Fasig Tipton Saratoga fall mixed sale returns for second year

The renewed strength of New York’s breeding and incentives program over the past two years has benefited many areas of the state’s Thoroughbred industry, not the least of which has been the bloodstock market at the annual Fasig-Tipton Saratoga sales during the summer. Last year, Fasig-Tipton officials sought to further tap into the state’s growth by inaugurating a fall mixed and horses of racing age sale, and following a solid debut, the sale company added a second edition for 2013.

The Fasig-Tipton Saratoga fall mixed and horses of racing age sale will be held on Oct. 7 beginning at 11 a.m. Eastern in the Humphrey S. Finney Pavilion in Saratoga Springs, N.Y. The sale company cataloged 279 offerings comprised primarily of 110 weanlings and 103 mares in foal, along with 59 horses of racing age and/or broodmare prospects.

The sale arrives on the heels of continued positive news for the New York-bred program. Last month, The Jockey Club released its annual Live Foal Report, and once again New York bucked the overall trend of declining foal production. Boosted by added revenue from casino gaming at Aqueduct, the horse industry in the Empire State has seen the effects of large purses and improved racing quality at NYRA tracks spread out into the breeding sector via a more robust incentive structure. As a result, The Jockey Club estimates that the foal crop in New York for 2013 will increase by 36 percent.

Last year’s debut Fasig-Tipton Saratoga fall mixed sale concluded with 119 horses sold for a gross of $1,933,600, with an average of $16,249 and a $12,000 median. The buyback rate was 41 percent.

At this year’s sale, buyers will have a first opportunity to purchase weanlings from several of New York’s most successful sires as well as from some notable first-crop sires based in the state. Girolamo, a Grade 1-winning son of A.P. Indy, has six weanlings cataloged in the sale, while Dublin, winner of the Grade 1 Hopeful Stakes in 2009, is represented by four weanlings. Other sires with members of their first crop offered at the sale include American Lion, Archarcharch, Courageous Cat, D’Funnybone, Giant Surprise, Haynesfield, Here Comes Ben, Trappe Shot, and Wilburn.

Among the broodmares offered, highlights include Rare Edition, a Street Sense mare in foal to Girolamo. She is a half-sister to Grade 1 winner, millionaire, and sire Touch of the Blues. Rosy Roar, a daughter of Roaring Fever in foal to Jersey Town, is a half-sister to the productive mare Rhumb Line, dam of graded stakes winners Zazu and Flashback.

The horses of racing age group features several runners from Darley Stable, including four-time winner Regulus and winners Kingston Bay and Parnelli, who both broke their maidens during the Saratoga meet.

To view the catalog, click here.