Lanni Strikes for Variety of Clients at Saratoga Sale

Bloodstock agent Donato Lanni made his winning bids from the upper balcony of The Saratoga Sale Aug. 5, signing the ticket on four six-figure youngsters for a variety of buyers. 

"Saratoga is a different sale," said Lanni of the Fasig-Tipton select yearling sale in Saratoga Springs, N.Y. "It's such a great sale—a great place to be. Everyone is having fun, and there is a great atmosphere. It's a very vibrant place, and it's always been a great place to sell and buy a horse."

Starting off the night for Lanni was Hip 60, a Pioneerof the Nile colt out of the Henny Hughes mare Merry Meadow. Consigned by Taylor Made Sales Agency, the colt was bred in Kentucky by WinStar Farm. Lanni signed the winning ticket on a final bid of $625,000 as agent for SF Bloodstock, Starlight Racing, and Madaket Stables. 

Next up was Hip 82, a Tapit  filly out of the winning Seeking the Gold mare Pension. The filly is a half sister to stakes winner Giant Payday and grade 2 winner Annual Report. She was bred in Kentucky by Gainesway Thoroughbreds and purchased for $950,000 on behalf of Heider Family Stables. The price was the second-highest paid during Monday's opening session. 

"He's such an accomplished stallion," Lanni said of Tapit, who dominated the evening as the sire of the two highest-priced yearlings. "He's a great stallion. He's had such a great record with fillies as well.

"(Hip 82) has a good female family, and physically she's really good. She's beautiful—stunning. She came over here from Kentucky and adjusted really well, and she looked well. She did everything right. I hope we get lucky. It's a client I've worked with for 25 years, and they are really good people and they like pedigree and sire power. I wish them the best."

"She was an exceptional filly both physically and on pedigree," said Michael Hernon of Gainesway. "She looked the part and showed terrific through the process. She found herself on the list of all the top buyers, and they stayed with her. You saw very live, strong bidding from several of the leading buyers. Gretchen Jackson, assisted by Doug Cauthen, were the immediate underbidders. Scott Heider bought her, but Mr. (John) Oxley was in on her as well as Charlotte Weber. Those are the upper-end marquee buyers, and she was that kind of product.

"She obviously has great residual value given her physical combined with her pedigree. We feel optimistic that she'll have a lot of run. Tapit has been known to get a good filly or two." 

Bidding for Baoma Corp, Lanni went to $750,000 for Hip 89, a daughter of Into Mischief  consigned by Lane's End, agent. Bred in Kentucky by Mt. Brilliant Broodmares, the filly is out of the Unbridled mare Private Gift and is a half sister to stakes winner Secret Someone.

"Into Mischief—what an unbelievable stallion," said Lanni. "She was a filly with a great pedigree, she looked great, did everything right, and we're lucky to get her. She was raised right by the good people at Mt. Brilliant. I hate to say she checked all the boxes, but it's really true. She's a great filly, and we're happy we got her. Bob (Baffert) is going to train her. Hopefully, we continue to get lucky." 

Last on Lanni's list was Hip 92, a Flatter  colt consigned by Indian Creek, agent. Out of the Hard Spun  mare Rebelle, the colt bred in Kentucky by Indian Creek and Mill Pond Bloodstock was knocked down to SF Bloodstock, Starlight Racing, and Madaket Stables for $360,000. The colt's third dam, Voodoo Lily, produced 11 winners, including Magical Illusion, granddam of Triple Crown winner Justify . 

"The good ones always cost money," said Lanni, who said he came to the sale expecting to pay top dollar. "There is no stealing. These horses have sire power, great female families, they're physically gifted, and they're well raised. We're just lucky to get them."