March 28, 2024

Songbird, Tepin to light up Fasig-Tipton November

Songbird never met Tepin on the track, but the two will vie for the top price in the sales ring (Photo courtesy of Vance Hanson)

Monday evening’s Fasig-Tipton Kentucky November Sale has attracted a pair of future Hall of Famers in two-time champions SONGBIRD (Medaglia d’Oro) and TEPIN (Bernstein), and another popular distaffer of recent years in multiple Grade 1-winning millionaire MISS TEMPLE CITY (Temple City), in a deep catalog brimming with Breeders’ Cup angles.

Songbird, Hip No. 120, is offered by Taylor Made Sales Agency, agent for Rick Porter’s Fox Hill Farm, as a broodmare prospect. The 2015 Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies (G1) star was denied by champion Beholder in an epic Breeders’ Cup Distaff (G1) last fall, and in her final start, the four-year-old filly was caught in the August 26 Personal Ensign (G1) by Forever Unbridled, who went on to win Friday’s Distaff at Del Mar.

Tepin scored an historic victory in Royal Ascot’s Queen Anne (Photo courtesy of Ascot via Facebook)

The sales pavilion won’t have much time to catch its breath, for Tepin will follow soon after as Hip 130. Consigned by Elite, agent for owner Robert Masterson, the six-year-old mare is carrying her first foal by Curlin on a May 1 cover. The breeding date was late because connections were hoping to get Tepin back to the races this spring, but the champion turf female of 2015-2016 wasn’t in the mood. The 2015 Breeders’ Cup Mile (G1) heroine was last seen missing by a half-length in her 2016 title defense at Santa Anita.

The five-year-old Miss Temple City will precede them in the ring as Hip 99 from the consignment of Select Sales, agent for The Club Racing LLC and partners. The racing/broodmare prospect, most recently sixth when trying to repeat in the October 7 Shadwell Turf Mile (G1), will also watch her weanling half-sister by Medaglia d’Oro (Hip 72) sell earlier Monday.

Also sure to attract buzz is the Grade 1-placed full sister to American Pharoah, AMERICAN CLEOPATRA (Pioneerof the Nile). Carrying her first foal on a June 9 cover to Uncle Mo, the sophomore will tour the ring as Hip 141 from Lane’s End, agent.

Four competitors from Saturday’s Breeders’ Cup races are still in the sale. Filly & Mare Turf (G1) fourth DACITA (Scat Daddy) (Hip 162) and 11th ZIPESSA (City Zip) (Hip 139); Juvenile Fillies fifth PIEDI BIANCHI (Overanalyze) (Hip 201); and FINEST CITY (City Zip), eighth as the defending champion in the Filly & Mare Sprint (G1) (Hip 171) are all set to tour the ring. Two others from the Filly & Mare Sprint – fourth-placer Skye Diamonds (First Dude) (Hip 118) and ninth Finley’sluckycharm (Hip 172) – have been withdrawn, as was Juvenile Fillies Turf (G1) runner-up Best Performance (Broken Vow) (Hip 154).

Several half-sisters to Breeders’ Cup weekend competitors figure to draw interest, i.e., MOONLIGHT SKY (Sky Mesa) (Hip 101), a half to Distaff runner-up and presumptive champion three-year-old filly Abel Tasman (Quality Road); DISTORSIONADA (Distorted Humor) (Hip 165), a half to beaten Turf Sprint (G1) favorite Lady Aurelia (Scat Daddy) in foal to Orb; I’M A DIXIE DIVA (Henny Hughes) (Hip 189), a half to Dirt Mile (G1) disappointment Mor Spirit (Eskendereya) in foal to Tiznow; MORETHANJUSTHELLO (More Than Ready) (Hip 198), a half to Juvenile Fillies fourth Separationofpowers (Candy Ride); and LAND OVER SEA (Bellamy Road) (Hip 85), half to Classic (G1) fourth War Story in foal to first-season stallion Nyquist. Also in the catalog is FLY TO THE STARS (Giant’s Causeway) (Hip 174), dam of Juvenile (G1) fifth The Tabulator (Dialed In).

Former Canadian Horse of the Year CATCH A GLIMPSE (City Zip) (Hip 157), the 2015 Juvenile Fillies Turf winner, and COASTED (Tizway) (Hip 160), last year’s runner-up, continue the Breeders’ Cup theme. Multiple Grade 1-placed SASSY LITTLE LILA (Artie Schiller) (Hip 114), 12th to kick off Breeders’ Cup Saturday in the Goldikova (G2), remains on offer, while Goldikova winner Kitten’s Roar (Kitten’s Joy) (Hip 84) is out. ARLES (Monsun) (Hip 146) just won Saturday’s Long Island (G3), and ESKENFORMONEY (Eskendereya) (Hip 168) likewise gave herself a good update in the October 28 Turnback the Alarm (G3).

More racemares to note include QUIDURA (Dubawi) (Hip 196), who came within a head of Lady Eli in the Diana (G1), and Grade 1 winners DECKED OUT (Street Boss) (Hip 164), BIG WORLD (Custom for Carlos) (Hip 155), BIRDATTHEWIRE (Summer Bird) (Hip 156), and broodmare prospects NICKNAME (Scat Daddy) (Hip 102) and ILLUMINANT (Quality Road) (Hip 188).

Although Sambuca Classica (Cat Thief), Classic Empire’s dam carrying his full sibling by Pioneer of the Nile, is an out, several other high-profile broodmares remain in the auction. WYNNING RIDE (Candy Ride) (Hip 135), dam of current Hopeful (G1) winner Sporting Chance (Tiznow), is in foal to Tapizar. AMERICAN STORY (Ghostzapper) (Hip 142), dam of Test (G1) victress American Gal (Concord Point), is not in foal. CITYVIEW (Citidancer) (Hip 159), dam of Midnight Lucky, is offered in foal to Nyquist.

SARAH LYNX (Montjeu) (Hip 113), the 2011 Canadian International (G1) romper, is in foal to War Front. Canadian champion ACADEMIC (Henny Hughes) (Hip 140) is in foal to Curlin, and GOMO (Uncle Mo) (Hip 181) is carrying her first by Medaglia d’Oro.

The action begins at 4 p.m. (EST) with a slate of weanlings, including first-crop babies from an all-star roster including American Pharoah (led by Hip 46, a half-sister to Bodemeister), Honor Code, Palace Malice, Tonalist, Liam’s Map, Karakontie, Carpe Diem, Danza, Daredevil, Competitive Edge, Palace, and Summer Front, as well as Empire Maker’s first American-sired weanlings since his return from Japan.

For the complete catalog, updates, the latest outs, and live video of the sale, visit fasigtipton.com.