Arrogate filly sells for $450,000 on Day 3 at Fasig-Tipton Kentucky fall yearling sale

LEXINGTON, Ky. – A filly by the late champion Arrogate sold for $450,000 to lead the penultimate session of the Fasig-Tipton Kentucky fall yearling sale Wednesday.

Fasig-Tipton reported that 273 horses changed hands for gross receipts of $13,012,600 during Wednesday's third session of this sale at its Newtown Paddocks headquarters in Lexington. During last year's third session of a record-breaking four-day auction, 302 horses brought $14,534,500.

The year-to-year, session-to-session average price dropped less than 1 percent, to $47,665 on Wednesday compared to $48,127 last year, a solid result in context. Last year's third session included an outlying horse at the top of the marketplace in a $925,000 Street Sense colt, from the dispersal of the legendary Sam-Son Farm, which fueled several sales. With that colt tying for the highest price in Fasig-Tipton October history, it made sense going in that this year's third session would be hard-pressed to match that number.

While the average did fall, the session-to-session median was up, jumping 14 percent to $25,000 from $22,000. The median is considered a key figure for market health, as it is influenced less by outlying horses at the higher or lower ends of the marketplace.

The buyback rate was 19 percent, compared to 13 percent.

“A continuation of the strong market we’ve seen through the first two days of the sale,” Fasig-Tipton president Boyd Browning Jr. said. “Widespread participation from buyers throughout the United States and around the world. We’re fortunate to be in the midst of a strong and resilient marketplace.”

The session-topping filly was purchased by Legacy Ranch from the consignment of Mill Ridge Sales, as agent. She is from the final crop by Arrogate, the Eclipse Award champion and leading moneywinner who died following an illness as he was nearing the completion of his third season at stud. Arrogate's first crop is led by Kentucky Oaks winner Secret Oath; his second crop includes Grade 1-winning juveniles And Tell Me Nolies and Cave Rock.

This filly is out of the stakes-winning Lemon Drop Kid mare Lemon Splendor, dam of four winners from as many starters, including stakes winner Mo Maverick and stakes-placed Liam's Light. The latter is by Liam's Map, who, like Arrogate is a son of Unbridled's Song.

Lemon Splendor is a half-sister to two stakes-placed runners, and this is the extended family of graded stakes winners and sires Doneraile Court and Souvenir Copy.

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