N.Y.-bred auction declines

A daughter of the late New York sire Dixie Brass brought a final bid of $175,000 and topped the opening session of Fasig-Tipton's preferred sale of New York-bred yearlings Sunday evening in Saratoga Springs, N.Y.

The sale, which was to conclude on Monday, showed a 12 percent decline in average price. Fifty-nine horses sold for a total of $2,545,500 for an average of $43,144. Last year, 51 horses sold for $2,478,000, an average of $48,588, on the first day of the sale. The buy-back rate jumped from 36 percent to 41 percent, with 41 horses not reaching their reserve prices at the first session.

The sale started 30 minutes later than scheduled because of intense storms that struck in the afternoon and caused a delay in the completion of the races. Parts of the sales grounds became flooded while prospective buyers were inspecting yearlings before the sale.

Trainer Jim Bond signed the sales slip on the session topper on behalf of Rudlein Stable. The filly, out of the Cormorant mare Phalanopsis, is a half-sister to stakes winners Roman Dancer and I'm All Yours.