Catching up with the 2016 Fasig-Tipton Florida top sellers

In advance of Wednesday’s Fasig-Tipton Gulfstream Sale, let’s catch up with the Florida auction’s most expensive juvenile purchases from a year ago, now three-year-olds.

The $1.8 million sales topper, a Tapit colt subsequently named South Beach, was purchased by a partnership comprising Woodford Racing, Lane’s End, and Robert LaPenta. The gray had also attracted seven figures as a Keeneland September yearling in 2015, but the $1.2 million bid wasn’t enough to reach his reserve, and he was led out unsold at that time.

Out of the unraced Giant’s Causeway mare Bethan, a half-sister to Hard Spun, South Beach has yet to record an official published workout. According to Thoroughbred Daily News, plans called for him to go into training with Chad Brown. But he disappeared from public view until photos of him at WinStar Farm, dated December 7, 2016, turned up in the Blood-Horse’s photo store.

The good news is that after his rehabbing at WinStar, South Beach is back limbering up at the McKathan Brothers Training Center near Ocala, Florida. McKathan manager Chris Alexander confirms that South Beach is galloping at the moment, but they’re in no rush with him. He will eventually join Brown’s squad at Saratoga. Judging by that projected timeline, we won’t see him until the summer.

A trio of colts each brought $1 million.

Dabster, a son of Curlin bought by Sheikh Mohammed bin Khalifa al Maktoum, is Triple Crown nominated.

Trained by Hall of Famer Bob Baffert, Dabster crossed the wire first in his December 26 debut at Santa Anita, only to be demoted to fourth for interference. The form of that maiden has worked out. Promoted winner So Conflated went on to capture the California Derby, and after scratching from post 14 in the Risen Star (G2), ships to Aqueduct for Saturday’s Gotham (G3). Law Abidin Citizen, elevated to second in Dabster’s maiden, graduated by 5 1/4 lengths next out and just chased Iliad home in the San Vicente (G2).

Dabster likewise made good in his ensuing start, grinding out a front-running score by a half-length January 16. Third-placer (and stablemate) Reach the World came right back to break his maiden handily. Dabster has worked only once since, covering a half-mile in :47.80 at Santa Anita February 14.

His dam, the winning A.P. Indy mare On a Roll, is a full sister to multiple stakes victress and Grade 2-placed Ender’s Sister, who produced multiple Grade 1 sprint star A. P. Indian. As a yearling, Dabster fetched $430,000 at Keeneland September.

Another $1 million seller and Triple Crown nominee is Egyptian Hero, snapped up by Jamie McCalmont on behalf of Coolmore’s M.V. Magnier, and now a winner for Todd Pletcher. As his name implies, he’s by  Pioneerof the Nile and his dam, the Mr. Greeley mare Faith in Me, comes from the family of Chaposa Springs and You and I. Also a Keeneland September alumnus, he first went for $230,000.

Fourth in his unveiling at Gulfstream Park December 14 (in which even-money stablemate and next-out romper Hedge Fund was fifth), Egyptian Hero rolled by four lengths at Tampa Bay Downs on February 11. He’s back working at Palm Beach Downs, with a half-mile in :48.80 on his ledger February 25.

The $1 million Uncle Mo-Five Star Dream colt was knocked down to Stonestreet Stables and Magnier. Twitter reports last summer identified him as in training with Pletcher, but he’s still unnamed as of this writing. He’d originally sold for $90,000 as a yearling at Fasig-Tipton Midlantic.

Rounding out the top five was a $975,000 Union Rags half-brother to Grade 2 winner Indian Firewater, now named Dre Dan. Like his accomplished half-sibling, he too is with Baffert. And like another famous “Dre,” champion sprinter Drefong, Dre Dan was purchased by Charles Chu’s Baoma Corp.

Dre Dan, who was not nominated to the Triple Crown, has raced just once, checking in fifth behind Sheer Flattery at Santa Anita December 31. He’s yet to work back.

Produced by the Touched Gold mare Touched, Dre Dan was a $150,000 Fasig-Tipton Kentucky November weanling.

The sale’s top filly, and sixth overall on the leaderboard at $800,000, is recent California Oaks winner Tap It All. The daughter of Tapizar was snapped up by trainer Doug O’Neill’s brother, Dennis, and Erik Johnson. Campaigned by ERJ Racing and Reddam Racing, Tap It All has been nominated to the Kentucky Oaks (G1).

I didn’t plan to go any further down the list, but number 10 on the leaderboard demands attention. That $500,000 Hard Spun-Liam’s Dream colt is now better known as Local Hero, the Fair Grounds maiden romper who just finished third in last Saturday’s Risen Star. The E Five Racing purchase is trained by Steve Asmussen.

South Beach photo (from under tack show) courtesy of Fasig-Tipton via Facebook