Ceiling Crusher ‘s victory in the $1 million Cotillion Stakes (G1) Sept. 23 at Parx Racing put the spotlight on California-breds, and they make up the bulk of the Sept. 26 Fasig-Tipton California Fall Yearlings and Horses of Racing Age Sale. To be held at Fairplex in Pomona, Calif., beginning at 11 a.m. PT, the sale has cataloged 279 yearlings and another 60 horses of racing age.
Ceiling Crusher wins the Cotillion Stakes at Parx Racing
While the half brother to Ceiling Crusher, cataloged as Hip 183, has been withdrawn, the sale has several by the recent grade 1 winner’s sire, Mr. Big , as well Cashing Big Checks , a 4-year-old full sister to Ceiling Crusher. Consigned by Bruno DeBerdt’s Excel Bloodstock, Cashing Big Checks (Hip 315) is out of the winning Indian Charlie mare Palisadesprincess and has earned $213,760.
Del Mar stakes winners such as Bus Buzz and Pushiness are graduates of the fall sale, and many major California breeders have brought large consignments, with the bulk of the sale consisting of yearlings.
“This sale is the focal point for all those wanting to participate in the lucrative California-bred program, and this year’s catalog is strong in both quantity and quality,” said Fasig-Tipton California representative Mike Machowsky.
Kim McCarthy’s McCarthy Bloodstock offers several by Mr. Big., including Hips 173 and 239, both from families that have already produced good runners by the stallion. The dark bay or brown colt named Big Act (Hip 239) is out of the Heatseeker mare Steamy Novel, producer of the multiple stakes-placed Mr. Big filly Big Novel . Steamy Novel is out of the Holy Bull mare Novel Twist, the dam of Big Twister (Hip 173). Big Book , a full sister to Big Twister, finished second in the 2015 Torrey Pines Stakes (G3).
Consignor Kim McCarthy of McCarthy Bloodstock/image]
John Harris’ Harris Farms, which bred Ceiling Crusher, has several, including Hip 211, a half brother to three-time stakes winner Kings River Knight . At Los Alamitos Race Course, Kings River Knight most recently captured the Sept. 16 E.B. Johnston Stakes. The January-born colt is by deceased California sire Vronsky.
Kentucky sires are represented, both with Kentucky-breds and as the sires of Cal-breds. Terry Lovingier’s Lovacres Ranch, which sold the 2021 sale topper, has a large number of yearlings by leading California sire Stay Thirsty , as well as Hip 206, a Cal-bred son of Hard Spun out of the stakes-placed City Zip mare Run Zippy Run .
Two yearling Cal-breds are by Practical Joke , the sire of this year’s Santa Anita Derby (G1) winner Practical Move . Barton Thoroughbreds offers them both: Hip 57, a colt out of the Uncle Mo mare Caymanbird, and Hip 158, a filly out of the stakes-placed Leroidesanimaux mare Miss Metropolitan . Barton’s consignment also includes Cal-bred yearlings by Bolt d’Oro , Ghostzapper , Good Magic , and Mitole .
Andy Havens’ Havens Bloodstock Agency, which sold the 2022 sale topper, brings a large consignment that includes four for breeder Tom Bachman’s Fairview. All are Cal-breds, two by Om and one each by Higher Power and Danzing Candy .
During last year’s sale Fasig-Tipton reported 205 horses were traded of the 276 to go under the hammer for gross receipts of $6,257,100, suitable for an average price of $30,522 and a median of $17,000. The 71 head that went unsold represent an RNA rate of 25.7%.
The Mr. Big filly now named Big Slew topped the day after selling for $250,000 to buyer Todd Tomazic from the Havens Bloodstock Agency banner. Havens made sales for a gross of $1,476,000 for 34 horses sold, recording an average price of $43,412.
Samantha Siegel’s Jay Em Ess Stables made four purchases during last year’s engagement for gross receipts of $540,000, at an average of $135,000 per head, to be the sales leading buyer.
