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'Something for Everyone:' Spirited Bidding Punctuates Day Two of Fasig-Tipton October Sale

at 8:19 pm | Back to: Top News

Updated: October 22, 2024 at 8:20 pm

A Curlin colt, hip 801, topped Tuesday's session | Fasig-Tipton

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LEXINGTON, KY – The Fasig-Tipton October Yearlings Sale reached its halfway mark with a vibrant day of trade topped by a $550,000 son of Curlin who was one of the last horses through the ring Tuesday.

“It was tremendous second session of the 2024 Kentucky October Yearling sale,” said Fasig-Tipton President Boyd Browning, Jr. “There was really spirited bidding from the very beginning of the sale to the very end of the sale. The level and consistency of the bidding throughout the day was truly encouraging.”

Through two sessions of the four-day auction, 544 yearlings have grossed $28,753,000 for an average of $52,855 and a median of $20,000. With just 137 yearlings failing to meet their reserves, the buy-back rate stands at 20.1%.

Through two sessions of the 2023 auction, 520 yearlings had grossed $24,157,300 for an average of $46,456 and a median of $22,000. The four-day average of the 2023 sale was $48,045 and the median was $24,000.

“It was statistically a magnificent day, with a noticeable increase in the average over the overall sale average last year,” Browning said. “We are tracking really well. Obviously, we are just halfway through, with two more days to go, but we are delighted with the look and the feel and the energy that is on the sales grounds and very pleased halfway through the sale.”

Bloodstock agent Alistair Roden, bidding on behalf of Mark Breen, purchased the auction's top offering so far, going to $550,000 to acquire a son of Curlin from the Taylor Made Sales Agency consignment. The colt was one of 10 to sell for $300,000 or more on the day and brought the two-day total to reach that mark to 15. It was 10 at the same point a year ago.

Through two days, 34 yearlings have sold for $200,000 or more, up from 24 at the halfway mark of the 2023 auction.

 

The October results continued to show a deep and diverse buying bench with nine of Tuesday's top 10 offerings purchased by unique interests.

“The October sale truly has something for everyone,” Browning said. “That's reflected in the buyer group that is on the sale grounds. We could have a United Nations conference in the back walking ring. It's great for our industry to be an exporter of this many horses, as well as to have a healthy racing game here in the United States.”

The October sale continues through Thursday with sessions beginning daily at 10 a.m.

 

Curlin Colt a Late Topper for Roden

After watching Carlos Manresa sign the ticket at $350,000 on a colt by Tapit, Alistair Roden said ruefully, “That could have been me.” The bloodstock agent eventually got his chance, acquiring a colt by Curlin (hip 801) for a session-topping $550,000 late in the day Tuesday at Fasig-Tipton.

“This was for an old client and friend Mark Breen, who lives in Phoenix,” Roden said of the purchase. “He's been in the horse business for a while.”

Hip 801 is out of Sass and Class (Harlan's Holiday) and is a half-brother to multiple graded winner Royal Charlotte (Cairo Prince). He was consigned by Taylor Made Agency on behalf of his breeder, Stonestreet Thoroughbred Holdings.

“He always dreams of having a nice 3-year-old,” Roden said of Breen. “Which everybody does in this game. He loved this horse's pedigree. I loved his physical.”

Of the colt's final price, Roden said, “I was already out. And then the phone rang. He rang and he told me to keep going. But I figured it would be around that price. He's a lovely horse. He's by Curlin. He has a stallion's pedigree and, if he's a Grade I winner, he's a $30-million horse.”

Roden added, “Let's hope the horse gods shine on him and we have some luck.”

Breen campaigned Endorsed (Medaglia d'Oro), winner of last year's GII Gulfstream Park Mile, as well as 2014 GIII Iowa Derby winner Jessica's Star (Magna Graduate).

 

Woodford, Walden Back for More

John Skyes's Woodford Thoroughbreds, which has already enjoyed graded stakes success with young trainer Will Walden this year, will be adding another yearling to the stable after bloodstock agent Ryder Finney secured a colt by Vekoma (hip 510) for $360,000 during Tuesday's second session of the Fasig-Tipton October sale.

