Cameron Dulgar of Morplay Racing signed the ticket for the final yearling offering by 2022 Horse of the Year Flightline Oct. 21 at the Fasig-Tipton Kentucky October Yearlings Sale. The colt, consigned as Hip 512 by Pope McLean (Crestwood Farm), brought a final bid of $425,000.
Hip 512 is out of the Medaglia d'Oro mare Safwah, who is a half sister to 2017 Kentucky Derby (G1) winner Always Dreaming and grade 1 winner and graded stakes producer Hot Dixie Chick. He was bred in Kentucky by RMJ Stables.
"He was amazing, striking physically, big walk. Very pretty," Dulgar said of the colt. "That physical is hard to come by, especially with that page, that pedigree; we had to have him.
"We've been eyeballing pretty much all the Flightlines that have gone through the sales, and this one we really locked on. We knew we were going to have to reach in the pocket a little bit. We were prepared to do that, and just happy we got him."
The son of Flightline had gone through the sales ring once before—last month at the Keeneland September Yearling Sale, where he failed to meet his reserve, attracting a final bid of $385,000.
"We'll bring him back to Ocala to our farm, and just give him a once over and start letting him blossom, give him some time," Dulgar added.
Morplay Racing has a racing stable and also participates in some pinhooking ventures. Dulgar was uncertain at this time what the future plans would be for the colt, but that his price tag of $425,000 would make it a tough pinhook.
"We love him, and that's really the main concern for us. We're just happy we got him," he said.
Following this sale, Dulgar and his family will head west to California for the Breeders' Cup World Championships where their filly Shisospicy—whom they co-own with Qatar Racing—will compete in the Breeders' Cup Turf Sprint (G1T) at Del Mar.
The daughter of Mitole won the Music City Stakes (G2T) last month at Kentucky Downs by 3 lengths for trainer Jose D'Angelo. The filly is a 2023 graduate of Fasig-Tipton's The July Sale, where she brought $200,000 from top 2-year-old consignor Hartley/DeRenzo Thoroughbreds.
"It's awesome to be here, but that's on my mind for sure," he said about the Breeders' Cup. "The whole family is going out there, so it'll be a really awesome moment. She's (Shisospicy) doing amazing. We saw her this morning, she's feeling herself, looking great, and coming in sharp.
"She'll work in the next couple of days, and then she'll ship over. We have high hopes, but ultimately, just to be a part of it is really awesome."
