Champion, current Eclipse Award nominee, winner of six Grade One stakes races, and multi-millionaire Abel Tasman provided all the thrills at the 2019 opening day of the Keeneland January Sale when she sold as hip number 288 for five million dollars, tying a Keeneland January record that stood for 19 years when the beautifully bred Mackie (Summer Squall/Glowing Tribute, by Graustark) fetched the same amount. Bidding opened at three million dollars, then hardly paused until Abel Tasman reached the five million mark. By hot young sire Quality Road, and out of the Deputy Minister mare Vargas Girl, bred by Clearsky Farms and raced by the breeder and China Horse Club, Abel Tasman looked every bit the part of a racing goddess in the ring, calmly eyeing the crowd that had gathered in the sales pavilion to witness this event. Trained, of course, by Bob Baffert, Abel Tasman’s list of superlative achievements goes on forever.
The calm, collected, and cool Coolmore posse led by M.V. Magnier purchased Abel Tasman in the back of the ring, never flinching as the bidding skyrocketed. Lead Keeneland auctioneer Ryan Mahan had the duty of auctioning the champ, and the best horse handler in the world, Cordell Anderson, showed her to perfection.
Taylor Made consigned the champ, and showed her in the back walking ring in a custom made blanket to protect her from the weather, with her name and achievements noted on its sides. Taylor Made should have known that Abel Tasman would show her best self, regardless of weather, since she won in slop and on fast tracks, wherever she raced. The question becomes: which one of Coolmore’s wonderful stallions will she be bred to?