Radcliffe Lands $900,000 Medaglia d'Oro Filly

As the action picked up during the Aug. 5 first session of The Saratoga Sale, Fasig-Tipton's select yearling sale in Saratoga Springs, N.Y., it all came down to the final moments of bidding for agent Kerri Radcliffe, who had to make a decision about how far was too far when it came to price. 

In the end, the bloodstock agent received the final signal from her entourage and made the winning bid on an attractive daughter of Medaglia d'Oro  for $900,000. The filly, who was consigned as Hip 49 by Eaton Sales, will be the newest addition to an ownership group of yet unnamed partners. 

"Hot women buy fast horses, so I'm holding on for dear life," said George Bolton, who was with Radcliffe along with several other racing power players—including Sheila Rosenblum of Lady Sheila Stable—bidding from the back ring on a balmy summer evening. "This was Kerri's pick the whole sale. She was the athlete that she loves to buy. We'll get another partner and get the horse versus lose the horse, so that's what we're going to do." 

The filly was bred in Kentucky by Breeze Easy out of the stakes-winning, grade 1-placed Street Sense  mare Light the City. Her second dam, Very Special Lite, was a grade 3 winner and successful producer whose other progeny include Crown Royal American Turf Stakes (G3T) winner Strategic Partner and stakes winner Richies Party Girl. 

Light the City produced an American Pharoah  filly March 20 and was bred back to Medaglia d'Oro in 2019. 

Radcliffe said the plan will be to keep the filly in America but no decisions had been made regarding a potential future trainer. 

"She was the first horse I took George to see this morning and that was probably a mistake," the agent joked. "She's very special. She looks like an athlete and she's by a great sire. I loved her. She's got a beautiful head, she's just gorgeous, and she's very high-quality."