SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. – In the shed rows of the Fasig-Tipton sale grounds in Saratoga, plaques commemorating the company's notable graduates hang over the stalls they resided in as yearlings. Early on Monday morning, hours before this year's edition of the Fasig-Tipton Saratoga selected yearling sale was set to begin, a crew arrived at the barn housing the Lane's End Farm consignment on Madison Avenue and hung a plaque bearing Flightline's name above a stall. The colt, consigned by Lane's End on behalf of breeder Lane Lyons's Summer Wind Farm, sold for $1 million at the 2019 Saratoga sale and has gone on to become a multiple Grade 1 winner and leading candidate for championship honors. Residing in the same shed row this year was an Uncle Mo colt also bred by Lyons. When he walked across the street to take his turn in the ring Monday evening, Terry Finley of West Point Thoroughbreds was standing in the same spot behind the sales pavilion where he had stood to bid on Flightline three years prior. And just a few moments later, Finley was signing the $1.5 million ticket on the Uncle Mo colt who led the select sale's strong opening session. "We like this spot," Finley said. "I said we changed our luck about three years ago when we started bidding here, and I think it's gone pretty well. This is our spot for buying good colts that were bred by Jane Lyons. . . . He came from the same land, and we're real excited." West Point will partner with the Lane's End-affiliated Woodford Racing on the Uncle Mo colt, already named Stop the Press, with Lyons remaining in for a minority share. West Point, Woodford, and Lyons all own shares in Flightline, in partnership with Hronis Racing and Siena Farm. "Obviously, we've had a lot of good luck, and we've been on an exciting ride with Jane and Woodford, and so we're gonna try to recreate that magic," Finley said. The similarities between the raising and sale of Flightline and Stop the Press were not lost on Allaire Ryan, director of sales for Lane's End. "It's almost like you're reliving history – it's kind of cool," Ryan said. Led by that colt and three other seven-figure horses, Fasig-Tipton opened this boutique sale, the first chance to test the upper portion of the North American Thoroughbred marketplace, in smashing fashion, with double-digit gains across the board. The company reported 69 horses sold for gross receipts of $28,930,000 shortly after the close of business Monday night, the first of two sessions. The opening session of the 2021 sale grossed $25,280,000 from 70 sold. The average price was $419,275, jumping 16 percent from $361,143 in last year's corresponding opening session. The median price jumped 17 percent, to $350,000 from $300,000. The buyback rate was just shy of 20 percent, compared to 27 percent last year. "We hit the superfecta – average up, median up, gross up, and an RNA rate under 20 percent in a highly selective sale is a tremendous accomplishment," said Fasig-Tipton president Boyd Browning Jr. "So we're thrilled with those numbers. You could feel the excitement in the air tonight in Saratoga. The atmosphere was electric. The quality of horses was tremendous, and the quality of people here to buy those horses was tremendous. It was just a really, really great environment, and the results were very, very, very strong from start to finish." Stop the Press is by Uncle Mo, who added a second American classic winner to his resume this spring, with Belmont Stakes victor Mo Donegal joining 2016 Kentucky Derby winner Nyquist, who had been a champion juvenile. "Just a beautiful horse, and obviously, Uncle Mo throws a big, stout horse," Finley said, adding that the session-topper will eventually be trained by Shug McGaughey. "He just looked like the kind of horse that all of us see on the Triple Crown trail." This colt is the second foal out of the unraced Tapit mare Secret Sigh, bred by Lyons out of another Summer Wind homebred, multiple graded stakes winner India. "Summer Wind raises a really nice horse, but he was one that kind of separated himself from all the rest from a very early stage when we started looking at their yearling crop, and the pieces just kind of all fell in the right places," Ryan said. India is the dam of Mozu Ascot, a multiple Grade 1 winner in Japan, and of stakes winner Kareena. This is the immediate family of Grade 1 winners Angela Renee and To Honor and Serve, as well as Canadian champion and Grade 1 winner Rahy's Attorney. Following the Uncle Mo colt as the top prices on the evening were a $1.1 million colt from the second crop of Triple Crown winner Justify, purchased by the Coolmore group; a $1 million colt by three-time reigning leading sire Into Mischief, purchased by Hideyuki Mori; and another $1 million Into Mischief colt, who went to the partnership of Spendthrift Farm, Cypress Creek, and breeder St. Elias Stables. Justify and Uncle Mo both stand for Coolmore at its Ashford Stud in Kentucky. Justify's first crop has gotten off to a strong start, with Grade/Group 2 winners Just Cindy and Statuette placing him among the leading freshman sires by earnings. The $1.1 million Justify colt, a Pennsylvania-bred, was consigned by Warrendale Sales, as agent. He is out of the winning Langfuhr mare Slews Golden Rule, dam of three winners from four starters, including stakes winner Ledecka. Grade 1 winners Ops Smile and Win Win Win and graded stakes winners Globetrotter and Unbridled Humor appear on the page. Mori's Into Mischief colt was consigned by Blake-Albina Thoroughbred Services, as agent. He is out of the winning Yes It's True mare Shopit, making him a full brother to stakes winner Shoplifted, Grade 1-placed at both 2 and 3. Overall, Shopit has produced five winners from six starters. Grade 1 winners Miss Shop and Power Broker appear on the catalog page, as do graded stakes winners Imprimis, Lay Down, Tin Type Gal, and Trappe Shot. Into Mischief has led the national sire list three years in a row for Spendthrift Farm, and this year is closing in on current leader Quality Road as he bids for a fourth title. Spendthrift partnered with Cypress Creek and breeder St. Elias to secure a $1 million colt that Lane's End had consigned on behalf of St. Elias, capping a big night for the operation. "It's a really strong sale, and obviously for quality individuals, there's plenty of depth in the market, which is so rewarding for these breeders and everyone that's worked so hard to get the horses to this point," Ryan said. "We knew we had a nice group, but this is a thrill tonight." The colt is the first foal out of multiple graded stakes winner Teresa Z, by Smart Strike. Her granddam is Grade 1 winner My Flag, dam of champion Storm Flag Flying; My Flag is out of unbeaten champion and blue hen Personal Ensign, making this the family of Grade 1 winners Miner's Mark, Mr Speaker, and Traditionally, among other standouts. Fasig-Tipton will now hope for a strong finish to the Saratoga sale with Tuesday's second and final session. Landing in that session, with the catalog order based alphabetically by broodmare names, is a full sister to multiple graded stakes winner First Captain, who topped the 2019 sale that Flightline was sold at. In the final 10 horses through the ring will be an Into Mischief colt out of Broodmare of the Year Indian Miss. "Great start and can't wait for tomorrow," Browning said. "A lot of folks have said they think tomorrow night might even be a little stronger in terms of the quality of horses." For hip-by-hip results, click here.