$350,000 California-bred American Pharoah filly tops Fasig-Tipton California yearling sale

A California-bred filly by American Pharoah sold for $350,000 at Tuesday’s Fasig-Tipton California yearling sale in Pomona, the most expensive hip of an auction with considerably higher prices than last year.

Overall, Fasig-Tipton reported that 177 horses sold for a gross of $6,933,550, an average of $39,173, and a median of $20,000. There were 57 horses listed as not sold. A majority of the horses offered were yearlings with some horses of racing age and broodmares in the catalog.

In 2020, the sale company reported that 166 horses sold for $3,735,700, an average of $22,504. The 2020 sale was held at Los Alamitos in Orange County because of pandemic crowd restrictions in place at the time in Los Angeles County. The 2019 sale averaged $26,772.

At Tuesday’s sale, 17 horses sold for $100,000 or more compared to three last year.

The American Pharoah filly was listed as sold to Tom Beckerle and Sandy Grey from the consignment of Terry Lovingier’s Lovacres Farm. Trainer Walther Solis said Wednesday that the filly will join his stable and that Beckerle is expected to expand the ownership group.

Beckerle has been involved in partnership with Lovingier in recent years, notably with 2021 stakes winner Fi Fi Pharoah, who is also by American Pharoah.

The American Pharoah filly purchased Tuesday is out of EZ Indy, an unraced A.P. Indy mare. EZ Indy is the dam of one winner, Piaf in a maiden special weight race at Gulfstream Park in 2015.

EZ Indy is a half-sister to Banshee Breeze, the 1998 champion 3-year-old filly.

Fillies dominated the sale.

A filly by Practical Joke was purchased for $300,000 by trainer Brian Koriner, acting as agent for Samantha Siegel. The Practical Joke filly, purchased from Barton Thoroughbreds, agent, is out of Miss Lavinia and is a half-sister to Arch Cat, who was third in the Grade 3 Bold Ruler Handicap at Belmont Park last October.

The most expensive colt, by Nyquist, was bought for $275,000 for Classic Bloodstock, agent for Sasulito and Breckenridge, from the consignment of Woodbridge Farm, agent. The colt is out of Soul Crusader, by Fusaichi Pegasus, and is a half-brother to the 3-year-old colt There Goes Harvard, who was second in the Ellis Park Derby on Aug. 15.