Big night for Medaglia d'Oro as Fasig-Tipton October opens

LEXINGTON, Ky. - Medaglia d'Oro dominated the leaderboard as the Fasig-Tipton October yearling sale began its four-day run in Lexington, Ky., on Monday, siring the top three lots of a solid opening session, led by a $400,000 filly.

Fasig-Tipton reported 244 horses sold for revenues of $9,668,900 shortly after the close of business on Monday, compared to 223 horses sold for $7,517,000 in last year's comparable opening session. The session's average price spiked 18 percent, finishing at $39,627 for the session compared to $33,709 in the 2018 opener.

"It's kind of encouraging and fun, the second horse in the ring brought six figures, the last horse in the ring brought six figures, and there was lots of good, solid trade in between," Fasig-Tipton president Boyd Browning said.

The session-to-session median was down 6 percent, to $15,000 from $16,000. The session's buyback rate was 29 percent, compared to 27 percent.

The Fasig October sale, which wraps up the yearling sale season in North America, is Fasig's largest sale of the year in terms of catalog size. The auction is an open sale, with the catalog arranged alphabetically by dams' names, rather than by the perceived quality of the offerings, meaning that high-priced lots may come at any point. For example, the final session of the 2018 sale posted the highest average of that week. Therefore, the year-to-year session-to-session averages may fluctuate, meaning the most meaningful statistical comparisons will be those made at the end of the sale. The 2018 sale finished with an average of $35,576 and median of $15,000.

"There is absolutely no possible way to [compare] today versus the next three days. ... You have to, at the end of the day, evaluate composite totals to totals," Browning said. "It's certainly nice to get a little bit of a, quote unquote, head start, where Monday this year was better than Monday last year.

"It is interesting," Browning continued. "I've asked a couple of people which day they think is the strongest, and I've gotten answers for [all four days], because it just kind of depends on what they're looking for and what they're shopping for."

Darley sire Medaglia d'Oro, one of the most expensive stallions in North America with an advertised stud fee of $200,000, recently reached the milestone of 25 Grade/Group 1 winners worldwide. That group this year includes Pacific Classic winner Higher Power, who will represent the stallion in the Breeders' Cup Classic.

All three of Medaglia d'Oro's top lots on Monday were consigned by Baccari Bloodstock, as agent. The group was led by the $400,000 filly purchased by DJ Stable.

The filly is out of the winning Unbridled's Song mare Appealing Bride, dam of four winners from as many starters, led by Grade 2 winner Appealing Tale and stakes winner Colorful Bride. Appealing Bride is out of Grade 2 winner Regally Appealing, and Grade 2 winner Rockport Harbor appears on the catalog page.

Medaglia d'Oro was also represented by a $350,000 half-sister to Grade 2-placed stakes winner Bluegrass Singer, purchased by bloodstock agent Steven Young; and a $320,000 colt who is the first foal out of Grade 3 winner Auntie Joy, purchased by Quarter Pole Enterprises. Auntie Joy is from the female line of unbeaten champion and blue hen Personal Ensign.

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