N.Y.-bred sale average down

Fasig-Tipton's Saratoga preferred yearling sale, which enjoyed double-digit gains last year, ended Monday night with a jump in the median price but declines in the average price and gross receipts.

The buy-back rate also climbed sharply, rising from 38 percent last year to 43 percent.

The two-day auction of New York-breds sold 10 horses for $100,000 or more. Those were led by the $165,000 sale-topper, a Carson City colt out of Careful Approach that Michael Marceda bought from Francis and Barbara Vanlangendonck's Summerfield agency. The colt is a half-brother to Shaky Town, winner of two stakes this year.

Summerfield, agent, also sold the auction's highest-priced filly during the final session on Monday night. Hammered down for $160,000, the filly is from Wheelaway's first crop. Harvey A. Clarke purchased the filly, a daughter of Karusha, by Gate Dancer.

Despite coming off a boom year in 2004, when the median price jumped by 27 percent, the 2005 auction managed to post a record median of $45,000, up 11 percent from last year's. But the average price and gross receipts failed to keep pace with last year's strong numbers. The 2005 average price slid 5 percent to $47,386, while gross receipts fell 11 percent to $4,975,500.

Overall, the 2005 auction sold 105 of 183 yearlings offered. Last year, the sale sold 112 of 182 lots sent through the ring.