by Kim French, USTA Internet News Editor

Lexington, KY — The lights were most certainly on and the crowd was eagerly anticipating Come See The Show’s public debut, but before this regally bred filly ever placed a hoof on a racetrack, she most definitely attracted some attention.

Come See The Show sold for $550,000 as Hip No. 1.

Purchased by Richard Young, the second daughter of world champions Somebeachsomewhere and Put On A Show made a significant statement as she exited the ring as Hip No. 1 at the first session of the Lexington Selected Yearling Sale on Tuesday (Oct. 4) with a price tag of $550,000.

“I’m not exactly thrilled with the price,” Young said. “But coming here for her was my plan and I was prepared to bid to do just that.”

Bred by Young, his wife Joanne and Craig Henderson, the filly, consigned by Hunterton Sales Agency, is a full sister to 2-year-old Beach Showoff and after shocking those in attendance for just how much her ticket was signed for, it appeared the filly would be the opening and closing act of the sale as the $550,000 benchmark remained the standard until Hip No. 70 walked in the ring to register $800,000 on the board.

Tactical Landing, a colt by Muscle Hill-Southwind Serena, is a full brother to world champion and Dan Patch Award winner Mission Brief. Bred by Andrea Lea Racing Stables, Black Creek Farm and Steve Stewart, Tactical Landing received an opening bid of $200,000 within minutes of his number being announced. Like Come See The Show, his price swiftly escalated and it became readily apparent this youngster would be the star of this particular show.

In this industry, it is not very often the future can be predicted or even ascertained with any precision, yet John Schmucker of Black Creek Farm, did exactly that hours before the first gavel fell at the Fasiq-Tipton Sales Pavilion.

“My best information is Hip 70 is going to either be the sales topper or close,” he said. “Not only is he a full brother to Mission Brief, but he is big and very good-looking. He is a very, very nice horse.”

Tactical Landing topped the opening session of the Lexington Selected Yearling Sale with a bid of $800,000.

Even after the parade of exquisitely bred yearlings were displayed for purchase, Schmucker continued to adhere to this previous statement.

“It only takes two people that want a horse for them to bid,” he said midway through the evening’s festivities. “From what we have heard from people looking at this colt, there are at least two groups of people that really want him and are willing to pay whatever they need to.”

Although Schmucker would prefer not to be categorized as omniscient, he was more than pleased that Ernie Martinez, acting as an agent, signed the $800,000 check for the colt, who is also a half brother to Exemplar (Andover Hall, $219,312) and Earn Your Wings (Credit Winner, $203,748) and will be conditioned by Bob Stewart.

While Tactical Landing and Come See The Show, both consigned by Hunterton Sales Agency, were the horses that were the highest financial investment of the 92 horses that were scheduled for purchase, minus the high profile horses that were withdrawn from the sale such as G Wagon, a full brother to Hambletonian and Yonkers Trot victor Marion Marauder and Fleet Admiral, a full sister to Ariana G and Hambletonian Oaks winner All The Time, there were still many other yearlings with impeccable pedigrees that fetched top dollar.

USTA/Mark Hall photos

Pro Beach was hammered down for a price of $450,000.

Pro Beach, a full brother to Darlinonthebeach and a son of Somebeachsomewhere-Darlin’s Delight, was sold for $450,000 by Preferred Equine to Jimmy Takter. He struck an impressive pose in the sales ring and possessed a very kind eye.

Takter also paid the bill for Tasmania, presented by Diamond Creek Farm. The daughter of Muscle Hill-Spectacular Bay was a $300,000 purchase and immediately caught the eyes of those witnessing her striding in the center of the pavilion.

Of the top highest priced horses in the sale’s first session the two individuals not by Muscle Hill and Somebeachsomewhere, who proved to be the most marquee sires, were Gallant Man, a Cantab Hall-Forever Graceful colt and Ciao Dolce, a Credit Winner-Pizza Dolce filly.

Gallant Man is the second foal from his dam, who is a full sister to Muscle Mass ($229,000) and Muscle Massive ($1,239,138) and a half-sister to Thatsnotmyname (Windsong’s Legacy, $340,730). He was consigned by Kentuckiana Farms and Myron Bell, as agent, was responsible for bringing him home with a $350,000 bid.

Ciao Dolce was a buzz horse prior to the beginning of the sale, as she was the last foal for Pizza Dolce, who not only earned $668,824 on the racetrack but was a prolific producer. This filly is a sibling to Bella Dolce (Kadabra, $730,384), For You Almostfree (Glidemaster, $494,433), Miss Paris (Kadabra, $865,160) and Boli (Kadabra, $118,114).

The filly is not incredibly tall, but perfectly put together with excellent balance and appears to have very good manners. Kjell Magne Andersen was the winning bidder at $300,000.

Somebeachsomewhere and Muscle Hill progeny commanded top billing at this session of the sale as 12 Muscle Hill colts sold for a total of $2.4 million and averaged $202,500, while that sire’s four fillies brought $242,000 and averaged $60,500.

The offspring of Somebeachsomewhere were also very sought after, as his 16 colts were purchased for $2.5 million and averaged a healthy $156,563. His nine fillies brought $1.44 million and averaged $160,778.

Complete results from the first session can be found at this link.

The second session of the five-day sale, which operates until Oct. 10, is underway once again at the Fasiq-Tipton Sales Pavilion in Lexington on Wednesday at 7 p.m.