Fasig-Tipton opener rises

LEXINGTON, Ky. - Fasig-Tipton Kentucky's two-day October yearling sale followed up a strong opening session Monday with a $140,000 session-leader Tuesday afternoon.

With the final session nearing its conclusion at 5 p.m., Tuesday's top price was $140,000 for a Grand Slam colt bought by Buckram Oak Farm from Woods Edge, agent.

The colt is out of the Lyphard mare Pracer, who won an Italian Group 2 and finished second in North America's Grade 1 Santa Barbara Handicap.

On Monday, the opener rang up significant increases over last year's October yearling sale at Fasig-Tipton's Newtown Paddocks pavilion. The 2002 edition, which featured a larger catalog than last year's, sold 267 yearlings in its opening session, compared with last year's first-day tally of 155. Consequently, the opening-day gross more than doubled, rising from last year's $1,773,100 to $3,530,400 this year. This year's opening-day average price rose 16 percent to $13,222, and the median increased by 3 percent to $6,200. The buy-back rate - the percentage of horses failing to reach their consignors' required reserve prices - also improved this year, dropping from last year's 27 percent to 23 percent.

Monday's session-topper was a $300,000 Kris S. filly out of Dance Swiftly. Dance Swiftly is a Danzig mare out of Canadian champion Classy 'n Smart, making her a full sister to champion Dance Smartly. Dinwiddie Farm, a Virginia operation, purchased the $300,000 filly from Craig Bandoroff's Denali Stud consignment.