First Vekoma yearlings average six figures at Fasig-Tipton

The Fasig-Tipton July Yearling sale Tuesday saw seven yearlings from the first crop of Vekoma go through the ring, topped by a $200,000 colt consigned by Taylor Made Sales Agency.

Vekoma’s average at the end of Tuesday’s sale was $107,142, the highest average for any First-Crop sire with at least six lots to sell.

The Spendthrift stallion’s top seller, hip No. 64 went to Lothenbach Stables Inc., with trainer Neil Pessin bidding on his behalf.

“I look for athletic, well-balanced horses with a decent walk,” Pessin said. “He is athletic and not real wide, but he’s got a nice butt on him. And he has a good walk. That’s what I look for when I come looking for yearlings.”

Hip 64, already named Lastabitlonger, is out of the Malibu Moon mare Advanced Green, making him a half-brother to stakes winners Jade Dragon and Be Vewy Vewy Quiet. This is also the family of top sprinters Trippi and Appealing Skier.

“Vekoma, with that sire line, they aren’t always the most spectacular physicals, so it was a little tricky to know what we were going to get,” Spendthrift’s Ned Toffey said of the farm’s stallion. “But as soon as those foals started to hit the ground last year, we have just been overwhelmed by the feedback from breeders. And that’s carried right on through. I thought it was a very solid group that was out here and I keep hearing about more. So I expect him to have a very, very good sales season.”