County Final tops Fasig-Tipton Horses of Racing Age Sale at $475,000

Topped by the precocious two-year-old colt County Final, Monday's Fasig-Tipton July Horses of Racing Age Sale again showed there is a viable market for racehorses in mid-year, especially with some of the premier race meets on the horizon.

From 119 head offered, Fasig-Tipton reported 81 horses were sold for gross receipts of $5,072,000, an average price of $62,617, and a $30,000 median. The RNA rate was 32 per cent with 38 of the 119 through the ring going unsold.

Last year's sale saw 95 horses gross $6,548,500, with an average price of $68,932, and a $45,000 median. The RNA rate was 30 per cent.

"Someone asked me how the sale was today and I said, 'It's fair,'" said Fasig-Tipton president Boyd Browning Jr.

"It is equitable for buyers and sellers alike. So maybe balanced is a better term. There were lots of horses getting traded. There was lots of activity at all price ranges, and a lot of horses got moved and found new opportunities for new buyers.

"The sale was well-attended. Veterinary activity, which is one of the things that I always look at to kind of evaluate the auction pre-sale, was higher this year than last year."

Trade was described as 'fair' at the July SaleCredit: Photos by Z/Fasig-Tipton Photos

Browning said a change in format for the auction from being selective to more open proved to be a good formula for trade at all levels.

"We opened up on the lower end of the spectrum knowing that people would want to trade some horses this year that probably wouldn't have fit in our criteria in other years," Browning said.

"Some of the RNAs were $10,000, which was the upset price, and a lot of those probably got sold privately at the barn so it creates opportunities for commerce. It's an opportunity to serve the marketplace. We thought this was a point in time when we needed to do that."

As the bloodstock market moves forward following scheduling changes resulting from the Covid-19 pandemic, Browning said the results from the HORA sale and Fasig-Tipton's recent Midlantic Two-Year-Olds in Training Sale are encouraging moving into the autumn yearling sales season.

"All in all, I am certainly much more encouraged today than I was three weeks ago because we've demonstrated with these two sales that a viable legitimate marketplace exists," Browning said.

"We have had two sales in a row that should provide some confidence in the marketplace. It's rational, but it's a legitimate marketplace. I think if we don't see any major changes socially or health-wise in the parameters that are in place, I would be encouraged as we head into the yearling sales.

"We still have some challenges ahead of us as a sales company, particularly in regards to international participation. We have eight weeks to work on that and hope things improve and hope we can create some parameters and some protocols that allow for comfort for those who wish to attend."

County Final, a juvenile son of Oxbow, topped the sale at a final price of $475,000 when he was purchased by West Point Thoroughbreds, with L.E.B, agent, from the one-horse consignment of his young trainer, John Ennis.

The versatile two-year-old colt captured his June 5 debut on turf at Churchill Downs, going wire-to-wire to win by four lengths for a partnership consisting of Ennis, Hayden Noriega, and 47 Roses.

Switching to the main track for his next effort in the June 27 Bashford Manor Stakes at Churchill, the colt set swift fractions to lead most of the way before finishing a strong second to undefeated Cazadero, one of the nation's leading two-year-olds.

County Final is out of Tapajo, a stakes-winning daughter of Tapit who is a 100 per cent producer of winners of racing age. Bred in Kentucky by Calumet Farm, the colt was purchased for $9,500 from Ballysax Bloodstock at the Keeneland September Yearling Sale.

West Point Thoroughbreds' Terry Finley said he was impressed by the colt's speed in his two starts and that his aptitude on both the dirt and grass provides options for the owners.

"I loved his races and two-year-olds that can run bring a good bit of money," Finley said, adding the colt will be trained by George Weaver.

Trainer John Ennis predicts a bright future for his former charge County FinalCredit: Photos by Z/Fasig-Tipton Photos

"I don't think he needs to be on the lead; I think he just out-footed those horses coming out of the gate. I like the fact we will be able to go dirt or turf, but we're thinking about the races at Kentucky Downs. I sure hope he's a Breeders' Cup horse."

Ennis was awed by having his colt draw so much attention in the sale ring.

"I'm speechless really," Ennis said. "I'm over the moon. He's a fantastic colt and was a beautiful yearling. You haven't heard the end of County Final.

"He's a really nice colt. I'd love to keep him, but I'm a small trainer and I buy inexpensive yearlings every year and I've been lucky hitting with one or two the last couple of years."

The day's second-highest price of $325,000 was paid by Red Oak Stable, agent for Rick Sacco, for Per Capita, a four-year-old son of Gainesway's leading sire Tapit. Per Capita made four starts for his prior owners, Gainesway Stable and Peter Brant.

The colt broke his maiden on May 24 at Churchill Downs for trainer Chad Brown.

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