Fasig-Tipton New York-bred sale posts big numbers at Saratoga

Buoyed by optimism about Aqueduct’s new gaming machines and by a larger catalog, Fasig-Tipton’s New York-bred preferred auction ended Sunday night with large gains across the board.

Gross sales surged by 83 percent, climbing to $6,725,500 for 124 yearlings, up from 94 last season. Average price also advanced by 39 percent, from last year’s figure of $39,106 to $54,238. Median also jumped by 17 percent, rising from $30,000 in 2010 to $35,000.

Buybacks, which had gone up at the 2011 sale’s opening session Saturday night, dropped overall by the end of business Sunday. They ended at 32 percent for both sessions, down slightly from last year’s 34 percent.

A $250,000 Dixie Union colt out of Grade 3-placed Dash for Money topped the two-day auction when selling on Saturday’s opening session. Cheyenne Stables bought him from Winter Quarter Farm. Cataloged as Hip No. 300, the colt had several significant updates since Fasig-Tipton published the sale catalog. Two of his half-brothers, Prado Dash and Almooriq, already winners, increased their earnings to $103,053 and $93,143, respectively. And the mare’s current 2-year-old, the Johannesburg colt No Spin, won both of his starts.

Sunday’s session-topper at $185,000 was an Indygo Shiner colt out of Free as Tristan, by Crafty Friend. John Fort of Peachtree Stables picked the chestnut colt up from Darby Dan Farm’s agency. The colt is a half-brother to the winner Associate.

The two-night sale’s most expensive filly was a $160,000 half-sister to Grade 3 winner Z Fortune. Northshore Bloodstock Ltd. bought the Invasor filly from the Paramount Sales agency. The chestnut is out of Grade 2 winner Fortunate Faith, by Fortunate Prospect.