Interest by sellers in the Central Florida market continued to grow with the 2016 edition of the Ocala Breeders’ Sales Co. August yearling sale, illustrated by the largest catalog in seven years.
The California Thoroughbred Breeders Association’s Northern California yearling and racing age sale posted steep declines Tuesday, highlighted by a $50,000 City Zip colt.
Zayat Stables, the owner-breeder of Triple Crown winner American Pharoah, became involved with another of the great racehorses of this era last weekend, purchasing a son of unbeaten champion Frankel for 410,000 euros ($457,560 U.S.) at the Arqana August yearling sale in France.
The top price for a New York resident sire and New York first-year sire at the Fasig-Tipton New York-bred yearling sale were recorded by the same horse, as Emcee was represented by a $110,000 filly sold to Art Watson.
On Saturday night, Hip 302, a first-crop I Want Revenge filly entered the ring and hammered for $14,000. Moments later, the session was canceled when the storms that plagued the area became too severe to safely carry on. It was announced that the catalog would start from the beginning on Sunday, with Hips 301 and 302 being re-offered after bringing a final hammer price in the ring.
After severe weather forced the first session of the Fasig-Tipton New York-bred yearling sale to be canceled on Saturday night, the full catalog was offered as a single session on Sunday. Although led by a $450,000 Uncle Mo colt who was a record for this sale, the auction failed to keep up with previous renewals, finishing with declines.
The opening session of the Fasig-Tipton New York-bred sale was canceled on Saturday evening due to severe weather in the Saratoga Springs, N.Y., area creating hazardous conditions for participants and technical difficulties inside the sales pavilion.
Among the horses generating the most buzz during the Fasig-Tipton Saratoga select yearling sale was a Ghostzapper filly under the Hill ‘n' Dale Sales Agency shedrow, who seemingly spent as much time on the walk as she did in her stall.
Three years ago, the Northern California sale of yearlings and horses of racing age had a catalog of 117 horses. At Tuesday’s event at the Alameda county fairgrounds in Pleasanton, the sale will be more than double that size.
New York-breds have won at least one Grade/Group 1 race every year since 2010, and the program has been represented by Eclipse Award champions in consecutive years with Dayatthespa and La Verdad. The program is having another strong year, with graded stakes wins by Effinex, Upstart, Fish Trappe Road, and Ancient Secret in the first seven months of 2016. Likewise, sales of New York-bred prospects are on the upswing. The Fasig-Tipton New York-bred sale of preferred yearlings has posted gains in five consecutive years heading into this year's edition, which is set for Saturday and Sunday.
