Storm Cat filly headlines first session at Saratoga

Last updated: 8/4/08 11:26 PM

Storm Cat filly poses for crowd during Fasig-Tipton
Saratoga’s opening session
(Horsephotos.com)

A bay filly from one of the last crops of the now pensioned champion sire
Storm Cat brought a winning bid of $1,500,000 by Barry Irwin of Team Valor to
lead the first session of the Fasig-Tipton Selected Yearlings Sale Monday night
at the Humphrey S. Finney Pavilion in Saratoga Springs, New York. Catalogued as
Hip No. 80 and consigned by Hill ‘n’ Dale Sales Agency, agent, the Kentucky-bred
is out of the Grade 3-winning Totemic (Vanlandingham), making her a half-sister
to Grade 2 winner Lil’s Lad (Pine Bluff) and a full sister to Group 3 winner
Cherokee and Irish stakes winner Art Museum.

Irwin also purchased the second-session topper at the 2007 edition of the
sale, a $2.2 million Mr. Greeley colt now named Kinsella.

Pyramid Indy, by Horse of the Year and dual leading sire A.P. Indy, was the
highest-selling colt of the session at $1,200,000. Purchased by William S. Farish,
the Kentucky-bred is the third foal out of the unraced Pyramid Lake (Broad
Brush), who has produced the Grade 3-placed fillies Pyramid Love (Fusaichi
Pegasus) and Pyrana (Anabaa). Pyramid Indy’s second dam, Grade 2 winner Peintre
Bleue (Alydar), produced European Horse of the Year and classic winner Peintre
Celebre (Nureyev), who captured the 1997 Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe (Fr-G1). This female
family also produced English Horse of the Year Pawneese (*Carwin II), a classic
winner in both England and France.

Catalogued as Hip No. 31, Pyramid Indy was consigned by Hunter Valley Farm,
agent. He failed to meet his reserve as a weanling at the Keeneland November
Sale last fall.

Darley, through their representative John Ferguson, was active from the start
of Monday’s session. Ferguson was the successful bidder for the first yearling
through the ring and later went to $900,000 to secure Hip 68, a Distorted Humor
colt out of the Grade 3 winning Stupendous Miss (Dynaformer). Consigned by
Denali Stud, agent, the dark bay hails from the same female family that produced
English and Irish champion Storm Bird (Northern Dancer), the sire of Storm Cat.

Ferguson also was the highest bidder at $700,000 for an A.P. Indy colt
consigned by Taylor Made Sales Agency, agent. Catalogued as Hip 24, the
Florida-bred is third foal out of the multiple stakes winning Platinum Tiara (Cozzene),
who finished second in the 2000 Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies (G1) and placed
in three other Grade 3 events, and is a full sister to the Group 2-placed Silent
Waves.

A decline in the number of horse’s sold at the first session compared to last
year resulted in a drop in gross proceeds, but average and median saw increases.
The gross dropped 9.8 percent to $17,915,000 as 59 head sold compared to 76 last
year. Average, however, increased 16.2 percent to $303,644 while the median rose
to $230,000, an increase of 10.8 percent.

The sale was to conclude Tuesday night at 7 p.m. (EDT). Results can be found
at www.fasigtipton.com