The Fasig-Tipton Kentucky fall yearling sale, coming off a record run, is expected to close out this year’s strong North American yearling marketplace in good fashion. The sale shot out of the gate Monday with a $900,000 Curlin colt topping an opening session that showed gains across the board. Fasig-Tipton reported that 266 yearlings sold Monday in the first of four sessions for a sale-record session gross of $16,864,500. In last year’s comparable opening session, 265 horses sold for $13,298,000.  The session’s average price was $63,400, up 26 percent over the $50,181 logged during last year's first session. The median spiked 50 percent to $30,000 from $20,000, while the buyback rate for the session remained even at 25 percent. “There was really tremendous demand from more levels than we’ve seen in recent years,” Fasig-Tipton president Boyd Browning Jr. said. “It was certainly a great start, and we’re looking forward to the next three days.” :: Access the most trusted data and information in horse racing! DRF Past Performances and Picks are available now. The $900,000 Curlin colt, who was purchased by Legion Bloodstock, has already topped the 2024 October sale’s top price of $550,000. Moreover, the price was good for the third-highest in the October sale’s history, behind only a Storm Cat filly in 1999 and a Street Sense colt in 2021 who each brought $925,000. “He’s a beautiful horse. They’re hard to find that look like him,” Legion’s Kristian Villante said of the Curlin colt. “We’ve looked at him for two days now, and every day we fell in love with him. He kind of stood out here. We knew we would have to be strong here.” The colt, consigned by Mill Ridge Sales as agent, is the first foal out of the Munnings mare Munnyfor Ro. She was the Canadian champion 3-year-old filly after winning the classic Woodbine Oaks and Wonder Where Stakes. Grade 1 winners Little Belle and Dickinson appear on the catalog page. For hip-by-hip results, click here. :: Want to learn more about handicapping and wagering? Check out DRF's Handicapping 101 and Wagering 101 pages.