Fasig-Tipton: Stakes Winner Shekky Shebaz Headed to Woodbine

Stakes winner SHEKKY SHABAZ, third in the Breeders’ Cup Turf Sprint (G1 ) in 2019, is on his way to Woodbine after being purchased at the Fasig-Tipton July Horses of All Ages Sale, July 11. Elliott Logan, owned of TEC Racing, bought the 7-year-old gelding for $60,000 as a private sale. The $512,000 earner will be trained at Woodbine by Marty Drexler.

Shekky Shebaz had his best season in 2019 when he won the Lucky Coin Stakes at Saratoga before close finishes in the Belmont Turf Sprint and then the Breeders’ Cup. He has not won since that year when he won a restricted stakes race at Gulfstream. He was second or third in all three races this spring at Gulfstream for Christophe Clement.

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Also at the all ages sale, trainer KEVIN ATTARD, as agent, purchased KEROUAC for $21,000. The Uncle Mo – Walk Close, by Tapit colt is a maiden 3-year-old who was second in a maiden special weight at Santa Anita in his second race in February but he has been unplaced in two starts since then.

Fasig-Tipton hosted a strong opener to the yearling sales season Tuesday with The July Sale held at its Newtown Paddocks in Lexington, Kentucky. With vibrant trade from start to finish, the session tied the highest median in sale history, set the second highest average, and posted the highest gross since 2008.

On the Canadian front, the lone Ontario-bred, a colt by Audible – Queen Martha sold by Cara Bloodstock’s Bernard McCormack, was bought for $70,000 by the new CANUCK RACING CLUB headed by Donato Lanni.

DJ Stable went to $600,000 to secure the sale-topping Curlin colt (Hip 302) from the consignment of Gainesway, agent. The last horse through the ring, Hip 302 is out Four Sugars (Lookin At Lucky), an unraced half-sister to Grade 1 winner and sire Flashy Bull. Four Sugars is already the dam of two winners from three foals of racing age, including the well-traveled Gronkowski, winner of the Burradon S. in England, second in the Belmont S. (G1), and second in the Dubai World Cup (G1). The sale-topper was bred in Kentucky by Diamond Creek Farm.

“It’s always kind of nice to have a major horse at the end of the sale,” said Fasig-Tipton President Boyd Browning of the curtain dropping sale-topper. “The reality is that the sale exceeded our expectations. You love to see increases in the activity and the energy on the sales grounds.”

Hip 153, a colt by last year’s champion Freshman Sire Gun Runner, sold for $430,000 to De Meric Sales for the second highest price of the session. Gainesway, agent, consigned the bay colt, who is a full brother to recent maiden winner and Indiana Oaks (G3) runner-up Runaway Wife out of the stakes winning Majesticperfection mare Perfect Wife. Hip 153 was bred in Kentucky by Fern Circle Stables.

First-crop yearling sire Omaha Beach was responsible for the sale’s top filly (Hip 90), sold for $410,000 to Solis/Litt from the consignment of Woodford Thoroughbreds, agent for Spendthrift Farm. The bay filly is the second foal out of graded stakes winner Gas Station Sushi (Into Mischief), from the immediate family of Grade 1 winning millionaire Taste of Paradise. Hip 90 was bred in Kentucky by Spendthrift Farm.

A pair of $400,000 yearlings rounded out of the top five prices:

Hip 193, a colt by Uncle Mo out of multiple stakes winner Super Saks (Sky Mesa), purchased by Glassman Racing from the consignment of St George Sales, agent. From the immediate family of multiple stakes winners Slide Show and Voodoo, Hip 193 was bred in Kentucky by T.F. VanMeter.
Hip 247, a filly from the final crop of Arrogate out of stakes producer Attempt to Name (Consolidator) purchased by Donato Lanni, agent from the consignment of Wynnstay Sales, agent. The filly is a half-sister to five winners from six to race, including three-times takes winner Gray Attempt (Graydar). Hip 247 was bred in Kentucky by Wynnstay, Donna Moore, and Jim Richardson.

“It was good from start to finish,” concluded Browning. “We’re very pleased with the start to the 2022 yearling sales season.”

Overall, 189 yearlings sold for $21,763,500 compared to 208 yearlings sold for $21,608,500 last year. The average rose 10.8% to $115,151 from $103,887 in 2021. The median was $90,000, up 12.5% from $80,000 last year and tied for the sale record set in 2006. The gross was the highest since 2008, when 305 yearlings sold for $28,151,000.

~ with files from Fasig-Tipton