Carson City colt tops statebred sale

The results of the annual New York-bred yearling sale in Saratoga Springs, conducted by Fasig-Tipton Company on Aug. 14-15, were similar to those of the 2004 version. The average price per yearling declined a bit, from $49,969 to $47,386, while the median increased from $40,500 to $45,000.

Gross receipts for 105 sold were $4,975,500, compared to 112 sold for $5,596,500 in 2004.

"With the average down a smidge and the median up, we might have been a little more solid in the middle," said Walt Robertson, president of Fasig-Tipton. "For me as an auctioneer and company executive, I did not see a lot of difference between supply and demand between the two sales. It was pretty much a steady deal."

The sale-topper was a colt by Carson City consigned by Summerfield, as agent, and purchased by Michael Marceda for $165,000. His dam, the Relaunch mare Careful Approach, has produced stakes-placed Shaky Town and is a half-sister to three stakes winners, including Val D'Encherche, who placed in the Grade 3 Christmas Day Handicap.

A filly by New York sire Wheelaway was next at $160,000, and she brought the highest price of the second evening of the sale. Also consigned by Summerfield, as agent, she is out of the Gate Dancer mare Karusha, who is a full sister to Sweet Nena, placed in the Florida Stallion Stakes.

Wheelaway, winner of the Tampa Bay Derby, stands at McMahon of Saratoga Thoroughbred Farm, and his stud fee for the 2005 breeding season was $6,000. Wheelaway's first foals are yearlings of 2005.

At $142,000 was a colt by former New York sire City Zip, consigned by Thorndale Farm, as agent, and purchased by Barry Berkelhammer, agent. He is out of the Stop the Music mare Scherzando, who is a half-sister to stakes winner Hedgeabout from the family of champion Fly So Free.

Ten New York-breds hit the six-figure mark and one was a colt by New York sire Freud at $100,000. He is out of the stakes-winning Hagley mare Erv's Duck, who has also produced stakes winner Erv's Line and two other stakes-placed runners.

Behaving Badly a goodie

The brilliant New York-bred filly Behaving Badly won the Grade 3 Rancho Bernardo Handicap at Del Mar on Aug. 19, remaining unbeaten in three lifetime starts.

She began her career with a maiden victory at Del Mar on

Aug. 29, 2004, and didn't race again until her first-level allowance score on July 24 at Del Mar.

Owned by Patti and Hal J. Earnhardt III, the daughter of Pioneering was bred by Becky Thomas and Lewis Lakin.

She is out of the Sir Raleigh mare Timeleighness, and is a half-sister to Lavish Numbers, winner of the Maid of the Mist.

Finger Lakes stakes

One Way Flight and Little Miss Zip were the respective winners of the Aspirant and Lady Finger Stakes last weekend at Finger Lakes Race Track. The Aspirant and Lady Finger are stepping-stones to the New York Breeders Futurity on Sept. 5 at the Canandaigua oval.

One Way Flight, bred by the aforementioned Thomas and Lakin, is owned by Establo Madoca and is a son of Precise End. He is out of the Relaunch mare Harps and Wings, who is a half-sister to stakes winner Grand Forks.

Third dam Sateen, by Round Table, is the mother of Santa Anita Handicap winner Martial Law and group stakes winner Satin Flower, who placed in the Grade 1 Queen Elizabeth Challenge Cup.

Little Miss Zip was bred by Nick de Meric and is owned by Puglisi Stables. She is by City Zip out of Meadowlake's daughter Meadow Dream and was purchased for $75,000 at the Fasig-Tipton New York-bred yearling sale in Saratoga Springs last year.

Meadow Dream is a half-sister to Forty One Carats, winner of the Grade 2 Pegasus Handicap and an earner of $828,843.

2 of 3 for Naughty New Yorker

Naughty New Yorker won the Albany Handicap at Saratoga last Wednesday, the final leg of OTBs' Big Apple Triple for 2005. He won the first leg, the Mike Lee at Belmont, and finished third in the second leg, the New York Derby at Finger Lakes.

By Quiet American, the sire of Kentucky Derby winner Real Quiet, Naughty New Yorker is a half-brother to stakes winner and graded-stakes-placed Pupil, a daughter of the Known Fact mare Noble Natisha. Naughty New Yorker was bred by Dr. William B. Wilmot and Dr. Joan M. Taylor.