$200,000 Giant's Causeway colt leading first session at Fasig-Tipton October yearling sale

LEXINGTON, Ky. – A $200,000 Giant’s Causeway colt from the family of graded winners Grasshopper and Turf War had top billing Monday as Fasig-Tipton’s October yearling sale got under way.

Nick De Meric, agent, bought the Feb. 20 son of Lerici, by Woodman. Gainesway, agent, sold the session-leader, whose dam is a three-quarters-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.

At 3:30 p.m., the first of three sessions at Fasig-Tipton’s Newtown Paddocks headquarters was running ahead of last year’s opener, at least in terms of average and median. With 139 horses sold, the average was $27,029 and median was $15,000 as compared to a final session average of $24,010 and median of $12,000 last year.

The session’s leading filly at that hour was a $170,000 Smart Strike filly that Zayat Stable bought from the Lane’s End agency. The daughter of Kelly Pond, by Deputy Minister, is a half-sister to Grade 3 winner Clear Pond. Her dam is a half-sister to Grade 1 winner Talinum.

The sale was set to continue through Wednesday in Lexington.