Cover image courtesy of Fasig-Tipton
The Fasig-Tipton Saratoga Sale had its first million-dollar yearling when the two-day auction was just 13 hips old Monday evening and bidding stayed strong throughout the session, with the very last horse through the ring also bringing $1 million.
In all, nine yearlings reached seven figures Monday, led by a colt by Gun Runner, bred by Bobby Flay and consigned by Stone Farm, who sold for US$2.7 million ($4.18 million) to Winchell Thoroughbreds. Twelve hit the million-dollar mark during the entire 2024 auction.
Metrics ahead of last year
“It was a tremendous start to the 2025 Saratoga Yearling Sale tonight,” said Fasig-Tipton President Boyd Browning. “There was competitive bidding literally from start to finish. There was tremendous activity across the board.”
During Monday's session, a total of 77 yearlings grossed US$39,975,000 ($61.8 million) for an average of US$519,156 ($803,000) and a median of US$400,000 ($619,000). Those figures are similar to last year's opening session when 77 horses grossed US$38,910,000 ($60.2 million) for an average of US$505,325 ($782,000) and a median of US$400,000.
“There was competitive bidding literally from start to finish. There was tremendous activity across the board.” - Boyd Browning
The cumulative average at the 2024 auction was a sale record US$533,506 ($825,000) and the cumulative median was a record US$425,000 ($657,000). From a catalogue of 109 head, 88 yearlings went through the ring Monday with 11 failing to meet their reserves for a buy-back rate of just 12.5%.
“It's a tribute to our selection team who did a great job of identifying the horses that were going to be marketable," Browning said. "It's a tribute to our consignors and the owners of those horses who entrust us with some of their very best yearlings year in and year out. And it's a tribute to the buyers who consistently support this sale.”
Boyd Browning | Image courtesy of Fasig-Tipton
Browning said the Fasig-Tipton staff had every indication that demand would be high even before the first yearling went through the ring Monday.
“One of the key indicators that we know, that nobody else really knows, is the repository activity,” Browning said. “We can compare the number of repository hits from year to year, and this year, before the sale started tonight, we had exceeded the total number of repository hits that we had last year. And there will be a significant number of vettings that take place tomorrow because half the catalogue hasn't been sold yet.”
“Before the sale started tonight, we had exceeded the total number of repository hits that we had last year.” - Boyd Browning
The second and final session of the Saratoga sale begins Tuesday evening at 6:30 pm (GMT-4).
Winchell looking for another Gun Runner
When Gun Runner retired to stud following a victory in the 2018 GI Pegasus World Cup, his connections could have hardly imagined that the chestnut would be able to surpass his racetrack accomplishments in the breeding shed. With six Grade 1s and a staggering US$15 million ($23.2 million) under his belt, the son of Candy Ride (Arg) retired to Three Chimneys with a tremendous amount of expectation on his broad shoulders.
Fast forward to 2025, a son by the 2017 Horse of the Year led the proceedings with a session-topping US$2.7 million on Day 1 of the Fasig-Tipton Saratoga Sale.
Offered as Hip 37 from the Stone Farm consignment, the bay colt caught the eye of the same team that was instrumental in the racetrack success of his sire, Ron Winchell and trainer Steve Asmussen.
What was it that drew the team to the colt?
“The sire,” said Asmussen succinctly. “That is exactly who we thought we saw when we looked at him. You don't try to make sense out of it, you just try to acquire what you like most.”
“You don't try to make sense out of it, you just try to acquire what you like most.” - Steve Asmussen
Winchell, who signed the ticket on Monday's session topper, added, “There are 10 or 12 in the catalogue, and we are pretty sure one of them will be a Grade I winner. We like to stick with what we know.”
The April-born foal is out of Grade-winning, Grade 1-placed America (AP Indy), who won over US$500,000 ($773,000) on the racetrack. As a broodmare, the mare has produced dual Graded stakes winner and 'TDN Rising Star' First Captain (Curlin). She hails from the extended family of GI Kentucky Oaks winner Blush With Pride (Blushing Groom {Fr}).
