Silver Deputy colt leads sale

Fasig-Tipton Midlantic's preferred 2-year-old sale in Timonium, Md., began Monday with a $425,000 Silver Deputy colt the early session leader.

Egyptian beverage magnate Ahmed Zayat purchased the colt, a son of Kopenhagen, from Murray Smith's consignment.

A half-brother to Grade 1-placed Strong Contender offered as Hip No. 102, the colt was one of three lots to sell for $400,000 or more by 5 p.m. One was Hip No. 128, a $410,000 Holy Bull colt out of Dancing Ballade that Daybreak Stables sold to Carboys.com Stable; the consigning agent was Eddie Woods. The other was Hip No. 85, a $400,000 Distorted Humor son of Cat's Image that agent Barry Berkelhammer bought from Scanlon Training Center, agent. The colt is a half-brother to the stakes-placed winners Lake Effects and Tippytoe Cat.

Last year, the auction set a new sale record for average price at $48,994 and gross receipts at $18,911,500. The auction was to continue with its second and final session on Tuesday at the Maryland State Fairgrounds, starting at 11 a.m.