SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y.--Fasig-Tipton's New York Bred Yearling Sale broke all records on Aug.15, with its sales gross of $20,175,000 eclipsing by nine percent the previous high.

Fasig-Tipton N.Y. bred sales topperThe record breaking New York sale followed a week after the record breaking Selected Yearling sale.

“Saratoga is a magical place,” said Boyd Browning, Fasig-Tipton president and CEO, reflecting on both the Saratoga Sale and New York Bred Yearlings. “It restores and invigorates the hope, the enthusiasm, and the love that we all have for the game.”

Pennsylvania and Maryland breeders are hoping the excitement generated by the two Saratoga sales will carry over to the Fasig-Tipton Midlantic Fall Yearling sale, Oct. 3,4 in Timonium, Md.

"Certainly, there’s market confidence and momentum that’s been created throughout the July and Saratoga sales, and it bodes well, I think, for the overall marketplace this year," said Browning.”

 

"I THINK it's a positive outlook for the racing community," said Patti Miller of Unonville, Pa., a sales agent for EQB who bought three from the New York bred sale, one through the ring and two post sale.

"The majority of the money at both sales was not foreign money, and it was mostly from people that race in the states." said Miller." I would think it would carry over."

The New York bred program certainly promoted interest in the sale, as New York writes races with huge purses for New York breds, but the Pa-bred and Md-bred breeders awards are also huge for both breeders and owners.

"The Delaware certified and Virginia certified programs are pretty healthy, too, with enough perks for breeders and owners," said Miller.

Another encouraging sign from both Saratoga sale is that there was a variety of buyers, not just a few big spenders.

Plus, the sales money was spread through the sales, with higher prices trickling down to the middle market, and the not solds percentage was remarkably low at both sales.

 

A COLT from the final crop of Arrogate, who won the G1 Travers in track record time, sold for a sale-record $700,000 during the final session of the sale.

Tom McCrocklin, agent for Champion Equine, paid $700,000 for the sale topping colt by the late Arrogate, Hip 573 consigned by Eaton Sales, agent for Longford Farm.

Hip 573 is out of G3 Schuylerville Stakes winner Georgie’s Angel, by Bellamy Road, making him a full- or half-brother to four winners.

“It was so cool today to see Dan Burke, who’s been a lifelong breeder, raise a horse that brought $700,000,” said Fasig-Tipton President Boyd Browning of the sale topper. “He had a fabulous update, but he also had a lovely horse. I promise you, he’s on top of the world right now, just like he won a Grade 1 by selling a horse really well. The buyer’s probably thrilled, too.”

A colt by Hard Spun sold for $600,000 to top the Sunday session.

Hip 378 was bought by Joe Hardoon, agent, from Perrone Sales , agent, Apache Farm and Godolphin.

Hip 378 is out of the Dixie Union mare Passe, making him a half-brother to multiple Grade 1 placed multiple stakes winner Wonder Gal (Tiz Wonderful), who produced this year’s Debutante S. winner Wonder Wheel

Nine other yearlings sold for $300,000 or more during the session, including:

Hip 529, a colt by Nyquist out of Court Dress, sold for $375,000 to LML Inc., hip 439, a filly by Ghostzapper out of Thin Disguise, sold for $340,000 to Donaldson Bloodstock, hip 564, a filly by Tapit out of Flipcup, sold for $325,000 to Spendthrift Farm, hip 409, a colt by Not This Time out of Sheet Humor, sold for $320,000 to Maverick Racing and Siena Farm, hip 539, a colt by Liam’s Map out of Malibu Rainbow, sold for $300,000 to Arc Bloodstock, hip 314, a colt by Bolt d’Oro out of Judge Lee, sold for $355,000 to Greg Martin, agent, hip 392, a filly be Oscar Performance out of Reachfortheheavens, sold for $350,000 to Blue Chips Bloodstock, West Paces, Flying Partners, and Oracle Bloodstock, hip 348, a filly by Speightstown out of Memento d’Oro, sold for $330,000 to Carem Stables/Lisa Moser, and hip 379, a colt by Munnings out of Perfect Package, sold for $300,000 to Bradley Thoroughbreds.

Those nine yearlings all went to different buyers.

Miller bought hip 640, by Central Banker, for $67,000.

"I really liked that colt," said Miller. "I bought Central Banker as a yearling. I also bought Solomini as a yearling, and they stand at the same farm in New York. I bought one by Solomini post sale."

Over the course of the two-day sale, 188 yearlings sold for a sale-record gross of $20,175,000, eclipsing by 9 percent the previous record gross of $18,566,500 established at last year’s sale.

The average was $107,314, up 17 percent from $91,461 last year and just shy of the record average of $107,512 set in 2018.

The median was $74,000, second only to the $76,000 median recorded in 2018, and up 6 perent from last year’s median of $70,000.

The RNA rate was 18 percent, second only to 1981’s record RNA rate of 17%.

The sale topper was the second most-expensive horse ever sold at New York Bred Yearlings, behind only a $775,000 Malibu Moon filly sold in 2019.