Sheikh Mohammed paid $1.35 million for an Empire Maker filly to top the Fasig-Tipton Florida 2YO Sale on Thursday.  

She is the first foal out of the A.P. Indy mare Half A. P., who is a half sister to 2003 Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies winner Halfbridled.

Darley bloodstock manager John Ferguson outlasted Spendthrift Farm owner B. Wayne Hughes to buy the Empire Maker filly from Murray Smith.  The Florida pin-hooker had initially purchased her for $435,000 from Lane’s End at the 2010 Fasig-Tipton Saratoga yearling sale.  

Ferguson weighed in $750,000 for a Tapit – Tempting Note filly who breezed one furlong in 9.40 seconds on Monday.  She is a sister to G2 placed Tempted To Tapit.  The price was a major mark up on the $67,000 she cost at the Keeneland September yearling sale.

Another Empire Maker colt was equal second on the leader-board at $750,000.  Robert and Lawana Low will race the half-brother to G1 winner Cash Included.  He was a $575,000 pinhook for Paul Pompa Jr. at the Keeneland September yearling sale.

Empire Maker was a G1 winner of the Belmont Stakes and he was recently sold by Juddmonte to stand in Japan.

Darley shuttlers Medaglia d’Oro, Hard Spun and Street Sense were also in demand.

A colt from the first crop of King’s Bishop Stakes winner Hard Spun sold to Elizabeth Moran’s Brushwood Stable for $575,000.  He is out of Princess Patricia, a half-sister to the top-class American turf performer Forever Together.

A colt by Kentucky Derby winner Street Sense made $400,000 to the bid of New York-based owner Eric Fein.  However, the sale would have been a bitter – sweet one for his vendors since he was bought back as a yearling for $650,000 at the Fasig-Tipton Saratoga yearling sale in August.

Fasig-Tipton offered 143 lots on Thursday for turnover of $19.83 million.  The average of $257,473 was down 5% and the $200,000 was unchanged from the 2010 figures.  The clearance rate for the one-day sale was 57%.