Fasig-Tipton Midlantic: Big sale for Into Mischief

Into Mischief, last year’s leading juvenile sire, put three horses among the top 10 prices at the Fasig-Tipton Midlantic sale of 2-year-olds in training, more than any other stallion.

The Spendthrift Farm sire was represented by two fillies who sold for $425,000 each during Monday’s opening session, followed by a filly sold for $350,000 during Tuesday’s final session.

“He’s an incredible sire,” said bloodstock agent Mike Ryan, who purchased the filly on Tuesday.

“The thing that impresses me about them is the fire in their bellies.”

Into Mischief was represented at the sale by six juveniles who sold for an average price of $273,666.

Longer work can pay off

The typical course for youngsters at an auction of 2-year-olds in training is to work a furlong at the presale under-tack show, demonstrating their speed, precocity, and professionalism. Of the horses who breezed at the Maryland State Fairgrounds prior to the Fasig-Tipton Midlantic sale, the vast majority, 379, worked a furlong. A much smaller group of 77 worked a quarter-mile, and only five covered three furlongs.

But going against the grain can pay off because some buyers prefer to see juveniles work a quarter, particularly at sales later in the season, when horses may be more mature.

“I kind of like when they work quarters,” said bloodstock agent Donato Lanni after purchasing an Into Mischief filly for $425,000. The filly tied for the fastest quarter-mile time at 21 2/5 seconds. “This sale, on this track, it’s a very demanding racetrack on them, and the turns are tight. It’s May, so I like to see them go quarters.”