$4.7 million not enough to part with Arrogate's dam

Two days after her first foal, Arrogate, upstaged California Chrome in the Breeders’ Cup Classic (G1), the 10-year-old mare Bubbler was in hot demand at the Fasig-Tipton Kentucky November Sale.

Bidding reached as high as $4.7 million – which would have easily made her the top seller on Monday night. But her reserve was even higher, and Bubbler was led out unsold. Consigned by Clearsky Farms, agent, as Hip No. 110, Bubbler is in foal to Into Mischief.

California Chrome’s dam, Love the Chase, was in the same sale held at Newtown Paddocks near Lexington, Kentucky. Although her bidding maxed out at $1.95 million – not near the sales-topping price – she was in fact sold to John McCormack Bloodstock, acting on behalf of undisclosed clients. But according to reports in Daily Racing Form and Blood-Horse, plans call for her to remain in the United States.

Love the Chase is currently in foal to leading sire Tapit. Since both California Chrome’s sire, Lucky Pulpit, and Tapit are by Pulpit, the resulting offspring will be closely related to “Chrome.” The 10-year-old mare was offered by Taylor Made Sales Agency, agent.

Taylor Made consigned the most expensive seller, Baffled, who was snapped up by Bridlewood Farm and Don Alberto Corp. for $3.5 million. The accomplished broodmare is already the dam of three graded winners, most notably 2014 Florida Derby (G1) and 2015 Donn H. (G1) hero Constitution, and she is carrying his full sibling by Tapit. Baffled is also responsible for current Group 2-winning juvenile Boynton and Grade 3 scorer Jacaranda, who brought $2 million later in the evening from Alpha Delta/Reynolds Bell, Agt. Jacaranda is carrying her first foal by Candy Ride.

Coming second on the leaderboard was multiple Grade 1 star Curalina. Sixth in Friday’s Breeders’ Cup Distaff (G1), the daughter of Hall of Famer Curlin commanded $3 million as a broodmare prospect from Japan’s Shadai Farm.

Last year’s Distaff queen, Stopchargingmaria, went to Three Chimneys Farm as a broodmare prospect for $2.8 million.

Grade 3 winner Cassatt, a well-bred daughter of Tapit from the family of Dreaming of Anna and Kitten’s Joy and in foal to Curlin, was sold for $2.5 million. The buyer is listed as Elevage Bloodstock, an entity including Glen Hill Farm, whose Craig Bernick reportedly signed the ticket.

China Horse Club emerged as a prominent player by landing five horses, led by $2.4 million purchase Embellish the Lace. Last year’s Alabama (G1) winner is carrying her first foal by Uncle Mo. The club’s other seven-figure buy was the Tapit mare Tapas, a three-quarter sister to Mohaymen, who brought $1.3 million in foal to Medaglia d’Oro.

The royally bred Lady Zuzu commanded $2.35 million from Wertheimer et Frere. A Dynaformer half-sister to Optimizer from a Phipps family, the multiple Grade 3-placed mare is carrying her first foal by War Front.

A total of 15 ventured into seven-figure territory. Summer Wind Equine went to $1.65 million for Whatdreamsrmadeof, Curalina’s dam, who is carrying her full sibling by Curlin. Last-out Autumn Miss (G3) winner Cover Song, a half-sister to Roly Poly (who just ran in the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies Turf [G1] for Aidan O’Brien), fetched $1.6 million from celebrity chef Bobby Flay. Reigning Kentucky Oaks (G1) heroine Cathryn Sophia sold to SF Bloodstock for $1.4 million. Ballerina (G1) winner Haveyougoneaway, who competed in the Breeders’ Cup Filly & Mare Sprint (G1), was gaveled down for $1.1 million to Lake Villa Farm, and Fleur de Lis (G2) victress Paid Up Subscriber elicited the same amount from White Birch Farm. Rounding out the seven-figure list was Grade 1-placed Luminance, a $1 million buy by Don Alberto Corp.

Numbers were up across the board. Upon the conclusion of trade, Fasig-Tipton reported that 88 horses sold for $54,152,000, a spike of 24 percent from the $43,666,000 grossed last year. The average rose 29.7 percent, from $474,630 to $615,364, and the median jumped 60.6 percent, from $235,000 to $377,500.

For complete results, visit fasigtipton.com.

Bubbler photo (top) courtesy of NTRA via Twitter

Love the Chase and Baffled photos courtesy of Fasig-Tipton via Twitter