Fasig-Tipton Midlantic sale: $135,000 Classic Empire colt tops first session

A $135,000 Classic Empire colt led the opening session of the Fasig-Tipton Midlantic fall yearling sale, which began with some declines.

Fasig-Tipton reported 91 yearlings sold Monday in the first of two sessions at the Maryland State Fairgrounds in Timonium, garnering total gross receipts of $2,212,500. At last year's sale, 145 horses changed hands in the opening session for $3,947,200.

The session's average price was $24,313, dipping 11 percent from $27,222 in the comparable session last year. The median was $11,500, an 18 percent change from $14,000.

The buyback rate was steady at 19 percent.

The session-leading Classic Empire colt was purchased by LC Racing, from the consignment of Gracie Bloodstock, as agent. The New Jersey-bred, Virginia-certified colt was just the third horse through the ring and held on to his top slot into the evening.

The colt is out of the Ghostzapper mare Adorabella, whose first two foals to the races are both stakes winners. Already the dam of Girl Trouble, a multiple stakes winner in Pennsylvania and stakes-placed against open foes at Aqueduct, Adorabella provided a catalog update when her juvenile son Book'em Danno remained unbeaten in two starts with a win in the Smoke Glacken Stakes in September at Monmouth.

Unraced Adorabella is a half-sister to stakes winner Alydiva, and graded stakes winners Black Astor and Gastronomical appear on this catalog page.

The majority of the Fasig-Tipton Midlantic catalog will be offered in the second and final session that begins Tuesday morning.

For hip-by-hip results, click here.

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