Fasig-Tipton Midlantic: Numbers drop at December mixed sale

The Fasig-Tipton Midlantic December mixed sale posted a significant decline in returns on Monday to close out the 2014 major auction calendar.

Fasig-Tipton reported 110 horses sold for revenues of $954,800, down 37 percent compared with last year’s renewal, when 133 horses brought $1,516,700. The average sale price finished at $8,680, down 24 percent from $11,404, while the median dipped 20 percent, from $5,000 to $4,000.

The buyback rate finished at 33 percent; it was 28 percent in 2013.

No horse sold for six figures during this year’s renewal of Fasig-Tipton Midlantic December mixed sale, the first time that had happened since 2009.

Topping the sale was Delaneys Star, a winning half-sister to champion Declan’s Moon, who sold in foal to Majestic Warrior and was secured by Wolver Hill Farm for $60,000.

The 4-year-old daughter of Latent Heat won 1 of 9 starts during her on-track career for earnings of $22,880. Bred in Maryland by Brice Ridgley, Delaneys Star is out of the Grade 2-placed Norquestor mare Vee Vee Star, who is the dam of four winners from five foals to race.

Delaneys Star was consigned by Bill Reightler, as agent for the Ridgley estate, and went through the ring carrying her first foal.

A colt from the first crop of Shackleford led the sale’s weanlings and drew the auction’s second-highest price, going to Machmer Hall for $48,000.

Bred in West Virginia by Hector Alcalde and sold as property of Takaro Farm, the gray or roan colt is out of the unraced Cozzene mare Pier Sixty Six, whose three winners from as many foals to race include three-time stakes winner Paco Smart.

Accomplished members of the colt’s extended family include his second dam, the Grade 3 winner Double Sixes, as well as Canadian champion Points of Grace and Grade 1 winner Devil’s Orchid.

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