Fasig-Tipton Saratoga: Mixed sale posts positive results in second year

Three horses sold for $100,000 or more to lead Monday’s second annual Fasig-Tipton Saratoga fall mixed and horses of racing age sale, which concluded with gains in gross and average, a modest decline in median, and an improved buyback rate.

Fasig-Tipton reported 179 horses sold for gross receipts of $3,363,600, a 74 percent increase compared with the inaugural sale in 2012, when 119 horses sold for $1,933,600. The average price was $18,791, 16 percent higher than in 2012, while the $11,000 median dipped eight percent. The buyback rate for this year’s sale was much improved at 23 percent, compared with 41 percent in 2012.

Ken and Sarah Ramsey purchased the sale topper, going to $150,000 for Secret Union, a stakes-placed 3-year-old filly consigned by trainer Kiaran McLaughlin as a racing or broodmare prospect. The Dixie Union filly, who broke her maiden earlier this year and then finished third in the Road Princess Stakes at Aqueduct for Darley Stable, last raced on Sept. 1 at Monmouth Park, finishing fourth. She has won one of six starts to date and earned $52,668. Secret Union is out of the stakes-placed winning Dynaformer mare Barney’s Mistress and is a half-sister to stakes winner and course record holder Deputiformer, who has won 11 times in his career and earned just under $600,000.

The 3-year-old colt Valid, also consigned by McLaughlin, was purchased for $115,000 by Carolyn Vogel; and the 4-year-old gelding Regulus, who changed hands from trainer Eoin Harty to Gary Contessa, fetched $100,000. Valid, a son of Medaglia d’Oro, is out of stakes winner Grand Prayer and is a half-brother to Grade 1 winner Malibu Prayer. He has won one of seven starts to date and earned $48,842. Regulus is a four-time winner from nine starts in California who has earned $122,300; the Distorted Humor gelding is out of multiple Grade 1 winner and millionaire Stellar Jayne. Contessa tweeted after his purchase that he plans to race Regulus over Aqueduct’s inner main track during the winter meet.

The top-priced weanling at the sale was a daughter of Grade 1 winner Pioneerof the Nile, who went to Brendan Gallagher for $82,000. Consigned by Rhapsody Farm and Hidden Lake Farm, as agents, she is out of the stakes-placed Pulpit mare Pulpit’s Treasure.

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