With a soft ping that sounds like a digital chef's kiss, another bid is in for Fasig-Tipton's May Sale online.
The diverse catalogue might be conducted via fiber, but the horse flesh here is once again bona fide as the platform continues to set a virtual ring standard.
One of the more intriguing hips you will find among the lots is no. 122. Holding down that page we find 3-year-old Lionel (Authentic–Sweetgrass, by Street Sense). The colt broke his maiden at first asking by an eye-catching 9 1/2 lengths at Laurel Park May 4.
The hot prospect is owned collectively by 'The Avengers' whose real identities you know as SF Racing, Starlight Racing, Madaket Stables, Dianne Bashor, Determined Stables, Robert Masterson, Tom Ryan, Waves Edge Capital and Catherine Donovan.
Consigned by ELiTE Sales, the ownership group opted to sell Lionel through Fasig-Tipton's portal because it allows the colt to stay in-training at Brittany Russell's Laurel base.
Lionel breaks his maiden at Laurel | Jim McCue
“We think it is very exciting to have a horse with so much potential like Lionel on the platform,” said Fasig-Tipton's Director of Digital Sales Leif Aaron. “It really shows that Bradley [Weisbrod] and the ELiTE team have faith and confidence in our digital sales platform. It's obviously the safest way to sell a horse, so they can stay in their own stall and not break their routine.”
ELiTE's Sales Director and Coordinator Katelyn Jackson said their boutique consignment has had luck when it comes to digital sales. She added that the Fasig-Tipton process is seamless since shipping to any given brick and mortar auction can take at least a week out of a horse of racing age's schedule.
“Lionel is the prime sort of candidate for a digital sale because he is being offered by some very game sellers,” Jackson said. “They're looking to capitalize on his recent form, and it also gives future connections and buyers the chance to own a horse who clearly has a lot of blue sky ahead. So, bringing him to the digital market is an opportunity to reward both sides.”
The lightly-raced dark bay with one star under his belt is by second-crop sire Authentic, who Jackson said is putting his stamp on types that are getting better the farther they go over a route of ground.
LIONEL ($3.80) makes his debut a winning one in the 7th at @LaurelPark. @JevianToledo was up on the colt by Authentic (@spendthriftfarm) for trainer @BTRracingstable. @StarlightRacing | @MadaketStables | @TomRyanKY pic.twitter.com/PZ0ipLnEed
— FanDuel Racing (@FanDuel_Racing) May 4, 2025
“With that 78 Beyer, 4 3/4 Thoro-Graph and 13 Ragozin he posted at Laurel, moving forward potential owners can take advantage of all the 3-year-old restricted stakes and summer Derbies like in Indiana, West Virginia and Oklahoma,” she said. “There's just so much purse money up for grabs with this one.
Through the niche platform that Fasig-Tipton has built, Jackson said there is always the option for the colt to stay with his Maryland-based trainer after the sale is complete.
“In the past, ELiTE has sold the likes of Newgrange, Carmel Road, Coppola and Tarantino,” Jackson said. “We see the same kind of potential for Lionel to become a stakes-caliber horse and are excited to see what the future holds for him.”
With a steady diet of pings ahead, the Fasig-Tipton May Digital Sale wraps in the late afternoon on Tuesday, May 13.
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