This past weekend, I visited the Fasig-Tipton Midlantic Two-Year-Olds in Training Sale, which has undergone a new format this year. The new format features no official timed breezes and restricted crop use, challenging buyers and sellers in a new way. The 2025 sale had a significant portion of the catalog going through untimed breezes after weather postponements.
Consignors were able to work their horses at a breeze or a gallop with cones on the track. Switching to a non-timed format forced buyers to approach the sale with new tactics.
It is encouraging to see our industry increasingly prioritizing the well-being of the horse. This was evident in Fasig-Tipton's new format, which mirrors the European "breeze up" sales by allowing horses to gallop rather than focusing solely on clocked times.
While the small Timonium racetrack and its sharp turns require more concentration, I focused on how efficiently the horses moved. Rather than speed, I looked for horses that covered the distance with fewer strides and a smoother reach. This format requires more effort to identify quality, but by focusing on stride length, walking skills, and gallop-out times, we were able to narrow down our search.
After reviewing the New York-breds offered last weekend, I am very pleased to announce the purchase of Hip 184 a filly by Champion and perennial sire Freud out of the Stakes producer Exclusively Yours by top broodmare sire Elusive Quality. She is a beautiful mover from an accomplished racing family and is sired by Freud, a full brother to Giant’s Causeway. Freud has had a distinguished career producing multiple Champions, multiple millionaires, and many Grade 1 stakes winners. He is probably the best and most accomplished stallion to ever stand in NY and we were lucky to have him.
This filly is eligible for the $4,000,000 NY Stallion Stakes series
Our goal will be The $500,000 NY Stallion Stakes race, which we won with Yo Cuz (purchased at Fasig Tipton May 2yo auction) and I think this filly is the one to repeat that magic!