Cover image courtesy of Fasig-Tipton
During an electrifying session of bidding on Tuesday, the Fasig-Tipton Saratoga Select Yearling Sale produced 10 seven-figure yearlings, topped by a US$2.3 million (AU$3.6 million) son of Gun Runner, and it crashed records for gross, average and median.
When the dust settled on a frenzied two sessions of bidding, 143 yearlings had sold for US$66,955,000 (AU$96,241,200), topping the auction's previous record gross of US$62,794,000 (AU$90,260,200) set in 2018.
The sale average of US$468,212 (AU$673,000) broke the previous record of US$411,459 (AU$591,400) set in 2019, while the median of US$375,000 (AU$539,000) eclipsed the record of US$350,000 (AU$503,000) recorded in both 2019 and 2021.
During the 2021 auction, 135 yearlings grossed US$55,155,000 (AU$79,279,900) for an average of US$408,556 (AU$587,300) and a median of US$350,000 (AU$503,000).
With 36 yearlings reported not sold, the buy-back rate was 20.1 per cent, as against 25 per cent 12 months ago.
In all, 14 yearlings sold for seven figures at the boutique auction. Only four hit that level at the 2021 auction. Tuesday's 10 seven-figure yearlings were purchased by nine different buyers, reflecting the deep buying bench that was active throughout the two-day sale.
“Rarely do you find me speechless,” said Fasig-Tipton's President, Boyd Browning. “We are blown away by the results. The energy, the excitement, it just feels so good from an industry perspective.
“The statistics are phenomenal. We averaged over US$500,000 (AU$720,000) tonight and had 10 horses over seven figures and those 10 were sold to about eight or nine entities. We shattered every record known to mankind. It is a really good feeling.”
“The statistics are phenomenal. We averaged over US$500,000 (AU$720,000) tonight and had 10 horses over seven figures... We shattered every record known to mankind. It is a really good feeling.” - Boyd Browning
Brant, Magnier team up for Gun Runner colt
As the electrifying second session of the Fasig-Tipton Saratoga Sale began to wind down on Tuesday night, the Coolmore team was joined by Peter Brant and the partnership pulled out all the stops to secure another yearling by the Three Chimneys stallion (Hip 202) for a sale-topping US$2.3 million (AU$3.6 million).
Bloodstock agent Marette Farrell was the underbidder on the colt, which was consigned by Gainesway on behalf of his breeder, Debby Oxley.
“(Gainesway's) Brian Graves told us he was a really nice horse,” Coolmore's M.V. Magnier said. “Mr. and Mrs. Oxley breed a very nice horse.”
Hip 202 - Gun Runner (USA) x Heavenly Love (USA) (colt) | Image courtesy of Fasig-Tipton
Of the partnership with Brant's White Birch Farm, Magnier said: “We've had horses with him in the past and hopefully we will have a lot more of them.”
The Oxleys' relationship with the sale-topper's family goes back two generations, with John Oxley purchasing the yearling's second dam, Darling My Darling (USA) (Deputy Minister {USA}) for US$300,000 (AU$430,000) at the 1998 Keeneland September Yearling Sale.
Darling My Darling, who is a daughter of 1994 G1 Ballerina H. winner Roamin Rachel (USA) (Mining {USA}), was second in the 1999 G1 Matron S. and G1 Frizette S. for the Oxleys and the late trainer John Ward.
Antony Beck, John and Debby Oxley | Image courtesy of Fasig-Tipton
“My husband bought Darling My Darling for me because I loved Roamin Rachel,” Debby Oxley said. “You guys are too young to know who Roamin Rachel was, but she was just this hard-knocking race mare that raced on the Kentucky circuit.
“Darling has brought a lot of joy to our lives. It's so amazing to think, you have to pinch yourself. John Ward is up in heaven doing a big dance tonight. To think we could be a sale-topper out of the mare is just incredible.”
America provides more Saratoga fireworks
Three years ago, a yearling by Curlin (USA) out of America (USA) (A.P. Indy {USA}) produced fireworks in the Saratoga sales ring when bringing a equal sale-topping final bid of US$1.5 million (AU$2.2 million) from a partnership group that included West Point Thoroughbreds and Woodford Racing.
First Captain (USA) | Image courtesy of West Point Thoroughbreds
On Tuesday, First Captain (USA) (Curlin {USA}), already a Graded stakes winner and expected to line up for next month's G1 Jockey Club Gold Cup, was eclipsed in the sales ring by his full sister (Hip 126) when West Point and Woodford, joined this time by 3C Stable, was forced to US$2 million (AU$2.9 million) to acquire the filly from the Stone Farm consignment.
