Peace and Justice weanlings top Fasig-Tipton Midlantic December mixed sale

The Fasig-Tipton Midlantic December mixed sale proved to be a coming-out party for the young regional sire Peace and Justice. He was represented by first-crop weanlings sold for $87,000 and $80,000 to top the sale, which did show some declines compared to its 2017 edition.

The single-session sale, the final auction on Fasig-Tipton's calendar for 2018, finished with 201 horses sold Tuesday at the Maryland State Fairgrounds in Timonium for gross receipts of $1,911,100. That represented a decline of 22 percent from the 2017 revenues, when 221 horses sold for $2,448,200.

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The average price, $9,508, dropped 14 percent from $11,078 in 2017. The median remained steady at $5,000. The buyback rate also remained relatively steady, finishing at 22 percent, compared to 21 percent last year.

Peace and Justice, a son of international sire War Front, is a half-brother to Grade 2 winner Hudson Steele. After capturing 3 of 8 career starts, he retired to Northview Pennsylvania, where he covered 38 mares in his first season at stud, according to The Jockey Club's Report of Mares Bred. That group produced the two top prices on Tuesday at Fasig-Tipton.

Peace and Justice's sale topper was a colt purchased for $87,000 by LEB from the consignment of Northview Stallion Station, as agent. The Pennsylvania-bred colt is the second foal out of the Discreet Cat mare Frolicking Gal, a half-sister to Grade 2 winner Azar. Other notable performers appearing on the catalog page are Grade 1 winner Twilight Agenda, Grade 2 winners Coal Front and Conquest Titan, Grade 3 winner Woodlander, and stakes winners Admiral Alex and Burnt Ember.

Another Pennsylvania-bred Peace and Justice colt from Northview's consignment sold for $80,000 to bloodstock agent Nick Sallusto. The colt is the first foal out of the Arch mare High Step Arch. It is the family of European Horse of the Year Peintre Celebre, winner of the Prix de l' Arc de Triomphe and French Derby. It is also the family of graded/group stakes winners Parme, Peinture Bleue, Peinture Rare, Pointilliste, and Provins.