Kentucky Oaks winner Abel Tasman sells for $5 million

Jan 07, 2019

Abel Tasman, the 2017 Kentucky Oaks (G1) winner and champion three-year-old filly who is also an Eclipse Award finalist for 2018 champion older dirt female honors, was sold to Coolmore for $5 million at Monday's first session of the 2019 Keeneland January Horses of All Ages Sale in Lexington, Kentucky.

Consigned by Taylor Made Sales Agency, agent, the five-year-old daughter of Quality Road was sold as a broodmare prospect. The $5 million bid equaled the previous record amount for a January Sale offering brought by the broodmare Mackie in 2000.

Campaigned by breeder Clearsky Farms and China Horse Club International, Abel Tasman was retired with a record of 16-8-4-0, $2,793,385. Trained by Bob Baffert, she won three of four starts at two, including the Starlet (G1) at Los Alamitos.

During her championship campaign at three, she captured the Kentucky Oaks with a last-to-first rally by 1 1/4 lengths, as well as the Acorn (G1) and Coaching Club American Oaks (G1). She finished second in the Breeders' Cup Distaff (G1), Cotillion (G1), Santa Anita Oaks (G1), and Santa Ysabel (G3).

Last season, Abel Tasman won the Ogden Phipps (G1) and Personal Ensign (G1) but failed to place in four other stakes appearances. She finished last of 11 in the Breeders' Cup Distaff at Churchill Downs in her final start.

Bred in Kentucky, Abel Tasman is out of the Deputy Minister mare Vargas Girl, who also reared Grade 3 winner Sky Girl. Also hailing from this female family are Grade 1 winner Bevo and Grade 2 winners Wilburn and Beethoven, the latter a winner of the Kentucky Jockey Club (G2) at Churchill Downs.

(Coglianese Photography)