NEWS
Tapit colt sells for record $850,000 at Midlantic sale
Posted: Monday, May 18, 2009 12:01 PM
by Pete Denk
A Tapit colt from the Hobeau Farm dispersal ignited a
spirited bidding war and sold for a sale record $850,000 early on opening day
of the Fasig-Tipton Midlantic two-year-olds in training sale on Monday.
Bloodstock agent Steven W. Young signed the ticket on behalf
of an undisclosed client. Young fended off bids from Darley’s Jimmy Bell and
Maryland-based trainer Dale Capuano, who had a client on his cell phone.
The colt is out of the Private Account mare Shopping and is a
half brother to Grade 1 winner Miss Shop. He worked one furlong in :10.20 at
the May 13 under-tack show, tied for the fastest in the sale.
“He is a super nice horse,” Young said. “He’s out of one of
the hottest sires going, and he’s out of a mare that has thrown good horses
from a number of different stallions. On the female side, he was the best-bred
horse in the sale, and he trained tremendously.”
Cary Frommer consigned the colt on behalf of the Hobeau
dispersal. Hobeau founder Jack Dreyfus died on March 27 at age 95.
Dreyfus bred and owned horses since the early 1960s and had a
longtime relationship with Racing Hall of Fame trainer Allen Jerkens. Some of
the most famous Hobeau homebreds include Beau Purple, winner of the 1962 Man o'
War Stakes, and Onion, who defeated two-time Horse of the Year Secretariat in
the '73 Whitney Stakes (G2).
Dreyfus’ longtime farm manager Craig Wheeler raised the
Florida-bred Tapit colt in Ocala.
He said Dreyfus would have been thrilled to see his bloodstock so appreciated.
“We’re thrilled to death at the price, but it’s bittersweet
because it reminds us that Mr. Dreyfus is gone now,” Wheeler said. “This colt
had a good mind and he was a great mover all long. We wish the new connections
the best and we’ll look forward to seeing this colt at the races.”
The previous record for the Midlantic sale was $625,000 for
Zounds in 2006.
Pete Denk is sales editor of Thoroughbred Times
