Fasig-Tipton president and CEO Boyd Browning Jr. stood in Fasig-Tipton’s sale pavilion in Lexington, Ky., on a July evening, already anticipating a trip north. “Can’t wait to get to Saratoga,” Browning said, emphasizing his words. “Can. Not. Wait. For Monday and Tuesday night!” The 103rd edition of the boutique Fasig-Tipton Saratoga selected yearling sale takes place on the evenings of Monday, Aug. 5, and Tuesday, Aug. 6, at the auction company’s Humphrey S. Finney Pavilion just down the block from Saratoga Race Course. A catalog of 240 yearlings has been assembled. As expected, all the usual suspects from the nation’s leading sire ranks are represented among the young horses who have been selected for their strong pedigrees and outstanding conformation. “Seriously, we’ve got a great catalog,” Browning said. “We’ve got pedigree there, we’ve got physicals there. . . . People want good horses, and we’ve got good horses up there.” The Saratoga selected sale is the first test for the upper reaches of the yearling marketplace. Last year’s sale produced 10 seven-figure horses, including the most expensive yearling in North America. The Saratoga sale follows a solid edition of the Fasig-Tipton July sale, which opened the sale season that runs through late October. The single session Fasig-Tipton July sale reported 154 yearlings sold for gross receipts of $17,319,000, which stacked up respectably against a larger catalog in the 2023 edition. The July sale’s average price spiked 14 percent to $112,461, and the median rose 17 percent, to a record-tying $90,000. “It puts a little bit of bounce in everybody’s step,” Browning said. “That’s good for the yearling sales that take place in July, August, September, and October. We all live in one industry, and we all win in a healthy industry. It was a very positive step [in July], and it should have provided a lot of confidence.” Last year’s Saratoga sale set an imposing bar. With a $4 million son of Hall of Famers Curlin and Beholder leading the way, the auction finished with 152 yearlings sold for a record gross of $74,430,000 and record average of $489,671, both breaking the marks established a year prior. The median was even with the record of $375,000 established in 2022. The buyback rate in a highly selective marketplace for young horses finished at 25 percent, compared to 20 percent the year prior. Here is a look at some of the standout young horses set to line up for this year’s Fasig-Tipton Saratoga sale. This list of horses to watch, based on pedigree, accounts for catalog updates and sale outs through July 24. Night 1 – Aug. 5 Hip No. 6, colt by Constitution – Cashmere, by Cowboy Cal. Consigned by Turning Point Bloodstock, agent. This colt drew an unfavorable early spot on the first night of the sale, when the market may still be finding its footing. However, his page merits early attention. By a prominent young sire, this is a half-brother to 2021 Preakness Stakes winner Rombauer. Cashmere, who also produced stakes-placed Cono, is a half-sister to Breeders’ Cup Turf Sprint winner California Flag and to graded stakes winner Cambiocorsa, dam of graded stakes winner Moulin de Mougin and Schiaparelli, stakes winners Alexis Tangier and Bronson, and stakes-placed Vionnet, dam of European Horse of the Year Roaring Lion. Hip No. 30, colt by Into Mischief – Distorted Music, by Distorted Humor. Consigned by Darby Dan Farm, agent. Five-time reigning leading sire and commercial juggernaut Into Mischeif could almost merit a shortlist in his own right. He has 18 yearlings selected to this catalog. Four are out of, or are half-siblings to, Grade 1 winners, while another six are out of, or half-siblings, to graded stakes winners. This colt is in the group and also has recent commercial success from this family. He is a half-brother to graded stakes winner She Can’t Sing, who sold for $1.1 million as a broodmare prospect in February. This is the family of Dubai World Cup winner Mystic Guide and Grade/Group 1 winners Music Note and Musical Chimes. Hip No. 46, filly by Into Mischief – Flourish, by Distorted Humor. Consigned by Blake-Albina Thoroughbred Services, agent. This is a full sister to multiple graded stakes-winning millionaire Fulsome, and a half to graded stakes-placed Mr Darcy and Rimprotector and stakes-placed Citrus Burst. Flourish is a half-sister to multiple Grade 1 winners Sightseek and Tates Creek, and this is the family of Breeders’ Cup Mile winner Expert Eye. Hip No. 57, colt by Charlatan – Goldfield, by Yes It’s True. Consigned by Warrendale Sales, agent for Stonestreet Farm. Grade 1 winner Charlatan got outstanding support from outfits such as home farm Hill ‘n’ Dale and breeder Stonestreet when he retired to stud. It showed in his solid book of mares and early sale results, and shows in his