![Rifleman.jpg](/sites/default/files/styles/headline_image_1024_x_577/public/Rifleman.jpg?itok=DJojwYTf)
The opening night of the 2017 Lexington Selected Yearling Sale is in the books, and Rifleman – a colt from the first crop of Father Patrick - proved to be the sale topper.
Courant Inc of Delray Beach, FL collared Hip 35 Rifleman the first foal out of Designed To Be (1:51.3 - $656,166), for $330,000. He was consigned by Kentuckiana Farms.
Hip 47 Seaside Bliss was the next highest at a price tag of $300,000. Consigned by Peninsula Farm Inc., the daughter of Cantab Hall-You Want Me was purchased by Paul Kelley of Gansevoort, NY. The filly is a half-sister to this year’s Peter Haughton Memorial winner, You Know You Do (1:54.2 - $389,872).
Hip 93 The Dream Lives On was a $265,000 purchase by Jimmy Takter of East Windsor, NJ. Consigned by Kentuckiana Farms, the Muscle Hill colt is just the second foal – and the first colt – out of the multi-talented To Dream On (1:52.1 - $975,395).
Hip 1 Southport Beach was $250,000 purchase by Geoff Martin of Calgary, AB. The son of Somebeachsomewhere-Benear, who was consigned by Vieux Carre Farms, is a full sibling to the speedy performers Limelight Beach (1:49.1 - $1.2 million), Manhattan Beach (1:49.2 - $598,814) and Momas Got A Gun (1:50.1 - $509,844).
Hip 11 Lus Illusion went to Determination Stable of Montreal, QC for the tidy sum of $235,000. The filly from the first crop of Sweet Lou is out of the hard-hitting Artistic Vision, who has already produced the double millionaires Rock N Roll Heaven (1:47.3 - $2.7 million) and Clear Vision (1:48.2 - $2.7 million). She was consigned by Hunterton Sales Agency Inc.
A total of 93 yearlings went through the sales ring during the opening session at the Fasig-Tipton Sales Pavilion in Lexington, Kentucky, with sales totaling $10.6 million for an average of $114,344 per yearling.
The auction will continue through Saturday, Oct. 7. Wednesday's session starts at 7:00 p.m.
To follow along with the Lexington Selected Yearling Sale online, please click the following links:
- Sale Roster
- Sale Results
- Sale Streaming Video (active during the sale)
E L Titan yearlings start
E L Titan yearlings start selling tonight, and I expect him to do as well as the other first crop trotting sires. Great looking group who can all really cover a lot of ground!