Peace and Justice Colts Top Midlantic December Sale

A pair of weanling colts from the first crop of Peace and Justice , a son of War Front  who stands at Northview Pennsylvania, topped the Fasig-Tipton Midlantic December Mixed Sale held Dec. 4 at the Maryland State Fairgrounds near Timonium.

The auction, which was followed by a Horses of Racing Age segment and is the final mixed sale of the year, saw gross and average prices take a dip from the blockbuster 2017 edition.

From 296 head cataloged, Fasig-Tipton reported 201 horses sold for an aggregate $1,911,100, compared with the $2,448,200 gross for 221 sold in 2017. The average price dipped 14.2% to $9,508 from $11,078, and the median price held steady at $5,000. The 58 head that failed to sell represented 22.4% of the total through the ring, compared with an RNA rate of 20.7% a year ago.

Topping the sale at $87,000 was Hip 141, a Peace and Justice colt purchased by Lane's End Bloodstock. The dark bay or brown foal is the second foal produced from the Discreet Cat mare Frolicking Gal, a half sister to grade 2 winner Azar.

Agent Nick Sallusto went to $80,000 to acquire the sale's second-highest priced offering, a Peace and Justice colt (Hip 145) from a quality female family that includes 1997 European Horse of the Year Peintre Celebre.

The sale toppers, both bred in Pennsylvania by A1A Racing and consigned by Northview Stallion Station, were among the first of the sire's offspring offered at public auction. A half brother to grade 2 winner Hudson Steele, Peace and Justice won three races from eight starts and earned $137,448. The 8-year-old horse has stood for $3,500 since entering stud in 2017.

Northview general manager and sales director David Wade said the Midlantic auction was targeted for the unveiling of Peace and Justice's first crop in order to showcase the foals to regional breeders.

"This is the market that we had pointed them toward," Wade said. "It was good to get a couple of the horses out here in front the breeders rather than some other sale."

Wade said both colts presented themselves well before the buyers and vetted well.

"We knew we had a couple of nice colts," he said. "We didn't know we had sale toppers but we're obviously pleased. Both were nice-looking colts with nice big free strides, clean x-rays, and clean scopes. They are a good representation of the sire. We're excited to see how they sell as yearlings."

Bill Reightler was the sale's leading consignor, selling 57 of the 67 head cataloged for total receipts of $599,200. Joseph Besecker was the leading buyer, with eight horses purchased for $162,000.