Practical Joke Weanlings Top Saratoga Fall Sale

It didn’t take long for three-time Grade I winner Practical Joke to make headlines in the sales ring with the stallion siring the two most expensive horses at the Fasig-Tipton Saratoga Fall Sale on Tuesday.

The stallion’s striking weanling son out of Singing Doe took sale topper honors when purchased for $160,000 from Steven Weston, going through the ring as part of the RFHF Bloodstock consignment as Hip 238. Bred by Hidden Lake Farm LLC, 3C Thoroughbreds, West Point Thoroughbreds, et al in New York, the colt is a half-brother to Listed winner and Grade III-placed Pain And Misery with two other half-siblings also winners for Singing Doe. Singing Doe is a half-sister to Listed winner and Grade I-placed Awesome I Am.

"He was my favorite baby of the entire season," said co-breeder Chris Bernhard. "I bred four mares back to Practical Joke because of this colt (including his dam Singing Doe.) I'll be breeding back for sure in 2020."

Twenty-two hips later, Practical Joke’s daughter out of Unicorn Kid became the second most expensive offering of the sale when bringing $150,000 from Exclusive Equine Investments as Hip 260.

Bred and consigned by The New Hill Farm, the filly is a half-sister to Puerto Rico Champion Pure Lemon and stakes winner Crafty Unicorn. Her dam has produced four winners from six runners.

"Practical Joke seems to stamp his babies, this filly was our pick of the sale. She has the balance and athleticism we love to see," said Exclusive Equine Investments' Jimbo Gladwell.

All three of Practical Joke’s weanlings on offer were sold for an average of $128,333 with studmate and fellow freshman sire Classic Empire topping all freshman stallions by average with his lone offering the third most expensive of the sale when selling for $135,000.