Breeding & Racing Magazine

Florida 2YOs: US$1.35m Empire Maker Filly

In the US auction ring, Sheikh Mohammed's bloodstock agent John Ferguson out-bid Spendthrift Farm owner B. Wayne Hughes to pay top price of US$1.35 million for a filly by Juddmonte Farms home-bred 2003 Gr1 Belmont Stakes-winning stallion Empire Maker (the 1st foal out of Pulpit mare Half A.P.) at the Fasig-Tipton Florida Selected 2YOs-In-Training Sale at the Palm Meadows training facility in Boynton Beach. The filly (who clocked 10.0sec for 1 furlong during the pre-sale breeze-up session) was consigned by agent Murray Smith (who purchased her for US$435,000 at last year's Fasig-Tipton Saratoga sale); her dam Half A.P. is a half-sister to champion Halfbridled. Ferguson told bloodhorse.com: "She's an outstanding individual & she has a lovely pedigree. She has done everything right & she comes from a consignor who has produced many top horses in the past. You know that she's been prepared in the right way. I would think she would stay in the US."