Vekoma Colt Tops F-T Midlantic June 2-Year-Olds Sale

The second annual Fasig-Tipton Midlantic June 2-Year-Olds in Training Sale wrapped up June 25 at the Maryland State Fairgrounds in Timonium, highlighted by a Vekoma colt that sold for $150,000. The bay colt (Hip 4) breezed the co-fastest eighth of a mile June 24 at the under tack show, going in :10 for the Mason Springs consignment. Gracie Bloodstock, agent, was the buyer of the sale topper. Hip 4 was bred in New Jersey by Gregory Kilka. He is the second foal out of the unplaced Pioneerof the Nile mare Elusively, a half sister to grade 3-placed multiple stakes winner Colonel Sharp, by Colonel John. Hip 4's third dam is multiple grade 1 winner Sharp Cat. The May 10 foal was offered earlier this year during the Ocala Breeders' Sales Spring 2-Year-Olds in Training Sale with the Tradewinds Farm consignment where he was bought back on a final bid of $55,000. A Munnings filly consigned by Crane Thoroughbred Services commanded $85,000 as the highest-priced filly of the sale. Hip 30 is the first foal out of graded stakes-placed Roadrunner's Honor, by Honor Code. The chestnut was bred in Kentucky by Burleson Farms, Nice Guys Stables, Manganaro Bloodstock, et al. The ticket was signed by Patrice Miller of EQB as agent. Vekoma, the leading first-crop sire by number of winners with eight (as of June 25), was well received, with three of the top 10 selling juveniles. King's Equine sold Hip 7, a bay filly out of the Into Mischief mare Here's to Life, for $57,000 to Jonathan Kalman Racing. A New York-bred Vekoma filly (Hip 42) out of the mare Summer Shade (Stephen Got Even) was sold by Navas Equine for $40,000 to Anthony Farrior. Vekoma stands at Spendthrift Farm in Lexington. His advertised stud fee for 2024 was $15,000. At the conclusion of the day, 45 juveniles were sold out of 59 offered for a gross of $1,394,000 and an average of $30,978. The total was down 45% from last year's inaugural sale that sold 59 horses from 77 offered. Average declined 28% from 2023. The median for this year was $25,000 compared to $26,000 a year ago. See catalog and full sale results.