Close relative to Kentucky Derby winner Sovereignty tops May Digital Sale

A full-sister to the dam of this year's Kentucky Derby winner Sovereignty proved the star of the show at a busy Fasig-Tipton May Digital Sale.

Ifurhappynuknowit (lot 30) topped the auction when knocked down for $280,000 to Denali Stud. From the consignment of Knowles Farm, the daughter of Bernardini out of Grade 1 winning millionaire Mushka was offered with her 2025 Vino Rosso colt and back in foal to two-time Eclipse champion Elite Power.

The Kentucky Derby result had improved the value of the nine-year-old Ifurhappynuknowit substantially as Knowles Farm had picked her up for just $50,000 at last year's Keeneland November Breeding Stock Sale. Like Sovereignty's dam, Crowned, this mare was also unraced and her first foal, Happy Union by Union Rags, is a six-time winner at a minor level.

From a mixed catalogue of racehorses and breeding stock 98 horses sold overall for $3,786,000. The sale averaged $38,632 with a clearance rate of 83 per cent. 

"It was a great sale, strong across the board," said director of digital sales Leif Aaron. "We sold six-figure horses in every segment of the market. The clearance rate was fantastic and there was good trade all around. Horses of racing age continue to be in high demand. It was very exciting to offer a horse like Ifurhappynuknow it fresh off a huge update. Timing is everything."

The next biggest sale was that of Lionel (122), a three-year-old colt by Authentic who sold for $260,000 to BBA Ireland and Saudi Arabian owner KAS Stables. Lionel broke his maiden on debut at Laurel Park on May 4  in spectacular style by coming over nine lengths clear. Another impressive winner Rapture (26), a three-year-old colt by Uncle Mo, was bought for $190,000 by agent Dermot Farrington from Evergreen Equine.

Stonetacular (14) offered with her 2025 Vekoma filly and back in foal to Muth, sold for $250,000 to Greg Tramontin from the consignment of Bluegrass Thoroughbred Services, offering on behalf of agent Merriebelle Stable.

Another highlight was a yearling colt by Yaupon (51), who sold for $200,000 to Red Devil Bloodstock from the Hill ‘n’ Dale at Xalapa draft. The bay colt is out of the Union Rags mare Dance Costume, from the immediate family of multiple Grade 2 winning millionaire Fluffy Socks.

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