Maryland sale equals a record

Fasig-Tipton Midlantic's juvenile sale in Timonium, Md., posted a record-equaling price of $450,000 at its second and final session Tuesday, one day after posting dramatic increases.

By 5:30 p.m. Tuesday, the Unbridled's Song filly selling as Hip No. 418 had brought a $450,000 bid from Ahmed Zayat and was the auction's most expensive lot by that point. The filly is out of stakes-placed Michele Royale and is a full sister to the winner Striking Song. Equine Legacy, agent, was the consignor.

That equaled the $450,000 sale record last year for Lady H, a Silver Deputy filly now owned by Double H Stable.

Another daughter of Unbridled's Song, out of Girl of Gold (by Seeking the Gold), topped the opening session Monday on a $280,000 bid from Betty Moran of Brushwood Stable. Nick De Meric, agent, sold that filly, who hails from the family of Grade 1 winner Fantastic Look and Designed for Luck. Monday's other active buyers included trainer Tim Ritchey, fresh off Afleet Alex's Preakness win on Saturday at nearby Pimlico. Afleet Alex sold at this auction in 2004 for $75,000. On Monday, Ritchey bought four horses, led by a $210,000 Dixieland Band-Classical Approval colt that Bridlewood Farm, agent, sold.

The Monday session sold 194 juveniles for a total of $9,035,500, up 38 percent from last year's $6,543,000 for 175 horses. The opening-day average price rose 25 percent to $46,575, and the median shot up 45 percent to $30,500.

As on Monday, the Tuesday results sheet was dotted with six-figure horses, putting the auction on a record pace. By 5:30 p.m., 21 horses had brought bids of $100,000 or more, and six had sold for $200,000 or higher.