Fasig-Tipton Kentucky winter mixed sale is last call for broodmares

With Northern Hemisphere stallion operations set to open their breeding sheds in the coming weeks, the Fasig-Tipton Kentucky winter mixed sale Monday and Tuesday marks the end of the line.

The auction at Fasig-Tipton’s Newtown Paddocks base in Lexington is the last major-market mixed sale prior to breeding season, representing the last chance to acquire a broodmare or prospect at public auction. This sale, which posted across-the-board gains in 2018, will close what has been a generally positive season.

“This year’s catalog features graded stakes-performing racing and broodmare prospects, proven producers in foal to exciting sires, and a large group of short yearlings with good sire power,” Fasig-Tipton president Boyd Browning said. “Those looking to fill their orders before the start of breeding season will find a number of interesting opportunities once again.”

As of Thursday, following the latest round of supplemental entries, the catalog numbered 531 hips prior to outs. At last year’s sale, 364 horses changed hands for $10,436,800, a gain of 10 percent in gross. The average sale price rose 6 percent to $28,673, while the median jumped 17 percent to $10,500. The buyback rate was also slightly improved at 23 percent, down from 25 percent in 2017.

A little more than a decade after a recession that rocked the Thoroughbred industry, this season’s Kentucky mixed auctions at Fasig-Tipton and Keeneland have posted solid results. Last November’s Fasig-Tipton Kentucky fall selected mixed sale amassed record gross receipts and strong average and median figures.

The bellwether Keeneland November breeding stock sale, which began a two-week run the following day, finished with declines in economic indicators but showed signs of a buoyant middle market. The robust demand for broodmares and weanlings by major operations, representing long-term investments, indicated optimism for the health of the industry.

The Keeneland January mixed sale finished with its best gross since 2008, a record average price, and a median that spiked 67 percent.

Highlights of the Fasig-Tipton February catalog include the proven producers Homesteader and It’s the Cats Meow. Stakes-placed Homesteader, the only mare in the sale offered in foal to Horse of the Year and first-crop stallion Gun Runner, is already the dam of Grade 2 winner Conquest Two Step and stakes winners Homemade Salsa and Sheikh of Sheiks. It’s the Cats Meow, in foal to Strong Mandate, is the dam of Canadian champion Atlantic Hurricane.

Cheekaboo, who won the Grade 2 Honeymoon Stakes in 2016 and won or placed in five other stakes, is one of several solid runners on offer as broodmares or prospects, including 11-time stakes winner Class Included, who won the Grade 3 Ballerina Stakes at Hastings; Five Star Momma and Moment of Majesty, stakes winners who placed in multiple graded stakes; stakes winner Come to Mischief, the only mare in the sale in foal to two-time Horse of the Year California Chrome; and stakes winner Flip Side, the dam of stakes winner Flip Daddy.