Fasig-Tipton sale: Musical Romance to Japan for $1.6 million

Musical Romance, champion female sprinter of 2011, sold to Katsumi Yoshida’s Northern Farm in Japan for $1.6 million on Monday at the Fasig-Tipton Kentucky fall mixed sale.

The 5-year-old Concorde’s Tune mare shipped to Fasig-Tipton from Santa Anita after finishing sixth in the Breeders’ Cup Filly and Mare Sprint last Saturday, an unsuccessful bid at defending her victory in the race last year. Selling as a racing or broodmare prospect, Musical Romance has won 12 of 41 career starts for lifetime earnings of $1,681,885.

In addition to her Eclipse Award-securing win in the 2011 Breeders’ Cup Filly and Mare Sprint, Musical Romance also won the Grade 1 Princess Rooney Handicap and the Grade 2 Inside Information Stakes this year and the Grade 2 Presque Isle Downs Masters Stakes last year.

“We thought she was a good-looking mare, and she was a champion sprinter last year,” said Shunsuke Yoshida, who signed the ticket. “Those things attract us.”

Bred in Florida by Ocala Stud, Musical Romance was campaigned during her racing career by Adam Lazarus and trainer William Kaplan. She was consigned by Three Chimneys Sales, agent.

Musical Romance is out of the winning Slew Gin Fizz mare Candlelightdinner, who has produced two champions from as many to race. Her half-brother Vuelve Ruben M. was the Puerto Rican champion imported 2-year-old colt of 2012. Grade 3 winners Nome and Gourmet Dinner are among Musical Romance’s notable family members.

Musical Romance sold for $22,000 at the 2009 Ocala Breeders’ Sales Co. April 2-year-olds in training sale.