Into Mischief colt tops Fasig-Tipton October opener

Into Mischief has become one of the most popular stallions in North America, and his popularity helped start the Fasig-Tipton Kentucky fall yearling sale off with a bang. A $400,000 colt by the stallion led the way as the opening session of the yearling market finale posted double-digit gains on Monday.

A total of 223 yearlings sold for gross receipts of $7,517,000 during the first of four sessions at Fasig October. Those revenues marked a 16 percent gain from the comparable opening session of the 2017 sale, when 230 yearlings totaled $6,479,500.

The session average price, $33,709, showed a 20 percent gain from $28,172 in 2017. The median, $16,000, was up 60 percent from $10,000.

Despite a number of high-ticket buybacks – including a filly from the first crop of Triple Crown winner American Pharoah who drew a high bid of $775,000 – the buyback rate also improved slightly from the 2017 opener. The figure checked in at 27 percent, compared with 29 percent.

Fasig-Tipton president Boyd Browning was encouraged by the figures, but said a better market evaluation can be made two or three days into this four-day run. Browning noted that last year's opening session was the weakest, posting the lowest average among the four sessions, and therefore offered the most room for improvement.

:: Get breeding & sales news, Beyer info, and more delivered right to your email!

"I thought it was pretty consistent trade," Browning said of Monday's action. "The sale is essentially right in line with our expectations . . . Buyers are saying it's difficult to buy the horses they want to buy, consignors say there's significant action on their quality horses."

The session-topping Into Mischief colt, sold to Paul Brodsky, was consigned by Francis and Barbara Vanlangendonck's Summerfield Sales operation on behalf of breeder Stonestreet Farm. The colt had been cataloged for last month's Keeneland September yearling sale, but ultimately scratched in favor of waiting for the October sale.

"He just needed a little more time," Francis Vanlangendonck said. "That's a pretty sharp crew over there [at Stonestreet]. They said,' He's coming the right way, so let's sit back and give him more time.'"

Spendthift Farm's Into Mischief, a perennial leading juvenile sire and currently third among living stallions on the general sires list, was the most active stallion in North America in 2018 according to The Jockey Club's Report of Mares Bred, covering 245 mares. His first seven-figure yearling sold last month at Keeneland September.

This colt is the second foal out of the Grade 3-placed stakes winner Cor Cor, by Smoke Glacken. Cor Cor's second dam is Meafara, a multiple graded stakes winner who twice finished second in the Breeders' Cup Sprint.

"He is a really nice horse," Vanlangendonck said. "Whether he goes to the 2-year-old sales or races, he'll do well. He's got a good mind and everything."

The session's other top prices were a $300,000 Elusive Quality colt sold to Whispering Oaks Farm, and a $200,000 Cairo Prince filly sold to Stoneway Farm.

For hip-by-hip results, click here.