Co-breeders Dr. Tom and Chris Bowman of Dance Forth Farm, partnering with Clancy Bloodstock, bought back their own top-priced filly (Hip 98) by 2023 Horse of the Year Cody's Wish for $300,000 at the Fasig-Tipton Eastern Fall Yearlings Sale Oct. 27.
The filly, named How Bad Can That B, was consigned by the Bowman's daughter, Becky Davis, who said the filly exceeded her expectations.
"She was just a fantastic physical specimen; she always has been," Davis said. "The mare has had some sale toppers, but this filly was really, by far, the best-looking individual that she's had."
As much as they liked her, Davis said they did not expect her to top the sale. She said they put a modest $100,000 reserve on the filly.
"My mom (Chris) did not want to bring her to the sale. That's why she was named," Davis said. "She really wanted to keep her, but knew financially she might bring in a decent amount of money, and just like everybody else needs to, keep the operation going."
According to Davis, her mother's attraction to the filly stemmed from multiple factors, including the poignant story of the late Cody Dorman and his connection to Cody's Wish. Her mother was very grateful to be able to breed to a stallion of his caliber.
Last year, we all saw how special she was, and my mom decided to name her," Davis said. "The idea (going to this sale) was to try to find a partner. I put the $100,000 reserve on her and felt a little sorry for my mom."
Davis said, as the bidding ensued for the filly, she looked up across the pavilion and saw her mom stick her hand up to bid.
"She's a quiet, almost shy person, but she has another switch when it comes to an auction," Davis said. "My dad (Tom) said she kind of got tears in her eyes and did not want to let her go. She was purchased, but my mom is going to be able to stay in as a partner with Clancy Bloodstock.
"It was a perfect storm for all of it. I hope it continues and that it gives her a lot of fun."
Davis said her parents have always sold mostly everything, but the couple, who are in their 80s, figured "Why not?"
"My mom has raised five children and always done a lot of behind-the-scenes work at the farm. She deserves this," Davis said.
Davis noted even though she has sold sales toppers in the past, such as last year's Midlantic Fall Yearlings Sale topper, a colt by Nyquist , who brought $370,000, she said this filly gave her the most confidence.
"The filly was outstanding," she said. "I've had sales toppers before, but I've struggled with sort of odd feelings because I never thought that horse was the best athlete in my consignment.
"In this case, I think it might be the first time where I really feel like my best athlete, my most athletic horse, actually topped the sale. I'm thrilled with it."
Hip 98 brings a pedigree loaded with black type. She is a half sister to three winners, including group-placed Asawer (Nyquist) and multiple stakes winner Monday Morning Qb (Imagining), who was also graded stakes-placed. Her dam How My Heart Works is a half sister to the dam of grade 1 winner and sire Cyberknife . Hip 98's immediate family also includes grade 1 winners Well Armed, American Patriot, and Patch Adams .
The filly was bred in Maryland by Bowman and Higgins Stable, which knows a thing or two about producing a top racehorse. Dr. & Mrs. Thomas Bowman, Dr. Brooke Bowman, and the late Milton P. Higgins III bred 2024 Maryland-Bred Horse of the Year Post Time . The son of Frosted won nine stakes races, two of which were graded, and placed in seven graded races, led by a courageous effort in the 2024 Breeders' Cup Dirt Mile (G1), when he was runner-up to Full Serrano.
The highest-priced colt of the day was Hip 263, a colt by Yaupon , who brought $142,000 from Hillwood Stable. The colt was bred in Kentucky by Stoneway Farm, out of the Into Mischief mare Aerial Assets, who is a full sister to graded stakes winner and sire Instagrand . Hip 263 was consigned by Northview Stallion Station, agent. Hillwood purchased four other horses, bringing their gross receipts to $417,000, to lead the buyers for the one-day auction.
The leading consignor was Gracie Bloodstock, which sold 40 head from its draft for a total of $1,237,000. Davis came in second, selling 14 from her draft for $916,000.
At the end of the day of trade, 188 horses had changed hands for $5,863,500, including private sales. Gross sales were up 17.8% compared to last year's sale, which was held a month earlier under the name Fasig-Tipton Midlantic Fall Yearlings Sale, where 27 fewer horses sold. The average price was up slightly to $31,189 from $30,920, and the median stayed the same at $20,000. Forty-one horses failed to meet their reserve, resulting in an RNA rate of 17.9%.
"We had a very encouraging sale today," said Fasig-Tipton president Boyd Browning. "I think it's encouraging in the regional marketplace to have some of the positive momentum that was demonstrated today. It gives us a foundation to build upon for 2027 and beyond."
Formerly known as Midlantic Fall Yearlings since 2012, the auction rebranded back to its original name with a new focus on promoting the East Coast's state-bred programs.
The catalog of 269 horses was structured by regional state-bred programs, each with its own section. The catalog begins with horses bred in Non-Eastern states and is then followed by Maryland, New Jersey, New York, Pennsylvania, Virginia, and West Virginia.
Davis said the format change came with good intentions, but was tough to manage.
"It was very difficult," she said. "My crew did such a great job, but it was very difficult to work through all of it. I had horses selling every four minutes, and I couldn't even congratulate people or say, 'Thank you,' and interact with anyone. I missed seeing two horses go through the ring. We did OK, but I can't imagine doing that all the time."
Davis also pointed out that Maryland Million Day, held Oct. 24 at Laurel Park, interfered with showing horses on the sales ground. Davis said it was her first time in 20 years that she was not able to attend the annual event, which features a 12-race card that is made up mainly of stakes races and purses that total $1 million. The races are restricted to the progeny of nominated Maryland stallions.
"All the local people like to go, the local trainers, the local breeders and buyers, everybody wants to go," she explained. "I did not show a single horse Saturday.
"As small Maryland breeders, and I think that I speak for every single farm, they like to support this race meet. They like to go. We like to take people that work on the farm, people that raise the horses, that help deliver the foals. Everybody wants to go to the races. But, when you have smaller operations, it's a lot of the same people that go to the sales."
The one-day auction marked the last yearling sale held in North America. Fasig-Tipton will now shift its focus to its prestigious November Sale, held Nov. 2 in Lexington, following the Breeders' Cup World Championships.
