The Fasig-Tipton Two-Year-Olds in Training Sale held on Tuesday, April 5 at the Texas Thoroughbred Association Sales Pavilion at Lone Star Park at Grand Prairie saw a 7.8% increase in average sales price for the 142 horses sold as compared to 2004. The top price of $110,000 was paid by Danny Shifflett of Lane’s End Texas for a daughter of leading Texas sire Valid Expectations.

The sale topper was produced by the winning Dunham’s Gift It Fits. Named It's Valid, the sale topper was consigned by Mike Mulligan's Leprechaun Racing, agent. K and B Ventures purchased the half sister to stakes-placed Hellohellohello, by Secret Hello, for $35,000 at the 2004 Fasig-Tipton Texas Summer Yearling Sale.

"That's as good a filly as they've ever had in this sale," Shifflett said. "I knew I'd have to pay that much. I raised this filly as a foal, so I knew how good she is."

Shifflett represented Lane's End's owner William S. Farish, and the sale topper will be trained by Steve Asmussen.

With 44 fewer horses offered this year, 142 horses were sold overall, down 24.9% from 2004. The sale grossed $2,631,600, a 19% decline from 2004, but the average price was up 7.8% to $18,532. At the same sale last year, 189 horses were sold for $3,247,800, an average of $17,184.

"I'm pretty happy," said Tim Boyce, director of sales for Fasig-Tipton Texas. "Our total is down, but we didn't have as many to sell. It was well attended, and we had some new people here like John Scanlan, representing Dan Borislow, and Gary Contessa.

"Being closer to the start of the [Lone Star Park] meet certainly helped the attendance. The trainers had a chance to watch these horses train for a few days and get excited about some of them. I want to keep this date."