SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y.--The second, Tuesday evening session of Fasig-Tipton’s 102nd Saratoga Selected Yearlings Sale set records in every cateogry, including a sale record gross, average and median.

Colt by Curlin out of Beholder brought $4 million (Photo by Fasig-Tipton)A Curlin colt (Hip 165) out of Horse of the Year Beholder sold for $4,000,000 to Donato Lanni, agent for Zedan Racing, to top the session and the sale.

Taylor Made Sales Agency, agent, consigned the colt on behalf of breeder Spendthrift Farm.

The colt is the first of Hall of Fame inductee Beholder’s foals to be offered at public auction.

Beholder’s most accomplished runner to date is this year’s G3 Senorita Stakes winner Teena Ella, by War Front.

By Curlin, sire of three Eclipse Award champions in 2022, and out of the incomparable racemare Beholder, the blue-blooded colt hails from the immediate family of four-time leading sire Into Mischief, Broodmare of the Year Leslie’s Lady, and G1 winner and sire Mendelssohn.

The price reflected the rarity of the offering, matching the third highest price ever realized at The Saratoga Sale, and the most expensive since 2000.

The $4 million sale was, the same as a colt by Roberto that sold in 1984.

Only two were more expensive, a Seattle Slew colt that sold for 4.2 million in 2000, and a Northern Dancer colt that sold for $4.6 million in 1984.

 

“WE'VE EXPERIENCED some magical nights in Saratoga in the past and you’ve heard me talk about the Saratoga magic,” said Fasig-Tipton President Boyd Browning. “But we ain’t seen nothing like tonight. It was literally spectacular from the first hip in the ring to the conclusion of the sale. This is what happens when you have the opportunity to sell exceptional physical horses that have outstanding pedigrees to an unbelievable group of buyers that love coming to Saratoga.”

Roy and Gretchen Jackson's Lael Stable of West Grove, Pa., bought two, a colt and a filly, after buying one Monday evening.

They bought a filly named Lady Liberty, by Constitution out of Shayjolie, for $625,000 from Taylor Made Sales Agency, agent.

They also bought a colt by Not this Time out of White Hot (Ire) for $350,000 from Stone Farm Agent.

Northview Stallion Station,, David Wade agent, of Chesapeake City, Md., had five go through the ring Tuesday evening,with three selling for an average of $450,000, with two not sold.

A colt by Good Magic out of Sassy Miss Sue was bought by CHC Inc. Siena Farm and Maverick Racing for $350,000.

A colt by Speightstown out of Tempers Rising was bought by Boardshorts for $350,000 after the sale.

A colt by Gun Runner out of Willa was bought by Chad Schumer, agent, for $650,000.

A filly by Authentic out of Tapit for Free did not bring her reserve of $145,000, and a colt by Street Sense out of Victory Rally,with a reserve of $90,000, was not sold.

In addition to the sale topper, seven other yearlings sold for $1million or more during Tuesday’s session, including:

Hip 228, a colt by Into Mischief sold for $3,200,000 to Donato Lanni, agent for Zedan Racing, from the consignment of Indian Creek, agent.

The bay colt is the first foal out of the American Pharoah mare All American Dream, from the immediate family of G1 winners Dream Supreme and Majestic Warrior and was bred in Kentucky by Jeff Drown and Don Rachel, LLC.

Hip 135, a colt by Into Mischief sold for $1,500,000 to Eclipse Thoroughbred Partners from the consignment of Taylor Made Sales Agency, agent for Stonestreet.

The bay colt is out of G1 winner Rachel’s Valentina, by Bernardini, daughter of Horse of the Year Rachel Alexandra and was bred in Kentucky by Stonestreet Thoroughbred Holdings.

Hip 129, a colt by Tapit sold for $1,200,000 to Whisper Hill Farm LLC from the consignment of Taylor Made Sales Agency, agent.

The chestnut colt is out of the winning Tiznow mare Plenty O’Toole, whose three winners to date include multiple graded stakes winner Mr. Money, by Goldencents.

The immediate family includes Grade/Group 1 winners Well Armed, Cyberknife, and American Patriot.

Hip 123, a Tapit colt sold for $1,100,000 to Mike Ryan, agent, from the consignment of Gainesway, agent.

The dark bay or brown colt is out of G1 winner Paola Queen,by Flatter, from the immediate family of G1 winner Point Ashley and was bred in Kentucky by Don Alberto Corporation.

Hip 140, a colt by Twirling Candy sold for $1,000,000 to Chuck Sonson & West Point, L.E.B., agent, from the consignment of Lane’s End, agent.

The colt is out of Rehearsed, a Tapit half-sister to G1 winner Mani Bhavan and G2 winner Hear the Ghost and a full sister to G1 placed stakes winner Closing Bell and was bred in Kentucky by W. S. Farish.

Hip 194, a filly by Gun Runner sold for $1,000,000 to Randy Gullat, agent for Jack Pot Farm, Whispering Oaks, and Rick Ortyl from the consignment of Hill ‘n’ Dale at Xalapa, agent.

The chestnut filly is a half-sister to six foals from as many to race out of the winning Tapit mare Temptress, including G2 winning millionaire Tenfold, by Curlin.

Hip 208, an Into Mischief colt sold for $1,000,000 to CHC Inc, Siena Farm, & Maverick Racing from the consignment of St George Sales, agent.

The chestnut colt is the second foal out of the G2 placed Distorted Humor mare Virginia Key, a half-sister to G1 winner Grace Adler, from the immediate family of Bullsbay and was bred in Kentucky by Blue Heaven Farm.

“It was just phenomenal,”said Browning. “It was really rewarding to see people send their very best horses here and trust us and then have the results and the success they had tonight.”

"You hear me talking at times about dedication of the men and women of this company, and it’s true,"said Browning. "The results are evident  by a sale like tonight. It was just phenomenal. It’s really rewarding to see people send their very best horses here and trust us. Then to have the results and success that they had tonight."

Overall, 153 yearlings sold for a sale record $74,780,000, up 11.7 percent from the previous record of $66,955,000 set last year.

The average of $488,758 eclipsed by 4.4 percent the record set last year of $468,217.

The median tied last year’s record of $375,000.

Ten yearlings sold for $1,000,000 or more over the course of the two nights.

“The consistency of bidding throughout the night, particularly on the upper-end lots and anything over $300,000, at times the auctioneers and
bid spotters had trouble keeping up with the bidding," said Browning. "Not because they weren’t doing their job but there were so many bids coming it was hard to keep up. It was an unbelievable atmosphere and unbelievable results tonight.”

A share in leading young sire Not This Time was offered prior to the first yearling of the second session, selling for $2,000,000.

That price is not reflected in the yearling sale results.