Fasig-Tipton October sale of yearlings last chance for buyers and sellers

The formal yearling sales season concludes this week right where it began – at Fasig-Tipton’s Kentucky headquarters, as the auction company conducts its October sale of yearlings.

The sale, which seems to have reached a place of market stability after seeing a rise in both size and prestige in recent years, is set for Monday through Thursday at Fasig-Tipton’s Newtown Paddocks facility in Lexington. A total of 1,590 yearlings are cataloged.

Fasig-Tipton also kicked off the yearling sale season with its July auction, a target for early-developing youngsters to stand out. The October sale has become a target destination for later-developing horses – including some who may have been scratched from earlier-season sales due to typical young-horse growing pains, or to allow them more time to develop. The October sale showcases these yearlings to a wide swath of the marketplace at many levels, albeit a more domestic one than may shop the higher-end sales over the summer and early fall. Both owners and trainers who intend to be end users shop this sale – trainers Mark Casse and Ken McPeek are regular buyers – as do pinhookers.

Last year’s Fasig-Tipton October sale, which was led by a $500,000 Street Sense colt, finished a four-day run with 963 yearlings sold for revenues of $34,260,100, compared to 981 sold for $35,812,900 in 2017. The average posted a minor decline of 3 percent, to $35,576 from $36,507. The median, meanwhile, jumped 25 percent, to $15,000 from $12,000. The 2016 edition of the sale, which was held over three sessions, averaged $33,065.

Another gain in median at this year’s sale would suggest strength in the middle market, which has made a positive showing through this yearling sales season, notably the Keeneland September yearling sale, considered the bellwether for the North American market as it tests the market at all levels.

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Following are horses to watch during the four-day run of the sale, based primarily on their pedigrees. The selections reflect sale outs and catalog updates through Oct. 15.

Hip 115, colt by Into Mischief-Bella Dorato, by Goldminers Gold. Consigned by Summerfield Sales, agent for Stonestreet Farm.

Into Mischief is the nation’s leading general sire. This is a half-brother to Eclipse Award champion sprinter Trinniberg.

Hip 227, colt by Runhappy-Charming N Lovable, by Horse Chestnut. Consigned by James B. Keogh, agent.

Champion sprinter Runhappy is among this year’s leading first-crop yearling sires commercially. Stakes winner Charming N Lovable is the dam of Grade 1 winner Fault, Grade 3 placed Betweenhereandcool, and stakes-placed Congenial.

Hip 313, filly by Tapit-Dayatthespa, by City Zip. Consigned by Eaton Sales, agent for Stonestreet Farm.

This is one of nine yearlings in the catalog for leading racetrack and commercial sire Tapit. She is out of the young broodmare Dayatthespa, Eclipse Award champion female turf horse.

Hip 328, colt by Curlin-Desert Classic, by Green Desert. Consigned by Lane’s End, agent.

One of six yearlings in the catalog for classic sire Curlin, who is enjoying a career year in the commercial arena, this is a half-brother to Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Turf winner Wrote. This is the extended family of champion and leading sire Nureyev, as well as champions Blame and Thatch; Grade 1/Group 1 winners Archipenko, Jade Robbery, King Pellinore, and She’s Happy also appear on the catalog page.

Hip 366, colt by Shackleford-Drumette, by Henny Hughes. Consigned by Gainesway, agent.

This is a half-brother to Eclipse Award champion Monomoy Girl, winner of the 2018 Kentucky Oaks and Breeders’ Cup Distaff.

Hip 374, colt by Tapit-Ecology, by Unbridled’s Song. Consigned by Gainesway, agent.

This is a half-brother to multiple Grade 1 winner General Quarters, as well as Group 2 winner A Shin Top and stakes-placed New Wave. The Tapit-Unbridled’s Song cross is responsible for the likes of champion Unique Bella.

Hip 411, filly by More Than Ready-Executricker, by El Prado. Consigned by Shawhan Place, agent for Mr. and Mrs. Theodore R. Kuster.

This is a half-sister to Grade 1 winner Hilda’s Passion, the dam of multiple Grade 1 winner Yoshida. This is the family of European champion Twice Over and Grade 1/Group 1 winners All At Sea and Passage of Time.

Hip 631, colt by Oxbow-Indian Miss, by Indian Charlie. Consigned by Small Batch Sales, agent.

This is a half-brother to Mitole, a multiple Grade 1 winner this year and one of the favorites for the Breeders’ Cup Sprint.

Hip 716, colt by Nyquist-Kivi, by King of Kings. Consigned by Gainesway, agent.

