Over Emphasize tops opener at Fasig-Tipton Kentucky winter mixed sale

LEXINGTON, Ky. – The Fasig-Tipton Kentucky winter mixed sale got off to a soft start on Monday, with declines in several economic indicators during its first of two sessions, and will look to tomorrow's catalog standouts to finish up well.

The $150,000 filly Over Emphasize led the opening session, which concluded with 180 horses sold for gross receipts of $3,369,200. In last year's comparable first of two sessions, 146 horses changed hands for $4,677,200.

Monday's average price was $18,718, dipping 42 percent from $32,036 in the 2019 opener. The median dropped 56 percent, to $8,000 from $18,000. The buyback rate remained steady, at 29 percent.

"Today was fine," Fasig-Tipton president Boyd Browning said. "Clearly, if you looked at the catalog, and were on the grounds, and kind of analyzed it, tomorrow is a much stronger day in terms of the quality of offerings."

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Over Emphasize, who was offered as a racing or broodmare prospect by St George Sales, as agent, was purchased by bloodstock agent Andre Lynch. The 4-year-old Overanalyze filly was on the board in a pair of graded stakes on the California turf last season, finishing third, beaten 2 1/4 lengths, to Lady Prancealot and Hostess in the Grade 3 Honeymoon Stakes; and third, beaten about three-quarters of a length, to Mucho Unusual and Apache Princess in the Grade 2 San Clemente Stakes.

Over Emphasize, out of the Holy Bull mare Star in the Corner, is a half-sister to stakes winner Allanah. Peruvian champion Zeide Isaac is among the stakes winners who appear on the catalog page.

Among the recently turned yearlings on offer Monday, the top price was $140,000 for a colt from the first crop of Connect, a Grade 1-winning son of Curlin. The colt was purchased by Blue Sky Stable.

Consigned by Bluewater Sales, as agent, the April colt is out of the Posse mare She Be Keene, a half-sister to Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies winner and Eclipse Award champion She Be Wild. Grade 1 winner Carson Hollow also appears on the catalog page.

Tomorrow's second and final session of the Fasig-Tipton February sale will stretch well into the evening hours, as there were 109 supplemental entries to the initial catalog who have been slotted at the end of the day. Several of those have flashy pedigrees or solid accomplishments that stand out in this market, giving them the ability to kick-start bidding. For example, among the offerings is the winning mare Flashly, a half-sister to Kentucky Oaks winner Cathryn Sophia. She is the only mare in the sale in foal to Triple Crown winner and leading freshman sire American Pharoah.

Also among the supplemental entries, factoring in outs through Monday night, are graded stakes winner Brooklynsway and her yearling filly by Uncle Mo; Toy Moon, a half-sister to multiple graded stakes winner Pomeroys Pistol, the dam of unbeaten Kentucky Derby hopeful Thousand Words; five-time stakes winner Taylor's Spirit; and Evocative, a half-sister to graded stakes winner Justwhistledixie, the dam of four graded stakes winners, including current Derby hopeful Enforceable.

"There are some very, very, very attractive horses that came into the supplement," Browning said. "Most are a result of recent updates and recent activity."

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