Burning hot Bernardini

$1.2 milllion colt tops second session of Saratoga Select

Not to be outdone by his stud mate Medaglia d'Oro, sire of Monday’s top-priced yearling, young sire phenom Bernardini matched the first session’s $1.2 million high price with his bay son consigned by Mill Ridge Sales, agent. A half-brother to millionaire and G1 winner Havre de Grace, the handsome yearling colt was purchased by John Ferguson on behalf of Sheikh Mohammed.

In all, three of the top four highest-priced offerings of the second session of Fasig-Tipton’s Saratoga Select Sale were colts sired by Bernardini. Besides the session topper, prices of $750,000 and $725,000 were also reached from the consignments of Dapple Stud, agent, for Clover Hill Farm, and Brookdale Sales, agent for Hardacre Farm, LLC respectively. John Ferguson, again representing Sheikh Mohammed, signed the tickets for both.

Darley sires Street Cry, Medaglia d’Oro and Bernardini filled the top three spots of all sires by total average with final tallies of $588,000, $584,0000 and $544,000, respectively. These three were also responsible for nine of the top 10 high-priced lots sold

Although he had only one offering in each of two sessions, the popularity for Street Cry was very apparent as a bay son out of a full sister to Horse of the Year Dance Smartly reached a final bid of $625,000 on the heels of his $550,000 yearling the night before. His sole representative in the second session is also headed to the racing stable of Sheikh Mohammed.

Finally, G1 winner and leading freshman sire Hard Spun continued his solid sale on day two with three yearlings bringing prices of $290,000, $260,000 and $220,000. His total yearling average for both days totaled $243,000.