DRF Breeding Standout: Sale-topper Corfu digs in for debut score

After leaving the ring as the highest-priced horse in the Barretts March sale of selected 2-year-olds in training earlier this year, Corfu kept the momentum going on the racetrack, winning his debut race on Thursday at Saratoga.

The bay Malibu Moon colt was the standout of the juvenile auction season’s first sale, breezing the fastest quarter-mile of the catalog, in :20.80 seconds. Consigned by Breaking Point Farm, he went to the Coolmore partnership’s bloodstock adviser Demi O’Byrne for a sale-topping $675,000.

Corfu held off a late charge in Thursday’s maiden special weight event to win by a half length, completing the five furlong race in :58.27 seconds over a fast main track. Owned by the Coolmore partnership of Michael Tabor, John Magnier and Derrick Smith, the colt is trained by Todd Pletcher, and was ridden by John Velazquez.

Bred in Kentucky by AGS Thoroughbreds Ltd., Corfu is out of the winning Forest Wildcat mare Fashion Cat, who is the dam of three winners from four foals to race. Fashion Cat is a half-sister to multiple Grade 1 winner and sire Peace Rules, as well as multiple stakes winner Wild Fashion and stakes-producing mare Silverous.

Corfu was consigned as a yearling by Gainesway, agent, and was purchased by Breaking Point Farm for $185,000 at the 2012 Fasig-Tipton July yearling sale.