“This colt came up here and never stopped showing himself,” said Lynn Hancock, Stone Farm's Director of Racing and Sales. “He's been super straight forward since the day he was born. He has a huge walk on him and he's so well bred.”
Bobby Flay | Image courtesy of Sarah Andrew
America has been heaping the rewards on celebrity chef Bobby Flay, who also bred the daughter of Lacadena (Fasliyev {Ire}). Flay purchased Lacadena in 2005 for $290,000 at the Keeneland November Sale.
“(The mare) has been unreal,” said Flay. “I would say the day that I got her named America was an accomplishment in itself. People always ask how I got that name and I say I don't know. It was three in the morning and I just tried. And it was one of those things. She's been very special. Her family is one of the best in the stud book. And I would say at some point, the good blood really shows up and she's proven that.”
“I would say the day that I got her named America was an accomplishment in itself. People always ask how I got that name and I say I don't know. It was three in the morning and I just tried.” - Bobby Flay
Asked about what made the colt so special, Flay added, “He was very popular over the last few days, so we knew there was a chance that he would bring some money. Great pedigree, great family, all those things. But you never know until they go in the ring.
“As they say, you just need a couple of people who want him. And that's basically what happened tonight. It was a very special night for me. You can never expect something like that to happen.”
'It’s like a sale on steroids': Murray’s Stateside splash pays off
Stone Farm only presented a draft of two yearlings at this year's Saratoga sale, and their second offering had an Australian twist on top of a sterling result. Bred by Thoroughbred Breeders Victoria President Peter Murray, they also offered a Quality Road son of multiple-winning, stakes-placed Eloquent Speaker (Flatter) (hip 90), who sold for US$725,000 ($1.1 million) in the Monday opener.
Hip 90 - Quality Road x Eloquent Speaker colt | Image supplied
The first yearling that Murray had ever offered at the Saratoga sale, the colt was purchased by the partnership of Eclipse Thoroughbred Partners, Bridlewood Farm, and Robert LaPenta, the same team who sourced triple Grade I winner Journalism (Curlin).
“It’s been fantastic,” Murray said after the sale. “It’s my first time here, and it’s like a sale on steroids. It’s very exciting.”
“It’s been fantastic, It’s my first time here, and it’s like a sale on steroids. It’s very exciting.” - Peter Murray
Murray purchased the colt in utero when paying US$350,000 ($541,000) for Eloquent Speaker at the 2023 Keeneland November Breeding Sale. Boomer Bloodstock’s Craig Rounsefell signed the docket.
“After an extensive search, my great friend Craig Rounsefell found this great mare,” Murray said. “She was speedy, she was beautiful. We were actually high-fiving ourselves that we got her for that price, because she was in foal to Quality Road, who stood for $200,000 at the time.”
“We were actually high-fiving ourselves that we got her (Eloquent Speaker) for that price ($350,000), because she was in foal to Quality Road, who stood for $200,000 at the time.” - Peter Murray
After two seasons at his peak fee of US$200,000 ($309,000), Lane’s End Farm resident and four-time Grade I winner Quality Road stood for US$150,000 ($232,000) in 2025.
Stone Farm was the logical choice for the colt’s consignor; Murray was introduced to Lynn Hancock by Rounsefell two years previous to his purchase of Eloquent Speaker, and Murray has a deep appreciation for the farm’s ability to grow out successful horses.
“They’re a fantastic family, (they have) fantastic heritage with Stone Farm,” Murray said. “(They have) a lot of perseverance that creates success, and such honest people and such lovely people. Then I was lucky enough to come over and meet Mr (Arthur B) Hancock. He might have taken a little bit of a shine to me, I don't know, but we got on well!”
Peter Murray | Image courtesy of Thoroughbred Breeders Victoria
Murray thanked Rounsefell for his assistance with mare selections; “Boomer’s done a great job. I think one of his great skills is finding broodmares, both maiden mares and ones that are in foal.”
