Fasig-Tipton Kentucky October sale: Curlin continues big week with $500K filly in third session

LEXINGTON, Ky. – After hitting its midway point with gains in gross and average, the Fasig-Tipton Kentucky fall yearling sale continued toward its finish line with a penultimate session on Wednesday that showed some declines, but continued to post an improved buyback rate as the final yearling sale of the season.

Topped by a $500,000 Curlin filly, Fasig-Tipton reported 388 yearlings sold on Wednesday, the third of four sessions overall, for gross receipts of $14,139,500. In last year's third session, 262 horses brought $14,226,700.

With more horses sold, Wednesday's average price dipped 10 percent, to $49,095 from $54,300. The median dropped 20 percent, to $20,000 from $25,000.

The buyback rate improved to 16 percent, compared to 19 percent.

The session-topping Curlin filly, purchased by Gary Barber, continued an outstanding week for her sire, who holds the top two spots on the leaderboard after siring Tuesday's sale-leading $550,000 colt.

The New York-bred filly is out of the unraced Bellamy Road mare Achalaya, dam of five winners from as many starters. Those are led by three-time Grade 1 winner Casa Creed, who earned more than $2 million. Achalaya is also the dam of Grade 3 winner Chess's Dream and stakes-placed Charlotte's Heart.

The Curlin filly, consigned by Taylor Made Sales for breeder 30 Year Farm, continued the theme of yearlings finding a second-chance marketplace at Fasig October, the last sale of the year. She went through the ring for the second time on Wednesday, after failing to meet her reserve with a high bid of $475,000 at the Fasig-Tipton Saratoga selected sale in August.

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