$140K Arch colt leads Fasig-Tipton October Tuesday session

LEXINGTON, Ky. – A $140,000 Arch colt was the session leader Tuesday as Fasig-Tipton’s Kentucky October yearling sale entered its second day off Monday’s across-the-board increases.

The Arch colt, bought by the Dapple Bloodstock agency, topped a spate of eight yearlings to sell for $100,000 or more by 3 p.m at the Lexington auction. The Feb. 7 colt is the first foal out of Cat Thief’s daughter Tazarine and hails from the family of Grade 1-placed runners Resplendency and Hero’s Tribute. Highclere Sales was the consignor.

The top-priced filly at that stage was a $130,000 Afleet Alex-Strategy filly that trainer Mark Casse, as agent, bought from John Stuart’s Bluegrass Thoroughbred Services agency.

At Monday’s opening session, a $200,000 Giant’s Causeway colt from the family of graded winners Grasshopper and Turf War was the most expensive sale. Nick De Meric, agent, bought the Feb. 20 son of Lerici, by Woodman. Gainesway, agent, sold the colt, whose dam is a three-quarter-sister to Grass Skirt. That Mr. Prospector mare produced Grasshopper, a Grade 3 winner who was second in the 2007 Travers, and Grade 3 winner Turf War.

Monday’s session grossed $7,230,200 for 293 yearlings, an increase of 50 percent from last year’s $4,811,900 total for 221 horses. Average increased 13 percent, from $21,773 to $24,676, and median improved 8 percent, from $12,000 to $13,000. The buyback rate was 21 percent, down from last year’s 25 percent.

The October yearling sale was to continue through Wednesday at Fasig-Tipton’s Newtown Paddocks pavilion.