Fasig-Tipton sale strong

Following a day of dramatic double-digit gains on Sunday, Fasig-Tipton Midlantic's December mixed sale popped off some big prices Monday.

As of 5 p.m., a $160,000 weanling Malibu Moon colt led the auction in Timonium, Md. Josham Farms, Ltd., agent, bought the colt, a son of Grade 3-placed stakes-winner Aileen's Countess. The colt is a half-brother to the winners Buffalo Run and Dr John Martin. Bill Reightler, agent, sold the colt on behalf of Hargett Farms.

Other high-priced lots Monday included an $82,000 Two Punch-Femma filly that John Crane and Margaret Addis bought from Litz Bloodstock, agent; a $75,000 Lion Hearted-Two Dream colt that Buzz Chace, agent, bought from Mr. and Mrs. Rick Abbott's Charlton agency; and a $72,000 Smoke Glacken-Wandering Ways filly that Josham, as agent, also bought from the Thomas J. Gallo Sales Agency.

Sunday's opening session, the first of two days' selling, saw sharp gains across the board. The opener sold 129 horses for $1,483,800, up 36 percent from last year's equivalent session of 165 lots. The 2004 average price of $9,958 was up 50 percent from last year, and the $5,200 median was a rise of 49 percent.- Glenye Cain