The First of the Smarties, but Speightstown Steals the Headlines.

Blood-Horse Staff — Wed, 27 Feb 2008 02:52:00 GMT

The announcer trumpeted the first of the Smarties into the sales ring at the Fasig-Tipton Calder Selected Two-Year Olds in Training Sale, but the audience was less than impressed. Two Smarty Jones’ offspring entered the ring and two went home again having not met their reserve.

The star of the first year stallions was Speightstown with 4 horses selling for an average of $751,250. The top-selling Speightstown was hip #254, a colt out of the Holy Bull mare La Comete. He brought a final bid of $1.7 million. (Hip #176, the Speightstown colt who is a half-brother to Lost in the Fog was withdrawn from the sale.)

Other notable results from first-year sires include three Medaglia d’Oro offspring who sold for an average of $425,000 and three Lion Hearts who averaged $395,000. The top-selling Medaglia d’Oro was hip #240, half-sister to Spun Sugar and Daaher. This filly was bought by Roy and Gretchen Jackson's Lael Stable.

Xtra Heat's filly (by Elusive Quality), hip #129 was sold for $750,000. We'll have to keep an eye out for that one.

In other first-year sire news, we received the first notification of an official workout by a Medaglia d’Oro 2-year old. Gabby’s Golden Gal (Medaglia d’Oro – Gabriellina Giof (GB) by Ashkalani (IRE)) worked 2 furlongs on the Cushion Track at Santa Anita recording a time of :25.80.

Here Come the Smarties

Blood-Horse Staff — Mon, 25 Feb 2008 22:27:00 GMT

First opportunity to see offspring of Smarty Jones in motion came at the Fasig-Tipton Calder Selected Two-Year Olds in Training Sale. The under-tack show was February 22. Three Smarties were in action, 2 colts and 1 filly. Hip #144, a bay colt out of a half-sister to Unbridled’s Song (Bells Are Ringing) worked an eighth in :10.3. Hip #266, a chestnut colt, worked the same distance in :10.4. The filly, hip #15, galloped rather than breezed and did not receive a time.

Smarty Jones’ Belmont conqueror Birdstone had one offspring work, hip #76, a gray colt who worked an eighth in :10.4.

Speightstown and Lion Heart tied for the most workers for a first-year stallion, as each had 6 offspring on the track. Three of Speightstown’s colts (hips 186, 228, and 254) worked in :10 flat for 1/8 mile, indicating that the sprint champion seems to be passing along his speed. Another Speightstown of note is hip #176 who worked an eighth in :10.2. He is a half-brother to Lost in the Fog (For more information about the Speightstown offspring, see: Speightstown Progeny Hot at Calder). Lion Heart had a colt (hip #114) and a filly (hip #234) work in :10.1.

Medaglia d’Oro had 5 offspring work, highlighted by hip #240 who breezed an eighth in :10.2. This filly is a half-sister to Spun Sugar and Daaher. Also stopping the clock in :10.2 was hip #237.

Another fast worker by a first-year sire was hip #203, a colt by Cuvee, who ran his eighth in :10.

One horse of interest not by a first-year stallion is hip #129, an Elusive Quality filly who worked an eighth in :10. This filly is a daughter of the great sprinter Xtra Heat. Other horses with notable family connections include hip #54 (who worked an eighth in :10.4), a Vindication colt who is a half-brother to Rutherienne and hip #113 (whose eighth was timed in :10.2), a colt by Monarchos who is a half-brother to War Pass.

Maiden Watch : Xtra Heat

The First of the Smarties, but Speightstown Steals the Headlines.

Here Come the Smarties