Big price for speedy Sky Kingdom colt at F-T Gulfstream

Sky Kingdom was a late-blooming runner who thrived at long distances. But the freshman sire, standing at Darby Dan Farm, was represented by a precocious and speedy colt who fetched a high price tag after blitzing a furlong at the Fasig-Tipton Gulfstream sale. Sky Kingdom was represented by a colt sold for $875,000 to Rockingham Ranch after breezing a furlong in 9 4/5 seconds to tie for the best time at the auction’s under-tack preview.

Sky Kingdom, by Empire Maker, blossomed as a 4-year-old, winning Grade 3 Tokyo City Cup at 1 1/2 miles, finishing second in the Grade 3 Cougar II Handicap at 1 1/2 miles, and third in the Grade 1 Hollywood Gold Cup at 1 1/4 miles. In 2015, at age 6, he won another edition of the Tokyo City and finished third in both the Grade 2 Brooklyn Invitational, at 1 1/2 miles, and the Cougar II.