Fasig-Tipton Kentucky yearling sale shows gains in several categories

LEXINGTON, Ky. – A Maclean’s Music colt sold for $500,000 to lead the way as the Fasig-Tipton Kentucky selected summer yearling sale kicked off the summer sale season in North America with improved figures in several categories.

Fasig-Tipton reported 154 yearlings sold at the single-session sale at its Newtown Paddocks, which traditionally showcases early blooming potential athletes with strong physicals, for gross receipts of $17,319,000.

At last year's sale, 207 horses sold through the ring for gross receipts of $20,507,000, before any post-ring private sales were factored in. This allows for a direct comparison of the figures from the two sales.

Three horses on Tuesday sold for prices in excess of $400,000, a mark only one horse reached last year.

Tuesday's average price was $112,461, jumping 14 percent from $99,068 through the ring in 2023.

The median spiked 17 percent, to $90,000 from $77,000. The median ties a record established in 2006, and tied in 2022.

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The buyback rate was 33 percent, compared to 31 percent before private sales last year.

"Fantastic start to the 2024 yearling sale season," said Boyd Browning Jr., the Fasig-Tipton president and CEO. "I think it clearly exceeded our expectations - probably even our hopes. . . . I think this sale today gave everybody confidence heading to the remainder of the yearling sale season.

“There was significant competition across the board for a vast number of horses. The RNA rate's same as it always is in July. It’s a little higher than we’d like, because people have got some options - they've got other sales they can attend, possibly even the 2-year-old marketplace, and so forth."

A colt by successful stallion and classic sire Maclean's Music topped the sale when purchased by John Stewart's Resolute Bloodstock. The Florida-bred was consigned by Gainesway, as agent for breeder Bridlewood Farm.

"We go through a process and evaluate all the horses before the sale, and he was one of the top five colts we came here to buy," Stewart said.

The topper was one of nine purchases on the day - six colts and three fillies - totaling $1.6 million for Stewart, who became a major player in the yearling marketplace last year. He has been active purchasing horses at every age from weanlings through established broodmares as he seeks to stock the breeding and racing arms of his program, based out of Midway, Ky.

"We just started our breeding operation this year," Stewart said. "We just shipped our first 2-year-olds that we bought last year [as yearlings] to their trainers. We were a little light on colts in our yearling string, so we're looking to stock up on colts."

Maclean's Music, dazzling winner of his only start with a 114 Beyer Speed Figure, sired 2017 Preakness Stakes winner Cloud Computing in his first crop, and has gone on to sire Eclipse Award champion Jackie's Warrior and Grade 1 winners Complexity and Drain the Clock.

Complexity is among the early leaders in this year's freshman sire class.

The Maclean's Music colt is the second foal out of the unraced Speightstown mare Jotown, whose first foal is Spiralizer, a winning 2-year-old this season.

Jotown is out of Grade 2 winner Jojo Warrior, who, in turn, is a half-sister to Grade 1 winner and stakes producer A Z Warrior; to Grade 3 winner E Z Warrior; and to stakes winner J Z Warrior.

Behind the sale topper came a pair of $400,000 colt by Uncle Mo and Justify. Both were the only representatives by their sires in the catalog.

Champion and classic sire Uncle Mo was represented by a colt purchased by Mayberry Farm, from the consignment of Funny Farm LLC.

"I love the sire, love Uncle Mo," April Mayberry said after signing the ticket. "He's a beautiful colt, well-balanced, a nice way about him. There really wasn't much not to like about him."

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The colt is out of the stakes-placed Super Saver mare Conquest Superstep, who is a full sister to Grade 2 winner Inside Straight. Conquest Superstep is the dam of three winners from as many starters.

Triple Crown winner and breakout young sire Justify was represented by a colt purchased by Golden Star Farm, who bid online. He was consigned by Gainesway, as agent.

The colt is out of the winning Indygo Shiner mare Indygita, the dam of one winner from a pair of starters. This is the extended family of influential sire Storm Cat.

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