Malibu Moon Filly Tops F-T Pinhook Prospects

A Malibu Moon   filly, who likely could have been in the Fasig-Tipton Saratoga yearling sale had she not been dealt a setback, is the most expensive previously sold yearling in the upcoming Fasig-Tipton October sale in Lexington, which occurs Oct. 24-26.

Produced from the stakes-winning More Than Ready   mare In the Slips, the filly consigned by Eaton Sales as Hip 11, was purchased at last year's Keeneland November sale for $220,000 by trainer Gary Contessa on behalf of a client for the purpose of reselling her as a yearling. The filly was bred in Kentucky by her Keeneland consignor, Hunter Valley Farm, and Beechwood Farming.

"She is a lovely filly," said Eaton's Reiley McDonald. "She would have brought between $400,000-$600,000 had she gone to Saratoga."

The second highest-priced pinhook prospect at Fasig-Tipton is a Bodemeister   colt consigned by Hidden Brook as Hip 141 purchased by McMahon & Hill Bloodstock for $170,000 when offered by Brookdale Sales at Keeneland November. The colt is out of the Stevie Wonderboy mare Made to Love Her, winner of the Moccasin Stakes and runner-up in the grade II Santa Ynez.

A Pioneerof the Nile   colt consigned as Hip 926 by Betz Thoroughbreds, as agent is the third-highest-priced October pinhook. The colt, a half brother to two stakes winners and from the family of multiple group I winner and sire Agnes World, was bought by Clear Ridge Stables for $145,000 at Keeneland November when consigned by Four Star Sales.

Another Pioneerof the Nile colt, Hip 808, was a $140,000 purchase by Kings Landing Purchases from the Chilly Bleak Farm group as a short yearling at this year's Keeneland January sale. Consigned by Paramount Sales, the colt is from the female family of grade I winners Bellamy Road and Gold Fever.

A colt by The Factor   and a Liaison   filly, each purchased for $110,000, round out the list of top October pinhook prospects. Consigned by Dromoland Farm as Hip 297, the colt, produced from a half sister to grade II winner and stakes producer Dream About, was bought by Targosyen Equine in January.

The Liaison filly, Hip 716, was purchased by Preston Stable and Prestonwood Racing from the Four Star Sales consignment at last year's Keeneland November sale. She is from the family of multiple grade I winner Videogenic.

As the last of the nine yearling-only sales in North America this year, the October sale is the final opportunity for breeders or pinhookers to either sell, face the prospect of incurring additional overhead costs by waiting until next year's juvenile auctions, or send them to race.

The most expensive RNA in the catalog is Hip 942, a son of Tapit   out of the grade III-winning Cherokee Run mare Cherokee Queen, an 11-race winner who earned $628,312 and the dam of stakes-placed Entertainer. The chestnut colt is consigned by South Point Sales Agency, agent, which also had him in this year's Saratoga sale when he was bought back on a final bid of $500,000.