, but she has always been ready and will be one of the first Uncle Mo’s on the market.

Uncle Mo, the Ashford Stud stallion who sired champion 2-year-old male and Kentucky Derby Presented by Yum! Brands (gr. I) winner Nyquist from his first crop, is the sire of Hip 331, a half brother to two-time grade II winner and sire Zavata.

“He is very athletic with a lot of quality,” said Headley Bell of consignor Mill Ridge Sales. “Uncle Mo is a significant horse, but this would be a good horse even if he wasn’t by Uncle Mo.”

Hip 177, a More Than Ready   colt out of a winning Hennessy mare, is among the standouts of the Gainesway consignment.

“This colt bears a striking resemblance to the sire,” said Gainesway’s Michael Hernon. “He is medium-sized and balanced.”

Hernon is also high on Hip 44, an Uncle Mo filly out of the winning Smart Strike mare Smart Stride. “She is a high-quality filly—balanced, correct, and has lot of appeal and is out a young winning Smart Strike mare. We expect a good result from her.”

Topping the Hill ‘n’ Dale Sales Agency consignment is Hip 224, a Violence colt produced from the grade II winner Frolic's Dream, by Smoke Glacken.

“He is a big, strong, scopey late foal,” said Hill ‘n’ Dale’s Donato Lanni. “He stands a lot of ground."

HIPS TO WATCH FASIG-TIPTON JULY SELECTED YEARLING SALE JULY 12