On having his first yearling at Saratoga, he added, “this is like having a runner in the Kentucky Derby. We’re here as one of 200 horses, out of 18,000 foals born in America. What are the odds?
“This is like having a runner in the Kentucky Derby.” - Peter Murray
“I'd just like to say thank you to everyone at Stone Farm. Boomer, of course, has been fantastic. Lynn, she's a legend, and Mr Hancock and all their team. You couldn't be with anyone better.”
'The price you've got to pay': $1.6 million Good Magic colt to Hoolie Racing
Andrew Hudson, bidding on behalf of his family's Hoolie Racing Stable, admitted the operation was making its biggest purchase–by far–when accepting the US$1.6 million ($2.47 million) to acquire a colt by Good Magic (hip 36) from the Warrendale Sales consignment.
“It's the highest by about two times,” Hudson, who was flanked by the Legion Bloodstock team, said when asked about the price. “We started buying horses here 10 years ago, and the first horse I bought up here was $100,000. But they don't make those any more.”
The dark bay colt is the first foal out of Alpha Zulu (Shanghai Bobby), a half-sister to Graded winner Recapturetheglory (Cherokee Run). He was bred by Mesingw Farm.
“We thought he was the best-looking colt here,” Hudson said. “You always take a risk at this price range, but that was the colt we wanted to get. Just like everybody else, we are trying to get a nice two-turn colt. We want to go to the Breeders' Cup. We want to go to the Kentucky Derby. That's the price you've got to pay now.”
“We want to go to the Breeders' Cup. We want to go to the Kentucky Derby. That's the price you've got to pay now.” - Andrew Hudson
Hoolie Racing, which campaigned Graded winner Dream It Is (Shackleford), came back later in Monday's session to purchase a colt by Omaha Beach (hip 71) for US$425,000 ($657,000) from the Mulholland Springs consignment.
Qatar Racing reinvests in family of Caravel
Sheikh Fahad of Qatar Racing went to US$1.4 million ($2.17 million) to acquire a colt by Justify (hip 29) from the Hunter Valley Farm consignment early in Monday's first session of the Fasig-Tipton Saratoga Sale. Out of Zeezee Zoomzoom (Congrats), the colt is a half-brother to Caravel (Mizzen Mast), who won the 2022 GI Breeders' Cup Turf Sprint for a partnership that included Qatar Racing.
“I've known him since he was a foal and he was the one we wanted,” Sheikh Fahad said after signing the ticket on the bay colt. “I am very, very happy to get him.”
“I've known him (Hip 29) since he was a foal and he was the one we wanted.” - Sheikh Fahad
Of plans for the yearling, Sheikh Fahad added, “He will go back to Hunter Valley now and will most likely go to (trainer) Brad Cox. He knows the family well, too.”
Sheikh Fahad | Image courtesy of Juddmonte Farms
Cox trained Caravel after the partnership of Qatar Racing, Madaket Stables, and Marc Detampel purchased her for US$500,000 ($773,000) at the 2021 Fasig-Tipton November sale. She was acquired privately by John Stewart's Resolute Racing after RNA'ing for US$2.4 million ($3.7 million) at the 2023 Keeneland November sale.
Sheikh Fahad has stud aspirations for the colt already; “He reminds me a lot of Justify and we've done well with Justify. We had (2024 GI Toyota Blue Grass Stakes runner-up) Just a Touch. Hopefully, he is our stallion.”
Hunter Valley consigned the yearling on behalf of breeder Elizabeth Merryman, who also bred Caravel.
“Any time you get that sort of price for a horse, you have to be thrilled,” said Hunter Valley's Adrian Regan. “Elizabeth Merryman did a fantastic job with this horse. We only got him 90 days ago. He behaved himself at home like he did here. Champion stock. We are delighted.”
Of the yearling, Regan said, “His temperament was unbelievable. Any time somebody came by to see him, he marched out every time. He made it look good. We are thrilled Prince Fahd can get his hands on this horse with the success he's had (with Caravel). He's as good as anything we've ever had.”
