Informed Patriot sells for $1.55 million after bidding war

Sparks flew late at Fasig-Tipton’s July selected horses of racing age on Monday at the Newtown Paddocks in Lexington, Ky., a protracted bidding war that concluded with a sale record price.

Informed Patriot, third in Sunday’s Grade 3 Indiana Derby, hammered down for $1.55 million to top the single-session sale. HRH Prince Saud bin Salman purchased the colt, a full brother to Breeders’ Cup Dirt Mile (G1) hero Spun to Run, from the consignment of Taylor Made Sales Agency, agent. The price was the highest paid in the history of the sale.

Ibrahim Rashid, who signed the ticket on behalf of the buyer, said, “He (HRH Prince Saud bin Salman) said, ‘Go for it. Don’t stop at all.’ ”

“It was quite the way to end a horse sale,” Fasig-Tipton president Boyd Browning said of the sale topper. “(This is what happens) when several people are in a very competitive interest in a quality horse.” Of the sale as a whole, Browning said, “There was really solid trade (and) a lot of activity on those horses.”

Overall, 65 horses of racing age sold for $6,708,500. The average was $103,208, up 5 percent from last year’s average of $97,583. The median was $62,000. The RNA rate was 20 percent.