Sharp gains at Fasig-Tipton's first day

LEXINGTON, Ky. - Fasig-Tipton Kentucky's winter mixed sale enjoyed sharp gains at its opening session Sunday, where the stakes-winning mare Placid Lake brought the top price of $320,000.

John Lossen, agent, purchased the session topper, who sold as a racing or broodmare prospect. Placid Lake, 6, is the only horse by Greenwood Lake in the two-day catalog and sold as part of the Hill 'n' Dale agency's consignment. The Florida-bred mare is a stakes winner and most recently finished third in the Sunshine Millions Filly and Mare Turf. To date, she has earned $223,550 from five wins in 14 starts.

The opening session at Newtown Paddocks in Lexington sold 160 horses for $3,274,000, an increase of 22 percent from last year's equivalent session, when 195 horses brought $2,689,300. The opening-day average price rose 48 percent, from $13,791 to $20,463, and the median gained 4 percent, rising from last year's figure of $6,000 to $6,250.

Buy-backs also declined from 24 percent last year to 22 percent.

The auction was to continue Monday with its second and final session.