Fasig-Tipton Texas sale: late addition Worldventurer highlights strong trading

The Fasig-Tipton Texas 2-year-olds in training and horses of races age sale closed on Wednesday with across-the board gains, highlighted by the late addition of multiple stakes-winning 3-year-old Worldventurer.

A total of 74 horses were sold during the one session sale, held at Lone Star Park in Grand Prairie, Texas, for total revenues of $1,743,750, up 11 percent compared with last year’s total of $1,575,100 from 80 sold. The average sale price increased 20 percent, from $19,689 to $23,564, while the median price of $20,000 rose 43 percent from $14,000 in 2012.

The sale-topper was Worldventurer, a 3-year-old Wimbledon gelding who was a late supplement to the sale’s horses of racing age portion, and was purchased by Bryan Anderson, agent, for $150,000.

Worldventurer, the champion Texas-bred 2-year-old of 2012, has won four of 11 races, including three stakes races, for career earnings of $207,932. Prior to the sale, he was campaigned by owner Wesley Melcher and trainer Bred Calhoun.

Bred in Texas by Clarence Scharbauer Jr., Worldventurer is out of the Elusive Quality mare Better Than Most, who has also produced multiple stakes-placed winner Nothinbettertodo. Twin Oaks Training Center as agent consigned Worldventurer for Melcher.

The highest-priced juvenile of the sale was Ring Bit, a Kitten’s Joy filly, who sold to Nick Sallusto and Hanzly Albina, as agents, for $130,000. The dark bay or brown filly is out of the winning Menifee mare Blush and is a full sister to Grade 3 winner Derby Kitten and Grade 2-placed stakes winner William’s Kitten. Her notable family members include Grade 1 winner Willow Hour and Grade 3 winners Cherry Jubilee and Traverse City.

Consigned by Mike Neatherlin, as agent for James Tolliver, Ring Bit clocked in with the co-fastest one-furlong workout of the pre-sale under-tack show, covering the distance in :10.20. The filly, bred in Kentucky by Ken and Sarah Ramsey, was purchased by Tolliver for $15,000 at the 2012 Fasig-Tipton Kentucky fall yearling sale.

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