Selling brisk at Fasig-Tipton

One day after ringing up double-digit gains, Fasig-Tipton's October yearling sale in Lexington, Ky., saw a run of six-figure yearlings at its second and final session Tuesday.

The session-leader at 4:30 p.m. Eastern was Hip No. 543, a $175,000 Pulpit colt out of Wheedle that Bill Farish of Lane's End Farm purchased from the Legacy Bloodstock agency. The bay colt, a half-brother to stakes winner First Cavalry already named Spartacus, was one of four horses to sell for $100,000 or more by that hour.

Monday's opening session featured a $320,000 top price for Grade 1 winner Nonsuch Bay's first foal, a colt by Empire Maker. Preston Madden was the buyer, and Warrendale Sales, agent, sold the colt.

Monday's session sold 297 yearlings for $5,286,800, a dramatic 75 percent increase from last year's total of $3,017,800 for 216 horses. The 2007 average price of $17,801 was up 27 percent from $13,971, and the $10,000 median was up 43 percent from $7,000 last year. The buyback rate also fell, from 31 percent last year to 18 percent.

Fasig-Tipton trimmed the October yearling sale from three days to two this year.