Frosted, Nyquist off to hot start at yearling sales

Champion Nyquist and multiple Grade 1 winner Frosted entered stud together at Darley as two of North America’s most anticipated incoming stallions of 2017. They were neck-and-neck as the standout first-crop yearling sires of the July 9 Fasig-Tipton Kentucky summer selected yearling sale, the first yearling auction in North America. Both continue on together to be well represented as the market moves to a higher level at the Fasig-Tipton Saratoga selected yearling sale on Aug. 5-6.

Nyquist and Frosted each had a $330,000 yearling sold at Fasig-Tipton July to tie for the top price by a first-crop yearling sire and the second-highest price of the sale overall, behind only a $440,000 Flatter colt. Following them among first-crop sires were a $300,000 colt by Outwork and a $285,000 colt by Speightster. Both of those young stallions stand at WinStar Farm.

Classic-placed Frosted’s three Grade 1 victories were highlighted by a scintillating 14 1/4-length win in the 2016 Metropolitan Handicap in a sparkling time of 1:32.73. As a result, the Tapit horse commanded an introductory stud fee of $50,000, making him the most expensive incoming stallion in North America that season. His $330,000 Fasig-Tipton July filly, out of the stakes-placed Street Sense mare Humble Street, was purchased by Let’s Go Stable. The ticket was signed by Danielle Bricker, bloodstock agent for trainer Todd Pletcher.

“She just looked very athletic, huge walk to her, good angles overall,” Bricker said. “I think she’s the perfect size. As soon as she grows up a little and fills out, she’s going to be what we want to see on the racetrack.”

Frosted had 13 yearlings selected for the Fasig-Tipton Saratoga catalog, including a filly out of Grade 2 winner India, dam of Group 1 winner Mozu Ascot. Frosted’s sale yearlings also include half-siblings to Grade 1 winner Dance With Fate, Grade 2 winner Dancinginherdreams, Grade 3 winner Pleasant Prince, and multiple Grade 1 placed Neolithic.

Nyquist is from the first crop of Uncle Mo, and he followed in his sire’s footsteps by winning the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile to earn an Eclipse Award title. He continued on to win the 2016 Kentucky Derby. His standout at Fasig-Tipton July is a half-brother to multiple Grade 1-placed stakes winner Red Vine, purchased by bloodstock agent Ben McElroy for Corinthian Medical and Wilson Sisk. Nyquist has nine yearlings cataloged for Fasig-Tipton Saratoga, including a colt out of stakes winner Banga Ridge, dam of Canadian classic winner Unspurned, and a colt out of stakes winner Foxy Danseur, whose three stakes horses are led by Grade 3 winner Ever So Clever.

Flatter tops sale second time

Flatter continues to be consistent in the early yearling market, as he sired the sale-topper at the Fasig-Tipton Kentucky July selected yearling sale for the second year in a row.

Flatter, who stands at Claiborne Farm, led the sale with a $440,000 colt out of the stakes-placed Cherokee Run mare Ruth and Neva, purchased by the high-profile partnership of WinStar Farm and China Horse Club.

“We thought he was the best horse here, from a proven sire, and he ticked what we like as far as going forward,” WinStar executive Elliott Walden said. “He’d look good in a stud barn if he could win a Grade 1.”

Last year, a Flatter colt sold for $520,000 to Al Rashid Stable to lead the sale. Now named Silvertonguedevil, he does not have any published works.

Flatter, by A.P. Indy, is the sire of Eclipse Award champion West Coast, Grade 1 winners Flat Out and Taris, and graded stakes-winning millionaires Kobe’s Back and Upstart.

– additional reporting by Matt Hegarty