“The power of the partnership, we see it time and time again,” said West Point's Terry Finley. “I think it's just going to get bigger and stronger. The key is that you have to have good partners and I think we do. I know we do.”
Of the filly's appeal, Bill Farish of Woodford Racing explained: “She reminds us a little bit of First Captain. She is a very athletic, strong-made filly with a lot of Curlin in her for sure. We have had luck with him and we were hoping to have luck with her on the racetrack. She is the kind of filly who will be a great broodmare one day.”
“She (Hip 126) reminds us a little bit of First Captain. She is a very athletic, strong-made filly with a lot of Curlin in her for sure. She is the kind of filly who will be a great broodmare one day.” - Terry Finley
The filly's broodmare potential should only increase if her full brother is able to secure a Grade 1 victory, according to Finley, and First Captain will line up in the G1 Jockey Club Gold Cup in September.
West Point and Woodford had teamed up on Monday to purchase the US$1.5 million (AU$2.2 million) son of Uncle Mo (USA) during Monday's opening session.
Hip 126 - Curlin (USA) x America (USA) (filly) | Image courtesy of Fasig-Tipton
Baffert secures another Quality filly
Trainer Bob Baffert ended the Saratoga Sale on a high note, securing a US$1.8 million (AU$2.6 million) Quality Road (USA) filly (Hip 213) just three hips before the end of the sale.
He was acting on behalf of an undisclosed client and did his bidding alongside bloodstock agent Donato Lanni and his own wife, Jill Baffert.
“She's a beautiful filly,” said Baffert, who trained Quality Road's champion filly Abel Tasman (USA). “I've done well buying fillies here. Mt. Brilliant raises a really good horse. I was fortunate I had somebody to buy her because she is the kind of filly that I like to buy. I've had a lot of success with those types of fillies. Those kind pan out and play at the top level.”
As for the price, he said: “I thought she was going to be expensive, especially tonight the way the prices are. It is my job to get that back and hopefully we will.”
Consigned by Lane's End, Hip 213 was bred by Greg Goodman's Mt. Brilliant Farm and Ranch and Lane's End's W. S. Farish.
Goodman purchased her stakes-placed dam, Ithinkisawapudycat (USA) (Bluegrass Cat {USA}), for US$2.2 million (AU$3.2 million) in foal to Constitution (USA) at the 2016 Keeneland November Sale.
Bob Baffert | Image courtesy of Fasig-Tipton
Ryan jumps in the colt-partnership game
Partnerships, and those focused on buying colts with the potential to run two turns, are the name of the game right now and bloodstock agent Mike Ryan is the latest to get in on the action.
He went to US$1.75 million (AU$2.5 million) to acquire a son of Curlin (Hip 127) on behalf of his new group, headed by owner Jeff Drown.
“We put a group together with Jeff Drown and some other guys,” said Ryan, who indicated the colt would go to a top New York trainer. “We are looking at the first Saturday in May. He is the complete package. It is very hard to find a hole in him.
Hip 127 - Curlin (USA) x Angela Renee (USA) (colt) | Image courtesy of Fasig-Tipton
“I don't like to use the phrase ticked all the boxes, but I couldn't fault him. He is very smooth, beautiful pedigree and came off a good farm. If he is a Grade I winner, he is worth a lot of money down the road. He has a great stallion future.”
As for the price, Ryan said: “To be honest, we were thinking about US$1.5 million (AU$2,156,100), but when you are looking at these types of horses, it is very hard to split them. If they are good, they're good and they'll reward you.”
Consigned by Taylor Made, Hip 127 is out of Grade 1 winner Angela Renee (USA) (Bernardini {USA}), who is also responsible for the recent Curlin S. runner-up and Graded stakes-placed colt Gilded Age (USA) (Medaglia D'Oro {USA}).
“To be honest, we were thinking about US$1.5 million (AU$2,156,100) (for Hip 127), but when you are looking at these types of horses, it is very hard to split them. If they are good, they're good and they'll reward you.” - Mike Ryan
The chestnut colt shares the same third dam as Monday's US$1.5 million (AU$2,156,100) session-topping Uncle Mo colt (Hip 68) in stakes winner and Graded stakes-placed Misty Hour (USA) (Miswaki {USA}).
