Fasig-Tipton Saratoga selected yearling sale begins Monday

The Fasig-Tipton Saratoga selected yearling sale coincides with two dark days at Saratoga Race Course and begins Monday at 6:30 p.m.

After an encouraging start to the North American yearling marketplace at Fasig-Tipton in Kentucky last month, this is the first chance to test the upper crust of the domestic marketplace. The yearlings who were chosen for this catalog, based on their outstanding pedigrees and/or conformation, must also stand up to intense scrutiny from those potential buyers studying their way of moving, demeanor, veterinary records, and more. Some bidders will not be willing to stretch to top dollar for horses who do not pass all their tests. On the other side of the coin, breeders will not be willing to part with quality stock for less than their perceived worth, with some in a position to race buybacks themselves.

While a top pedigree is not a guarantee of a top price, here are some of the horses to watch in Monday’s opening session, largely based on their pages. The selections reflect catalog updates and sale outs through Aug. 7.

Hip 20, Hope Road, filly by Quality Road - Marley's Freedom, by Blame. Consigned by Brookdale Sales, agent for Cicero Farms.

Quality Road, who led the bellwether Keeneland September yearling sale by average price last year, is currently holding on to the lead on the general sires earnings list thanks to Saudi Cup winner Emblem Road, but is by no means a one-hit wonder, with seven stakes winners, including Grade 1 winner Bleecker Street, to his credit. This is the first foal for millionaire Marley’s Freedom, whose six graded stakes victories were highlighted by the Grade 1 Ballerina. This filly will likely come to the ring less than an hour into the sale session. Although buyers are shrewd enough to find top horses no matter where they land by luck of the catalog draw, the prevailing sentiment is that consignors would rather be late in a session than early, and rather on the second day of the sale than the first, as the marketplace can take time to warm up.

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Hip 25, filly by Uncle Mo - Miss Hollywood, by Malibu Moon. Consigned by Summerfield, agent.

Uncle Mo sired his second American classic winner this year, with Belmont winner Mo Donegal joining 2016 Kentucky Derby winner and Eclipse Award champion juvenile Nyquist from his first crop. Stakes winner Miss Hollywood is out of the multiple Grade 1-winning millionaire Hollywood Story, dam of Grade 1 winner Honor A. P., Grade 2-placed Hollywood Star, and stakes-placed Hoorayforhollywood.

Hip 51, colt by Catalina Cruiser - Private Feeling, by Belong to Me. Consigned by Denali Stud, agent.

This is the first crop for multiple Grade 2 winner Catalina Cruiser. Private Feeling is the dam of six winners from as many starters, led by two-time Eclipse Award champion and classic winner Lookin At Lucky, Grade 2 winner Kensei, and this year’s UAE Oaks winner Shahama, who continued to update the page by winning the Grade 3 Monmouth Oaks recently. This is also the family of Eclipse champion Wait a While.

Hip 57, filly by Curlin - Rare Event, by A.P. Indy. Consigned by Hill 'n' Dale Sales, agent.

Two-time Horse of the Year Curlin is having an outstanding season, ranking among the nation’s leading sires, and with stars such as Malathaat and Nest keeping him top of mind at Saratoga. Both are bred on the same Curlin – A.P. Indy cross as this filly. This filly is a half-sister to Eclipse Award champion Improbable, a Grade 1 winner at 2 who went on to be a multiple Grade 1 winner in his championship season at 4. This is also the family of Grade 1 winner Hard Spun and dual classic winner and champion Little Current, with Grade 1 winners Drill and Lachesis also appearing on the catalog page.

Hip 74, colt by Into Mischief - Shopit, by Yes It's True. Consigned by Blake-Albina Thoroughbred Services, agent.

This could be the first of two big nights at the sale for Into Mischief, the nation’s three-time reigning leading sire. The stallion was represented over the weekend by Grade 1 Whitney winner Life Is Good and Grade 3 Adirondack winner Naughty Gal, and is closing in on Quality Road on this year’s earnings list; he already leads the way by North American earnings. This colt is a full brother to Springboard Mile winner Shoplifted, who was Grade 1-placed at 2 and 3. This is the family of a Grade 1-winning juvenile in Power Broker, and this much precocity on a page is often rewarded in the sale ring.

Hip 75, colt by Into Mischief - Siren Serenade, by Unbridled's Song. Consigned by Denali Stud, agent.

Siren Serenade, who sold for $1.025 million to Don Alberto in 2017, is the dam of six winners from seven starters. Those are led by Grade 1-placed Luminance – whose Curlin yearling filly sells earlier in the evening as Hip 15 – and graded stakes-placed Stellar Sound. Siren Serenade is out of multiple Grade 1 winner and blue hen Versailles Treaty, and Grade 1 winners George Vancouver, Saarland, Mongolian Groom, General Assembly, and Boisterous appear on this catalog page.

Hip 83, colt by Into Mischief - Layreebelle, by Tale of the Cat. Consigned by Machmer Hall Sales.

Layreebelle is the dam of graded stakes winners Spellbound and Kid Cruz, with Spellbound going on to produce Grade 2 winner Soothsay. This is the family of Triple Crown winner Justify, who is developing into a good young sire.