by Denis Blake

Fillies were a popular commodity at Tuesday’s Fasig-Tipton Texas two-year-olds in training sale at Lone Star Park as they comprised the six top-priced horses, highlighted by a Louisiana-bred Stormy Atlantic filly that brought $160,000.

Fasig-Tipton reported 168 horses as sold for total receipts of $2,883,000, a decrease of 11.7% compared with 2007, when 183 horses sold for $3,263,200. Average price slipped 3.8% to $17,161, but the median ballooned 50% to $15,000. The buy-back rate improved to 35.4%, compared with 39.2% last year.

“The way the economy and the stock market are going, I think people had some reasons to be cautious, so for us to about break even compared to last year is pretty good,” said Tim Boyce, director of sales for Fasig-Tipton Texas. “I was pleased that the median took a big jump and also that we had a big turnout of buyers at the sale.”

The sale topper, named Akiane, was consigned by Keith and Marilyn Asmussen’s Asmussen Horse Center, agent. The filly is out of the winning Marquetry mare Win for Stacy, who has produced three winners from four starters.

Charles Castille Jr., owner of recently crowned Louisiana champion older male Costa Rising, signed the ticket and plans to place the filly in the barn of trainer Glenn Delahoussaye.

“She’s got grace and she’s an elegant filly, but what I really liked about her is how she really leveled out at the end of her workout and looked like she wanted some more ground,” said Delahoussaye, who also trains Costa Rising.

Akiane worked one furlong in :10.60 during Sunday’s under-tack show.

The only other horse to hit six figures was Trippin, a Texas-bred filly by Trippi who sold for $117,000 to Chris Bardasian. Consigned by Hank Bird’s Steephollow Farms, agent, Trippin is a half sister to Grade 3 winner Go Again Valid. The top-priced male was a Milwaukee Brew colt who went for $50,000.

Denis Blake is a Texas-based Thoroughbred Times correspondent