For the second time in the last four years a colt by popular stallion Smiling Tiger topped the Washington Thoroughbred Breeders and Owners Association’s annual summer sale, which was again held at the WTBOA Sales Pavilion located at Emerald Downs in Auburn, WA.
The August 18, 2020, $70,000 sale topper, Hip 57, was signed for by Brian Koriner, agent, for Samantha Siegel’s Jay Em Ess Stable. The handsome chestnut was from the Critter Creek Farm consignment, as agent for PT Syndicate #1 LLC. Koriner was the initial trainer for Smiling Tiger’s Grade 1-winning daughter Spiced Perfection. Hip 57 is the second foal out of the $172,010 stakes-placed Swiss Yodeler mare Grand Yodeler.
The 2017 sale topper, Baja Sur, also by Smiling Tiger, was named Washington’s horse of the year in 2019.
Smiling Tiger, one of the fastest runners of his generation and the multiple Grade 1 winner was himself a 2008 WTBOA sale graduate. The stallion holds court at Harris Farms in Coalinga, CA. Of the three other Smiling Tiger yearlings consigned to this year’s sale, two others brought prices of $30,000 and $25,000 while the other was a $39,000 RNA.
Koriner also purchased the second highest-selling colt, Hip 77, for Siegel. Also sold by agent Critter Creek Farm, this time as agent for Premier Thoroughbreds LLC and Alan Klein, the colt hails from the first crop of triple Grade 1 winner Lord Nelson and is out of the good producing Indian Charlie matron Lottawampum.
Former Washingtonian and now successful California trainer Mark Glatt, as agent, purchased the third highest-selling colt from the same consignor as the sale topper. The Monrovia-based conditioner went to $42,000 to acquire Hip 62, a colt from the first crop of Grade 2 winner Danzing Candy and out of $137,206 stakes winner Ilikcandy, by Malibu Moon.
Two fillies brought a $30,000 bid, the Smiling Tiger—Princess Hillary filly (Halvorson Bloodstock Services LLC, Agent for Sale Mahlum) who was noted above, and Hip 91. From the first crop of Grade 1 winner Cupid, by Tapit, the young distaffer is the first offspring of $109,265 earner My Palmilla, a daughter of Tribal Rule who hails from the family of Washington champions Rings a Chime (G1) and Bella Mia, all of whom were bred and offered through the WTBOA Sales program by Griffin Place LLC.
Preliminary results show, after 14 yearlings were withdrawn and 25 were RNAs, the 75 yearlings that were listed as sold averaged $12,652 with a $7,500 median. Sixteen yearlings brought a bid of $20,000 or more.
Among the 18 broodmare/broodmare prospects consigned, Hip 204, Cecileabration, a daughter of Graeme Hall who was offered bred to Smiling Tiger, was signed for by Checkmate Thoroughbreds, agent, for $12,500. The mare also was a member of the Critter Creek Farm consignment for PT Syndicate #1 LLC.
Top Selling Yearlings
Hip Sex, Sire—Dam, Consignor. Buyer, Price.
57 c., Smiling Tiger—Grand Yodeler, Critter Creek Farm, Agt for PT Syndicate #1 LLC. Brian Koriner, Agt, $70,000.
77 c., Lord Nelson—Lottawampum, Critter Creek Farm, Agt for Premier Thoroughbreds LLC & Alan Klein. Brian Koriner, Agt, $50,000.
62 c., Danzing Candy—Ilikecandy, Critter Creek Farm, Agt for PT Syndicate #1 LLC. Mark Glatt, Agt, $42,000.
50 c., Harbor the Gold—Felice the Cat, Bar C Racing Stables Inc. Art McFadden, $37,000.