class-leading 10 first-crop yearlings selected for this boutique catalog. Goldfield is the dam of five winners from as many starters, led by Grade 1 winner and breakout freshman sire Complexity and graded stakes winner and stakes producer Valadorna. Hip No. 62, filly by Nyquist – Holiday Soiree, by Harlan’s Holiday. Consigned by Warrendale Sales, agent. Grade 1-placed stakes winner Holiday Soiree is the dam of five winners from six starters, led by Grade 1 winner Vahva and stakes-placed Signal From Noise. Hip No. 66, filly by Into Mischief – I’m a Chatterbox, by Munnings. Consigned by Taylor Made Sales, agent. Multiple Grade 1 winner I’m a Chatterbox is the dam of two winners from as many starters, including Grade 3-placed Juniper’s Moon. Hip No. 68, colt by Into Mischief – Indy Punch, by Pulling Punches. Consigned by Blake-Albina Thoroughbred Services, agent. This colt’s first dam dominates the catalog page, as the dam of six winners from as many starters, led by multiple graded stakes-winning millionaire United, graded stakes winner Harlan’s Punch – bred on the same cross as this colt – stakes winner and producer Tensa’s Punch, and Group 3-placed Royal Navy Ship. Hip No. 85, filly by Curlin – Matera, by Tapit. Consigned by Gainesway, agent for Don Alberto. This is the first foal out of a Grade 3-placed multiple stakes winner whose dam, graded stakes winner Miss Macy Sue, produced multiple Grade 1 winner and sire Liam’s Map and Grade 3 winner and sire Not This Time. Tapit is emerging as a leading broodmare sire, and the cross of Curlin over his fellow leading sire is responsible for Horse of the Year Cody’s Wish. Hip No. 104, colt by War Front – New Money Honey, by Medaglia d’Oro. Consigned by Indian Creek, agent. This is one of just three yearlings in the catalog for the stalwart War Front, an internationally popular sire. This is the second foal out of multiple Grade 1 winner New Money Honey, who is from the immediate family of Grade 1 winner Any Given Saturday. Hip No. 111, filly by Gun Runner – Oleksandra, by Animal Kingdom. Consigned by Bluewater Sales, agent. This is the first foal out of a mare who was a Grade 1 winner against males. Night 2 – Aug. 6 Hip No. 122, filly by Medaglia d’Oro – Princess Julia, by Distorted Humor. Consigned by Taylor Made Sales, agent for Stonestreet Farm. This filly’s second dam is Eclipse Award champion Folklore – who is the second dam of Japanese Triple Crown winner and champion Contrail. This also is the active immediate family of classic winner and two-time Eclipse champion Essential Quality, and of champion Forte. Hip No. 134, colt by Into Mischief – Road to Victory, by Quality Road. Consigned by Denali Stud, agent for Stonestreet Farm. Graded stakes winner Road to Victory – one of the only fillies to ever best champion Monomoy Girl – is off to a solid start in her broodmare career, with two winners from as many starters, including Sir Barton Stakes winner and Curlin Stakes runner-up Corporate Power. Japanese Grade 1 winner Moanin appears on this page. Hip No. 144, Password, colt by Uncle Mo – Secret, by Street Cry. Consigned by Bridie Harrison, agent for Peter Blum Thoroughbreds. This mare is the dam of two winners from four starters, including Top Secret, a full sibling to Password. Secret is a half-sister to four stakes winners, including Initiation, second dam of Canadian classic winner Elysian Field. Secret also is a half-sister to Treasure, dam of three stakes horses, led by 2023 Preakness Stakes winner National Treasure – who could update this family when he starts in the Grade 1 Whitney at Saratoga just three days before this colt comes to the ring. Grade 1 winners Telling and Well Chosen also appear on this catalog page. Hip No. 146, Paladin, colt by Gun Runner – Secret Sigh, by Tapit. Consigned by Lane’s End, agent for Summer Wind Equine. This unraced mare’s first foal is Stop the Press, who sold for $1.5 million here in 2022; he is placed this season. Secret Sigh is a half-sister to Japanese Grade 1 winner Mozu Ascot, and this is the immediate family of Grade 1 winners Angela Renee and To Honor and Serve. Hip No. 181, filly by Uncle Mo – Susie’s Baby, by Giant’s Causeway. Consigned by Bluewater Sales, agent. This is a full sister to multiple graded stakes winner Family Way. Their dam is a half-sister to Royal Ascot Group 1 winner Caravaggio, who is having a breakout season of success worldwide as a sire. Hip No. 199, colt by Into Mischief – Unrivaled Belle, by Unbridled’s Song. Consigned by Gainesway, agent. Unrivaled Belle won the 2010 Breeders’ Cup Distaff. Her other graded stakes scores included a triumph over the great Rachel Alexandra. She is the dam of two-time Eclipse Award champion Unique Bella and is the second dam of Australian group stakes winner Osmose and of stakes winner Paris Style.