$160,000 Cupid colt tops first session at Fasig-Tipton Midlantic yearling sale

A $160,000 Cupid colt led the way as the Fasig-Tipton Midlantic fall yearling sale opened with a slightly improved average and steady median, encouraging signs as the yearling sale season continues to find its way through the market restraint caused by the coronavirus crisis.

Fasig-Tipton reported 122 yearlings sold for gross receipts of $2,983,600 during Monday's session, the first of two at the auction held at the Maryland State Fairgrounds in Timonium. This year's renewal of the auction has the advantage of following the postponed Preakness Stakes at nearby Pimlico, a formula that has proven successful for Fasig-Tipton with a traditional spring 2-year-old sale. By comparison, last year's opening session finished with 103 horses sold for $2,384,700.

The average price for the session was $24,456, ticking upward 6 percent from $23,152 in the 2019 opener. The median remained steady at $15,000.

The buyback rate in what has been a highly selective marketplace during the yearling season thus far finished at 25 percent for the day, compared to 20 percent last year.

The session-topper is from the first crop of Cupid, a Grade 1-winning son of Tapit. The New York-bred colt was purchased by Xtreme Racing Stables LLC from the consignment of Eaton Sales, as agent.

The colt is out of the winning Stravinsky mare Gottah Penny, dam of five winners from six starters, including stakes-placed Brokered and Copper Gem. Gottah Penny, out of Grade 3 winner Marshua's Echelon, is a half-sister to Grade 1 winner Run Man Run, stakes winner North of Mars, and Grade 3 placed Echelon's Ice Man.

The Cupid colt was one of just two horses to sell for six figures in the session. An Overanalyze filly sold for $120,000 to Cutair Racing, while the next highest price was a $92,000 filly by Fast Anna, purchased by Sackatoga Stable. Both of those yearlings also were New York-breds.

For hip-by-hip results, click here. The second and final session of the Midlantic fall sale takes place Tuesday.