Fasig-Tipton November: Productive mare Rhumb Line sells for $2 million

Multiple graded stakes producer Rhumb Line, carrying a full sibling to her most accomplished runners, sold to Mandy Pope’s Whisper Hill Farm for $2 million at the Fasig-Tipton Kentucky fall mixed sale Monday night.

Hill ‘n’ Dale Sales, as agent, consigned the 13-year-old Mr. Greeley mare, in foal to Tapit on a May cover.

Rhumb Line is the dam of four winners from five foals to race, headed by multiple Grade 1 winner Zazu. The daughter of Tapit won the Grade 1 Las Virgenes and the Lady’s Secret Stakes, along with the Grade 2 Hollywood Oaks. Her three additional Grade 1 placings included a third-place effort in the Kentucky Oaks. Zazu became the most expensive foal out of her dam to sell at public auction when she fetched $2.1 million at the 2012 Keeneland November breeding stock sale.

Flashback, Rhumb Line’s 3-year-old colt by Tapit, won the Grade 2 Robert B. Lewis Stakes and finished second in the Santa Anita Jewel this spring.

Rhumb Line is also the dam of Corinthian’s Jewel, a stakes winner at Monmouth Park, and Art Princess, stakes-placed in England and Ireland. Corinthian’s Jewel is by Corinthian, who, like Tapit, is a son of Pulpit.

“She’s a fantastic producer in foal to Tapit,” John G. Sikura of Hill ‘n’ Dale said. “It’s always good when there’s something recognizable and a proven commodity. Tapit’s a great sire. This mare’s worked well with Tapit. Flashback was one of the dominant 3-year-olds earlier in the year. She’s a mare that’s in play. Rhumb Line’s a great type, great shoulder, outstanding muscle quality, looks strong, hard and fast. She’s got a pretty face on a man’s body.”

Rhumb Line has now sold at public auction six times, for an average price of $539,167.