Fasig-Tipton October: More six-figure horses in second session, returns down slightly

The second day of the Fasig-Tipton Kentucky fall yearling sale showed an increase activity from the opening session, especially at the top of the market, but figures still trended behind last year’s record-setting sale.

A total of 222 yearlings sold for $8,144,700 on Tuesday, trailing last year’s second session, when 282 horses brought $10,416,700, by 22 percent. It is important to note that this year’s sale features an extra day of selling with fewer horses per session than last year, which could have an effect on daily gross figures.

The average sale price fell 1 percent on day two, from $36,939 to $36,688, while the median declined 11 percent from $18,000 to $16,000. The buyback rate closed at 29 percent, up significantly from last year’s second session figure of 18 percent, but an improvement from the opening session rate of 35 percent.

“Overall, the numbers were a little better than yesterday,” said Fasig-Tipton president Boyd Browning. “I thought yesterday, we didn’t start off real strong, just the way the catalog fell, and it took a little while to get some energy and enthusiasm, but once we got going, it felt like the market got better, and it felt better again today. I think we’ll see a similar marketplace the next two days.”

Five horses sold for $200,000 or more on Tuesday, trailing the nine to meet or exceed that figure during last year’s comparable session. However, the number of six-figure yearlings rose from 22 to 26.

“It’s pretty remarkable when you look at the advances over the last five years of this sale,” Browning said. “It’s impossible to continue that slope. I think we’re seeing a little bit of a maturation in this marketplace, but all in all, it’s become a very viable option for people to sell a horse, whether it’s a later-maturing horse, or one with a minor injury that comes along the way.

“There certainly is a very legitimate marketplace whether you’ve got a horse that’s worth $10,000 or you’ve got a horse that’s worth $200,000,” he continued, “and I think we saw that again today.”

A pair of colts topped the session, each changing hands for $250,000.

John Oxley was the first to reach that figure, purchasing a Candy Ride colt out of the winning Lemon Drop Kid mare Mantekilla, whose two winners from as many runners includes multiple stakes winner Harlan’s Destiny.

Bred in West Virginia by James Miller, the colt is from the family of two-time Breeders’ Cup Turf Sprint winner Mizdirection, Grade 1 winner Hooh Why, Grade 2 winner Sultry Sun, and Grade 3 winner Jaded Dancer. Mill Ridge Sales consigned the colt as agent.

Headley Bell of Mill Ridge Sales said the colt was originally on course to go through the Fasig-Tipton Saratoga select yearling sale, but came up with an issue that stalled his progress, prompting him to be aimed instead for this market.

“It was a good price,” Bell said. “I thought it was right on the button. The reserve wasn’t half of that, so you weren’t competing with the reserve there. He had 10 or 12 scopes. He was a proper horse.”

Later in the session, Team D Stable bought a Street Boss colt out of the winning Forest Wildcat mare Moojha to tie the session lead.

The bay colt is the first out of the mare, who is herself a sister to Grade 3 winner Kiss Moon, Grade 3-placed stakes winner Kiss Mine, and group stakes producer Dixieland Kiss, all out of Grade 3 winner Kiss the Devil. Grade 3 winner Nonios is also in the extended family.

The colt was bred in Kentucky by Rabbah Bloodstock and consigned as agent by Hidden Brook.

The Fasig-Tipton Kentucky fall yearling sale continues daily through Thursday, Oct. 22, with each session beginning at 10 a.m. Eastern.

For complete sale results, click here.