Numbers mixed at Fasig-Tipton

Fasig-Tipton's Saratoga open yearling sale Tuesday saw gains in average and median, but 50 percent of the horses offered failed to reach their reserve prices.

The top-priced yearling at the one-day auction was a $30,000 Red Bullet filly out of the Polish Numbers mare Overdue Number. Flying Zee Stable purchased the bay filly from Southern Style Sales, which consigned her on behalf of Pegasus Farms, Inc. The sale-topper's dam is a full sister to stakes-winner Ghostly Numbers.

The session grossed $244,700 from 30 yearlings sold, down 53 percent from last year, when a much larger group of 73 horses brought $523,600. The 2008 average price of $8,157 was up 14 percent, and the $5,300 median was up 18 percent.

Last year's buy-back rate was 43 percent.