Fasig-Tipton session topped by $200K Hard Spun colt

A $200,000 Hard Spun colt from Barbaro's family topped the opening session Tuesday at Fasig-Tipton Midlantic's Eastern fall yearling sale in Timonium, Md. With a 17-percent smaller catalog, the session saw a dip in gross but put up increases in average and median prices.

The opener sold 170 yearlings for $3,194,500, a 5 percent slip in gross from last year, when 214 yearlings sold. But the average climbed 20 percent, from $15,628 to $18,791, and the median doubled, from $5,000 last year to $10,000. The buy-back rate was 25 percent, slightly higher than last year's opening-day rate of 24 percent. There were 33 outs this year.

Bradley Thoroughbreds bought the session-topping dark bay or brown colt, who is out of Grade 1-placed stakes-winner Lucky Lavender Gal. That Carson City mare is a full sister to Barbaro's dam, La Ville Rouge, and already has produced Grade 3-placed Lavender's Lad and the stakes-winner Lavender Lass. The Fasig-Tipton sale yearling is a half-sibling to both of those runners.

Paramount Sales, agent, consigned the Kentucky-bred colt.

The colt last sold for $150,000 at Keeneland's November mixed sale, where Snow Ridge Farm bought him from the Lane's End agency. Sent back to Fasig-Tipton's Saratoga select auction, he was a $220,000 buy-back from Dromoland Farm, agent.

The session-toper was one of four yearlings to bring six figures at the first of two sessions. The highest-priced filly was a gray or roan Not For Love daughter of Maryland Mist. A half-sister to Grade 3-placed stakes-winner Ice Mist, she sold for $110,000 to Ellen M. Charles. Bill Reightler, agent, was the consignor. The filly is from the family of Grade 1 performer Maryland Moon.

Charles also purchased a $115,000 Fairbanks-Mary Anne's Love colt from Reightler, who acted as agent then for Spring Meadow Farm. The dark bay or brown colt is from champion juvenile Declan's Moon's family.

Also fetching six figures was a $145,000 Grand Slam colt that Al Gold bought from Vinery Sales, agent. A bay son of Hey Darla, he is a half-brother to major earner and stakes winner R Betty Graybull.

The Fasig-Tipton Midlantic Eastern fall yearling sale was to continue through Wednesday. The final session was to begin at 10 a.m.