Judging by the trends in last year's weanling market and the results of this summer's first yearling sale, the recent success of the Unbridled line is translating into favorable returns for first-crop sires from that line. Cairo Prince, by Pioneerof the Nile, and Will Take Charge are among those who have capitalized.
In another world, Kurt Becker and Joseph Mast might have been cross-town rivals. Becker has been the voice of Keeneland since the track first staffed an announcer in 1997. Mast is in his seventh year as a Fasig-Tipton auctioneer. Holding down the same stand at a Thoroughbred sale would be a branding clash akin to Coca-Cola and Pepsi teaming up.
The Fasig-Tipton Saratoga select sale is the category's first boutique auction of the season, and kicks off a flurry of activity from coast to coast on a changing yearling market landscape during August.
Horses to watch at the Fasig-Tipton Saratoga select yearling sale, based on their pedigrees and the past auction performance of notable family members.
New York-breds have not only excelled in open company around the country in recent years – they have taken their show far, far on the road to continued success. With statebreds a hot commodity for both national and regional buyers, the market rolls into the Fasig-Tipton New York-bred preferred yearling sale, set for Aug. 12 and 13 in Saratoga Springs.
Change is nothing new to the yearling sale calendar, but it's been a while since so much has happened at once.
A 2-year-old colt by Animal Kingdom sold for $180,000 at Wednesday’s Barretts paddock sale at Del Mar, the most expensive hip of the horses-of-racing-age sale.
The Texas Thoroughbred Association has cataloged 139 horses for its summer yearling and mixed sale on Aug. 21 at Lone Star Park. This will mark the second yearling sale conducted by the TTA since it took over operation of the Texas auctions from Fasig-Tipton.
Hips to watch at the July 26 Barretts paddock sale at Del Mar.
The catalog for the Barretts paddock sale at Del Mar doubled in size for its 2017 renewal, but the growth seen this year figures to be just the first step in the auction's long-term development.
