Tapit Filly Crowned Queen at 2021 Saratoga Sale

Thursday, August 12, 2021

 

The Sale of a Century concluded with Denali Stud consigning the fifth most expensive yearling, also the second most expensive filly; just shy of the elusive million dollar mark. There were high hopes for the group, and they met everyone’s expectations. Denali Stud finished as the sale’s second leading consignor by gross with ten of the thirteen cataloged, selling. The median price for the ten sold came out to a nice, even $600,000 with the average falling a bit lower at $575,000 for the group.

The crown jewel of the consignment proved to be HIP 60, a Tapit filly out of Checkupfromzneckup , who went the way of West Point Thoroughbreds, Scarlet Oak Racing, and NSB Stable for $990,000, just $10,000 short of tying for the honor of most expensive filly of the sale. Vice-President Conrad Bandoroff had glowing praise for the yearling.

This filly was an absolute queen who everyone fell in love with. She had an amazing presence about her and the way she dropped her head and walked—she was regal. Donnie Preston, Ryan Bardin, and the entire Winstar team did an amazing job with her. She was a pleasure to be around.

Denali’s highest priced colt was HIP 76, a son of Gun Runner out of Dayfa (Tiznow), who certainly wasn’t harmed by his sire’s stellar stakes winners on the West and East coasts, both within a day of each other. He proved to be popular with prospective buyers, and they quickly launched into a spirited bidding war for him when his time in the ring came; Maverick Racing ultimately coming out the winner when the hammer fell at $850,000. He, too, received resounding praise during the entire process.

This horse is the perfect example of why we love Saratoga. Sometimes the stars align and there’s some magic—Gun Runner had a graded stakes winner on the West coast and then follows it up the next day with one on the East coast right in Saratoga. [HIP 76] was a horse that got better every day as well, and the more you looked at him, the more you liked him. Buyers have a lot of time in Saratoga and a horse has to stand up to the scrutiny. His third, fourth and fifth shows were as good if not better than his first. When a horse can do that, that’s the recipe for an exciting result.

The remaining eight yearlings met or exceed expectations, including Denali-co-bred Travel Column’s half-brother, who brought $725,000 from her owner, Larry Best’s OXO Equine. Denali Stud consigned her as well at Saratoga in 2019, where she brought $850,000 and was the most expensive Denali-sold filly at the sale.

Below is a full list of the results:

  • HIP 61 (Tapit x Checkupfromzneckup) sold for $990,000
  • HIP 76 (Gun Runner x Dayfa) sold for $850,000
  • HIP 209 (City of Light x Swingit) sold for $725,000
  • HIP 82 (Uncle Mo x Dreaming of You) sold for $700,000
  • HIP 163 (Candy Ride (ARG) x Night and Day) sold for $675,000
  • HIP 70 (Uncle Mo x Covenant) sold for $525,000
  • HIP 51 (Ghostzapper x Beyond Blame) sold for $460,000
  • HIP 21 (Into Mischief x Vertical Vision) sold for $375,000
  • HIP 119 (Bolt d’ Oro x I Think So) sold for $350,000
  • HIP 26 (Flatter x Whisper to Me) sold for $100,000
  • HIP 200 (Quality Road x Song of Bernadette) RNA’d at $685,000
  • HIP 101 was withdrawn
  • HIP 129 was withdrawn

As always, we thank all of our clients who trusted us with some of their best yearlings and we wish the buyers all the best in the future.

This year’s Saratoga Sale, the 100-year anniversary, was one that we will remember for a long time. We felt we had a special group of horses coming up this year, and it was incredibly gratifying to see some very good judges agree. While that elusive seven-figure sell alluded us by $10,000, we were ecstatic to be the sale’s second leading consignor in gross. Our love affair with Saratoga continues and we were entrusted with some fantastic horses by some of the best breeders in the business. – Conrad Bandoroff