Jalen Journey 'Distinguished' at July Selected Horses of Racing Age Sale

The seventh edition of the July Selected Horses of Racing Age Sale was held Monday at Newtown Paddocks in Lexington, KY.

Jalen Journey, a close second in the Smile Sprint S. (G3) at Gulfstream Park on June 29, sold for $510,000 midway through the day's offerings to top the sale. Raymie Lightner, agent secured the four-year-old gelded son of With Distinction, who was offered as Hip 494 by Four Star Sales, agent. A three-time winner this year by a combined total of 17 ¼ lengths, Jalen Journey has earned $148,800 to date under the tutelage of Kathleen O'Connell for Commonwealth Stable.

"He's a hell of a nice racehorse," said Lightner when asked about his sale-topping purchase. "It looks like he could be any kind of horse." When asked about paying a premium for a gelding, Lightner responded, "We've had a lot of good geldings. That's the only thing I can say to that.

Orbolution, a filly from the first crop of Kentucky Derby (G1) winner Orb who has the distinction of being her sire's first stakes winner, sold for $325,000, the top price for a filly or mare on the day. Offered as Hip 521 by Taylor Made Sales Agency, agent, four-year-old Orbolution was purchased by Hinkle Farms. As a juvenile, Orbolution captured the P.G. Johnson S. at Saratoga by 4 ¾ lengths and was subsequently third in the Miss Grillo S. (G3) at Belmont. Campaigned to date by trainer Todd Pletcher for StarLadies Racing, Orbolution has earnings of $164,150 and a record of two wins, one second, and four thirds from eight starts.

"I thought the market was fair tonight," said Fasig-Tipton President Boyd Browning. "There was plenty of interest and activity on the sales grounds. There were a lot of horses that sold very well tonight, some dramatically above their reserves."

Overall, 95 horses sold for $6,548,500, good for an average of $68,932. The median was $45,000. Twenty offerings sold for $100,000 or more.

Results are available online.