New York-breds' open-race success spills over to select sale

New York-breds have acquitted themselves well against open company on the racetrack in Saratoga this summer. They’ve also done the same in the sales ring in Saratoga.

While Fasig-Tipton will present the New York-bred preferred yearling sale on Monday and Tuesday, the breeders of several statebreds chose to instead test “open company” in the elite selected yearling sale that preceded it. The confidence in their stock as well as the commercial response to it showed the quality of the New York-bred program.

Five of the six New York-breds sent through the ring at the select sale sold – the lone buyback garnered a strong high bid of $525,000 – for a gross for $2 million, an average of $400,000. The most expensive of the lot was an $825,000 colt from the first crop of Triple Crown winner Justify who was the most expensive yearling sold by his sire at the sale and the eighth-highest price of the auction overall. The colt was purchased by Travis Durr, as agent for David Hudson. The owner noted to the New York Thoroughbred Breeders that the state program “is certainly a lucrative program, so we’re excited to give it a try. The colt is very athletic and looked the part, and is a New York-bred to boot.”

The colt, who was consigned by Sequel Sales, as agent, is from one of the top breeding programs is the state, as he is the second foal out of Breeders’ Cup Filly and Mare Sprint winner Bar of Gold, bred and campaigned by Chester and Mary Broman. Her first foal is stakes-placed Coinage.

There are 308 entries for this week’s Fasig-Tipton New York-bred yearling sale.