Kjell Andersen makes a splash with first-ever Thoroughbred purchase
Kjell Andersen may be a new face on the Thoroughbred scene, but he certainly knows horses. A Switzerland resident, Andersen has made a significant investment in harness racing for over 25 years, however, Thoroughbreds hadn't been part of his equine portfolio. That is, until he was introduced to the Sport of Kings through the Netflix show 'Race for the Crown.'
With his principal business interests in shipping, Andersen reached out to trainer Kenny McPeek, who was featured on the Netflix show, with a desire to dip his toe into the world of Thoroughbreds. After a brief introductory period to the industry, Andersen, who was accompanied by his two young sons at the Saratoga Sale Monday, jumped in with both feet, extending to US$1.4 million ($2.17 million) for Hip 66, a colt by Not This Time.
“I thought this colt was an exceptional individual,” said McPeek. “This colt really stood out to me today. We thought it was a horse that could win at any level, and (Andersen) wants to win at a high level, so we thought this one could do it.”
“We thought it (hip 66) was a horse that could win at any level, and (Andersen) wants to win at a high level, so we thought this one could do it.” - Kenny McPeek
Consigned by Taylor Made Sales, the April-born foal is out of Classic Strike (Smart Strike), the dam of GI Del Mar Debutante winner Union Strike (Union Rags), who sold for US$1.65 million ($2.55 million) at Keeneland November in 2018. Classic Strike is also responsible for multiple Graded winner Handsome Mike (Scat Daddy) and stakes winner Pretty Lady (Scat Daddy).
The Kentucky-bred colt was bred by Clearsky Farms and Three Chimneys Farm.
“We have harness horses in Lexington, Kentucky and (McPeek) is down there too, and it seemed a good fit for me,” said Andersen, whose Maximus Mearas S finished seventh in the Hambletonian at The Meadowlands last weekend. “I look forward to being part of this as well.”
Fast start for Castleton Way partnership is nothing but net
The Castleton Way pinhooking partnership founded by Marshall Taylor began its fourth year of selling with a home run Monday in Saratoga, selling a colt by Constitution (Hip 72) for US$525,000 ($812,000) to MyRacehorse and Wesley Ward/Louis DuBois, agent. The colt, who was consigned by Taylor Made Sales Agency, was acquired by Castleton Way for US$250,000 ($387,000) at last year's Keeneland November sale.
“He's by Constitution and I knew he had Mindframe who was going to have a big year this year,” Taylor said of the colt's appeal last fall. “And he had a really good physical. He had a great neck and shoulder and a really good hip from the sire. And I really liked the family. It's a really deep family. Arch is down there in the family, it's a stallion pedigree.”
“I really liked the family (of Hip 72). Arch is down there in the family, it's a stallion pedigree.” - Marshall Taylor
Bred by LNJ Foxwoods and Helen Alexander, the yearling is the first foal out of the unraced Confetti (Mendelssohn). The colt's third dam, Antics (Unbridled), produced LNJ Foxwoods' champion Covfefe (Into Mischief).
“He's just gone the right way,” Taylor said of the chestnut. “He vetted well when we bought him. He had the look when we bought him. He just developed the way we hoped he would.”
Hip 72 was the first of five yearlings in the Castleton Way package this year.
Hip 72 - Constitution x Confetti colt | Image courtesy of Fasig-Tipton
“This is the fourth year,” Taylor said of the partnership. “The first year, we had a great year. And just like anything, you have a hiccup, and not everything goes the right way. But I have great partners who have been very loyal and great supporters. I am really grateful to them. Without them, we couldn't do this.”
Later in the evening, Castleton Way sold a colt by Vekoma (Hip 96) for US$300,000 ($464,000) to Spendthrift Farm. The yearling had been acquired for US$150,000 ($232,000) at the Keeneland January sale.
“We've got to keep it going,” Taylor said, adding that the group has three yearlings scheduled to sell at Keeneland in September.
