Fasig-Tipton Saratoga New York-bred yearling sale posts gains across the board

SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. – The Fasig-Tipton Saratoga New York-bred yearling sale made a triumphant return to its usual place on the calendar. After last year’s edition of the sale was canceled due to the coronavirus pandemic, this renewal, led by a $495,000 Uncle Mo filly, finished with significant gains from its most recent edition two years ago.

Fasig-Tipton reported that 200 yearlings changed hands over two sessions on Sunday and Monday for gross receipts of $18,476,500. When this sale was most recently held in 2019, 186 yearlings were sold for $16.2 million.

This week's average sale price finished at $92,383, with a median of $70,000. Those represented significant upward movement of 6 percent and 17 percent, respectively, from the most recent figures of $87,097 and $60,000 in 2019. The buyback rate also improved significantly, checking in at a cumulative 22 percent, compared to 30 percent in 2019.

"The buyers continue to have more and more confidence coming to this sale," Fasig-Tipton president Boyd Browning Jr. said. "We hit the sales superfecta: average was up, median was up, gross was up, and RNA rate was down. So we hit the super today for this sale. We're obviously very, very pleased."

The New York-bred sale was among several sales canceled by the ongoing coronavirus pandemic in 2020, scattering the state's yearling crop to other jurisdictions, where it found tough going. In many cases, due to travel and gathering restrictions, it was difficult to place the right horses in front of the right buyers.

"There was no segment of the marketplace more adversely impacted by the COVID situation last year than the New York-bred yearling marketplace," Browning said. "We've always been committed to this sale and this marketplace, but anytime you have a disruption, it's difficult – and there was a significant disruption for our breeders. . . . We knew in 2020 that there was just no way to replicate the Saratoga environment and the setup here for the New York-breds. It was impossible. You couldn't replicate it in Kentucky, you couldn't replicate it in Maryland – and hell, we couldn't get to New York. It was one of those things where you lament, you worry, and you say, 'How do we make it work?' And the reality is, we couldn't."

Consignors and local bloodstock industry participants had expressed relief all week to be showcasing statebred yearlings locally again, before a dedicated marketplace that could feed runners back into the state programs.

"It's fantastic to have the New York-bred sale back," said Bill Leak, stallion manager at Irish Hill and Dutchess Views Stallions. "It is the backbone and the pinnacle of the New York sale market. Not having it last year really hurt. Thankfully, it was only one year, we've got it back, and we'll be able to bridge the gap and get through it, especially with New York-bred breeder awards. A lot of people weren't able to move horses . . . so a lot of people are carrying racehorses now."

Not only was this year's crop of yearlings able to be showcased before a diverse and appeciative buying bench – with prominent state-based buyers such as Repole Stable, Klaravich Stable, Sackatoga Stable, and Madaket Stables making frequent appearances on sales receipts – they found pent-up market enthusiasm that has characterized this year's yearling marketplace thus far.

"The market's fabulous," said consignor Tom Gallo, who also manages New York-based Dream Maker Racing. "I think this market right now, we're coming out of the pandemic with all the pent-up enthusiasm, and people didn't really get to spend their money last year and stuff like that, and that goes for anything, the whole economy. I think it's a really strong market."

Gallo was responsible, in part, for both the consignment and purchase of the sale-topping Uncle Mo filly, who will stay in the family for Dream Maker. The filly was bred in partnership by Gallo's wife, Mia Gallo, along with Mary Kopley, Michael Newton, and Elizabeth Weese. Tom Gallo consigned the filly to the Fasig-Tipton sale, as agent, and when she took her turn through the sale ring during Sunday evening's opening session, he seized an opportunity to secure her for Dream Maker. The partnership, which has its horses with trainer Bill Mott, includes two of her co-breeders.

The filly is out of the winning Distorted Humor mare Averymerrymoment, dam of six winners from as many starters, including stakes-placed Satisfy for Dream Maker. For more on the filly and her sale, topping transaction, click here for Sunday evening's full session recap.

The second-highest price of the sale overall was a $350,000 Munnings filly, with Conor Foley's Oracle Bloodstock partnering with GMP Stables, Vekoma Racing, and West Paces to lead Monday's second session.

"I thought she was probably one of the top three fillies in the sale," Foley said after signing the ticket. "We're tickled to get her."

The filly is the second foal out of Freudie Anne, a two-time stakes-winning daughter of leading New York sire Freud. Bred in New York by Fergus Galvin, Marc Detampel, Jayne Johnson, and Adrian Wallace, she was consigned to the sale by Hunter Valley Farm, as agent.

Foley said the filly would eventually be trained by Danny Gargan.

"Hopefully in about a year, she'll be walking out of a winner's circle in Saratoga," he said.

For hip-by-hip results, click here.