Hip No. 24, an attractive chestnut colt from the second crop of champion sire Tapit, broke a Maryland record for a Thoroughbred sold at public auction on May 18th, selling for $850,000 to Steve W. Young, agent during the first session of the Fasig-Tipton Midlantic Two-Year-Olds in Training Sale at Timonium.

Named Tashop, the colt breezed a co-fastest eighth of a mile in 10.1 seconds. Bred and sold by the historic Florida-based Hobeau Farm through the consignment of agent Cary Frommer, Tashop is out of the Private Account mare Shopping and is a half-brother to three stakes winners including the Grade 1-winning millionaire Miss Shop.

Craig Wheeler, general manager of Hobeau, matched Shopping with the hot young Gainesway stallion back in 2006, and he was present at Timonium for the sale of the exciting young racing prospect three years later.

“We are tickled to death with the price,” said Wheeler. “I was looking for an A.P. Indy line stud when I bred the mare. When I came across Tapit, I was impressed by his looks and the fact that he was a great racehorse. It couldn’t have turned out any better. This colt is the total package.”

Tapit, the Leading Freshman & Juvenile Sire of 2008 with such performers as champion Stardom Bound (G1) and Laragh (G1), continues to impress with his 2-year-olds in training, attracting leading buyers and a lot of action in the sales ring. Earlier this year from his second crop, Tapit also sold the highest-priced filly at the Barretts March Two-Year-Olds in Training Sale, bringing $540,000 from leading buyer Demi O’Byrne DVM.

The $850,000 price for Tashop eclipses the previous Maryland record for a Thoroughbred that was held by Zounds, which brought $625,000 during the same auction back in 2006.