Stakes-placed Kivi is the dam of Breeders’ Cup Turf Sprint winner Regally Ready, who earned more than $1.8 million, and of Grade 3-winning juvenile Sir Truebadour. Nyquist is among this year’s leading first-crop yearling sires at auction.

Hip 762, filly by War Front-Laughing Lashes, by Mr. Greeley. Consigned by Eaton Sales, agent.

This is one of four yearlings in the catalog for perennial commercial leading sire War Front, the most expensive stallion in North America. Laughing Lashes was a Group 2 winner and multiple Group 1 placed in Ireland. Canadian champion Spring in the Air, classic-placed Tejano Run, and Grade 1/Group 1 winners Palace Episode and Sweet Loretta appear on the catalog page.

Hip 835, filly by Curlin-Maryfield, by Elusive Quality. Consigned by Bluewater Sales, agent.

Eclipse Award champion female sprinter Maryfield is the dam of Group 2-placed Radio Silence.

Hip 852, colt by Uncaptured-Meetmeontime, by General Meeting. Consigned by Four Star Sales, agent.

This is a half brother to multiple graded stakes winner Bucchero, as well as to the dam of World of Trouble, a Grade 1 winner on both dirt and turf. Both Bucchero and World of Trouble are by Kantharos, who like Uncaptured is a son of Lion Heart.

Hip 996, colt by Cairo Prince-Pacific Spell, by Langfuhr. Consigned by Airdrie Stud.

This is a half-brother to Kentucky Oaks winner and champion Proud Spell, who is the dam of stakes winner and producer Indian Spell, as well as stakes-placed Etruscan. Pacific Spell has also produced stakes winner No Distortion, Grade 3-placed Proud Pearl, and stakes-placed Really Proud.

Hip 1138, colt by Karakontie-Reunited, by Dixie Union. Consigned by Lane’s End, agent.

Graded stakes winner Reunited is the dam of Travers Stakes winner Code of Honor, who also captured the Jockey Club Gold Cup via disqualification. The mare has also produced Grade 2-placed Big League.

Hip 1147, filly by Curlin-Roxy Gap, by Indian Charlie. Consigned by St. George Sales, agent.

Canadian champion Roxy Gap is the dam of Grade 3 winner Cafe Americano.

Hip 1189, colt by Uncle Mo-Sarasota, by Luhul. Consigned by Bluewater Sales, agent.

This is a half-brother to Grade 1 winner and millionaire Salutos Amigos, as well as Grade 2 winner Sarah’s Secret and Group 3-placed Sun Goddess.

Hip 1199, Paris Amour, filly by Frosted-Schiaparelli, by Ghostzapper. Consigned by Lane’s End, agent.

Frosted is among the commercial leaders of this first-crop yearling sire class, and the mares in his first book included Grade 2 winner Schiaparelli. Appearing on this catalog page are European Horse of the Year Roaring Lion, Breeders’ Cup Turf Sprint winner California Flag, and graded stakes winners Cambiocorsa and Moulin de Mougin.

Hip 1291, colt by Curlin-Soarwiththebirds, by Giant’s Causeway. Consigned by Baccari Bloodstock, agent.

This is the first foal out of a half-sister to Canadian Horse of the Year Up With the Birds. Her second dam if Grade 1 winner and champion Wilderness Song, one of Sam-Son Farms’ foundation mares.

Hip 1371, colt by Super Saver-Super Phoebe, by Malabar Gold. Consigned by Crestwood Farm, agent.

This is a half-brother to Got Stormy, who established a course record at Saratoga defeating males in the Grade 1 Fourstardave Handicap, and who is bound for the Breeders’ Cup Mile. Super Phoebe, a half sister to a pair of graded winners, also produced stakes-placed Sky Gold.

Hip 1462, filly by Empire Maker-Trappings, by Seeking the Gold. Consigned by Bluewater Sales, agent.

This is a half-brother to Eclipse Award champion filly She Be Wild.

Hip 1506, colt by Distorted Humor-Vassar, by Royal Academy. Consigned by Lane’s End, agent.

This is a half-brother to last year’s Eclipse Award champion turf male Stormy Liberal, two-time defending winner of the Breeders’ Cup Turf Sprint, and to Grade 3 winner Leinster. Stormy Liberal and Leinster are expected to face each other in the Breeders’ Cup Sprint. The winning mare Vassar has also produced Grade 3-placed stakes winner Shimmering Moment, Grade 1-placed Coast Guard, and stakes-placed Garifine.

Hip 1582, colt by Tapit-Zardana, by Crimson Tide. Consigned by Winter Quarter Farm, agent.

Grade 2 winner and Grade 1-placed Zardana is the dam of stakes winner Smart Transition. This is the family of Argentinian champions Malaga and Mustard and of Group 1 winners Matthis and My Lad.