D. Wayne Lukas goes for Medaglia D'Oro colt
A colt by former Darley shuttler Medaglia D'Oro (USA) (Hip 114) was the first to seven figures on Tuesday when hammering for US$1.35 million (AU$2 million) after a furious round of bidding early in the session.
However, the real excitement came when the crowd realised the buyer was none other than D. Wayne Lukas.
Lukas signed the ticket under the name of John Bellinger, one of the partners in BC Stables which campaigns 'TDN Rising Star' and recent G3 Schuylerville S. runner-up Summer Promise (USA) (Uncle Mo {USA}) with the Hall of Fame trainer.
“I think we will do something creative with him,” said Lukas. “John (Bellinger) has a good friend named Brian Coelho (his partner in BC Stables). A few of us might take a piece. We will just have to work through it.”
Out of Grade 3 winner Walk Close (USA) (Tapit {USA}), Hip 114 is a full brother to G1 Breeders' Cup Juvenile runner-up Aneau d'Or (USA) (Medaglia D'Oro {USA}). His second dam is the stakes winner and Grade 1-placed Spring Awakening (USA) (In Excess {Ire}).
Hip 114 - Medaglia D'Oro (USA) x Walk Close (USA) (colt) | Image courtesy of Fasig-Tipton
“He is a wonderful colt,” Lukas said. “He was a really good physical, obviously. We weren't the only people who liked him.”
Consigned by Four Star Sales, Hip 114 was bred by Lochlow Farm and Godolphin, which stands Medaglia D'Oro.
Lukas also purchased a pair of US$425,000 (AU$610,000) yearlings during Monday's session on behalf of BC Stables in Hip 65, an Into Mischief (USA) colt, and Hip 60, a Munnings (USA) filly.
Hits It Out of the Park With first Saratoga offering
Anthony Melfi and retired trainer Gary Gullo's GMP Stable began just short of two years ago and they hit a high note when their first homebred to sell at the Saratoga Sale, a Curlin filly (Hip 151), summoned US$1.05 million (AU$1.5 million) from Eclipse Thoroughbreds, Robert LaPenta's Whitehorse and Sol Kumin's Madaket Stable.
GMP Stable purchased Hip 151's Grade 1-placed dam, Cassies Dreamer (USA) (Flatter {USA}), for US$435,000 (AU$625,000) with this filly in utero at the 2020 Fasig-Tipton November Sale.
“It's amazing,” said Gullo, who spent 40 years training horses on the NYRA circuit. “Trying to get the right horse and right breeding is hard. I can almost say it is better than winning any kind of race. To have a horse you bred come for over US$1 million is a great thing.”
Eclipse Thoroughbreds has a history of success with Curlin mares, namely Curalina (USA) (Curlin {USA}) and current top sophomore filly Nest (USA) (Curlin {USA}), so it was no surprise to see Aron Wellman sign the ticket.
“Trying to get the right horse and right breeding is hard. I can almost say it is better than winning any kind of race. To have a horse you bred come for over US$1 million is a great thing.” - Gary Gullo
He indicated the filly would go to Todd Pletcher, who trained both of the aforementioned fillies.
Live Oak strikes for Into Mischief filly
Live Oak principal Charlotte Weber had been patiently watching the action through the first session-and-a-half of the Saratoga Sale, and she jumped in just past the halfway mark on Tuesday, going to US$1 million (AU$1.43 million) for an Into Mischief (USA) filly (Hip 166).
“She is beautifully balanced,” Weber said. “She has a nice walk. She has great prospects as a racehorse and a broodmare.”
Trainer Mark Casse, who bid on Weber's behalf, added: “She has it all - Curlin and Into Mischief. We've had pretty good luck with both.”
This filly is a half-sister to a mare that resides at David Kobritz's Musk Creek Farm in Victoria. Apologynotaccepted (USA) (Fusaichi Pegasus {USA}) was purchased by Musk Creek Farm and Craig Rounsefell's Boomer Bloodstock (FBAA) for AU$500,000 at the 2019 Inglis Chairman’s Sale.
Apologynotaccepted’s first foal, a filly by Medaglia D’Oro, was purchased by trainer Kevin Corstens for $150,000 at the Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale in 2021. Now named Sorrynotsorry, the filly is unraced.
Earlier this year at the Gold Coast sale, Apologynotaccepted’s second foal, a colt by Written Tycoon, was snapped up by the Rosemont Victorian Alliance, Suman Hedge Bloodstock (FBAA) for $500,000.
In 2021, the daughter of Fusaichi Pegasus (USA) also produced a colt by Snitzel and is currently in foal Bivouac.
