Gross, average up at Midlantic Eastern fall yearling sale

LEXINGTON, Ky. - Fasig-Tipton Midlantic’s Eastern fall yearling auction ended Wednesday with gains in gross and average and a slightly lower median.

Topped by a $250,000 After Market colt that Jay Em Ess Stable bought from the Charlton agency, the two-day sale grossed $6,273,800 for 392 yearlings, a total that was up 12 percent from last year’s gross for 387 horses. The 2010 average price jumped 10 percent, rising from 2009’s figure of $14,513 to $16,005. But median dropped 3 percent, falling from $5,500 to $5,350.

Buybacks increased, from 27 percent last year to 30 percent.

The session-topping colt is out of the Smart Strike mare Christmas Strike and is a half-brother to stakes winner Double Down Vinman.

At Wednesday’s final session, a $160,000 Indian Charlie colt offered by Candyland led prices. The bay colt is a son of stakes-placed Ten Halos, a Marquetry mare, and is from the family of graded winners My Pal Charlie, Bwana Charlie, and Bwana Bull. He was purchased by Jack H. Smith III. The colt was one of 10 yearlings to bring six figures at the two-day auction.