 

 

“Will Walden has been training a couple for him that he bought over at Tattersalls and has had some success with the first couple of goes in the States and Mr. Sykes is ready for some more,” Finney said after signing the ticket on the yearling.

Consigned by Machmer Hall on behalf of his breeder, Chip Montgomery's Haymarket Farm, the bay is out of the unraced Monarchia (Arch). He is a half-brother to stakes winner Unifying (Union Rags).

“He is super athletic,” Finney said of the colt's appeal. “I thought everything about him was so athletic. I loved the way he moved. I loved the way he's made. Will and I talked about it when we saw him the first time. He kind of reminded us of Life Is Good physically. Just super well made. Awesome neck side, great shoulder, big hip. He has everything that we want physically. And Vekoma has obviously been a very hot freshman stallion. Will and I have been high on Vekoma for a while. Everything fit together.”

Woodford Thoroughbreds and Walden were in the winner's circle earlier this year with Pipsy (Ire) (Kodiac {GB}), who won the GIII Soaring Softly Stakes in May. They teamed up to win an Oct. 17 Keeneland allowance with Aussie Girl (Ire) (Starspangledbanner {Aus}). Both mares were purchased last December at Tattersalls.

Montgomery purchased Monarchia, in foal to Omaha Beach, for $50,000 at the 2022 Keeneland January sale. The mare's Omaha Beach filly sold for $67,000 at last year's October sale.

Tuesday's result marked the resumption of the successful partnership of Haymarket Farm and Machmer Hall.

“Chip Montgomery was a good friend of mine for a long time,” Machmer Hall's Carrie Brogden said. “We started out as friends 25 years ago. And we just recently got back together. This is a culmination of 25 years of friendship. We had a lot of successes before–a lot–and now we are looking to have a lot of successes in the future again.”

Brogden also gave credit to JR Sebastian of Springhill Equine, who prepped the yearling.

“I have to give so much credit to JR,” Brogden said. “This horse, the last 30 days, has just blossomed into this beautiful animal. He was always targeted for this sale. It's so thrilling for me to not only have the success for JR–it's thrilling for their staff–and for me and my friendship with Chip and his whole family.”

 

D J Stable Gets More of the Jaywalk Family

The Green family's D J Stable captured the 2018 GI Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies with Jaywalk (Cross Traffic), so it was a no-brainer to bid on a yearling out of a half-sister to that champion, bloodstock agent Kim Valerio said after signing the ticket at $350,000 to secure the filly by Tapit (hip 492) from the Gainesway consignment Tuesday at Fasig-Tipton.

 

“We are looking for fillies to put in the breeding program,” Valerio, who did her bidding upstairs while on the phone with Len Green, said. “And this family just keeps coming on.”

The bay filly is out of Miss Jessica J (Empire Maker), who is a half-sister to, not only Jaywalk, but also to multiple stakes winner Danzatrice (Dunkirk), who is the dam of GI Toyota Blue Grass Stakes winner Tapit Trice (Tapit).

Asked if she sees similarities between the yearling and Jaywalk, Valerio said, “No, not really. She has more of the bottom side, the Empire Maker, and she is inbred to be bigger and stretchier. I would say she looks more like Untapable. She is big and narrow.”

Bidding on the filly, who was bred by Al Shira'aa Racing and Gainesway Thoroughbreds, started out slowly, but built steadily.

“Len was on the phone and I had to look down and look back–obviously, they don't mind staying until 9 p.m.,” Valerio said with a laugh. “And then we were all panicking that we were on the wrong horse.”

Of the final price, Valerio said, “I was hoping we would get her for $250,000 or $275,000. At Keeneland–if she was ready then–she would have brought that and more.”

Valerio is working the 1600-head sale on her own, but said she felt it was important to go through as many horses as possible.

“There are a lot of really nice horses here,” she said. “I let my help go on vacation, so I am hustling. I forgot how many horses are here. Maybe I should stop doing all-shows at some point, but I like to see them all.”

Valerio, who is a proponent of limiting stallion book sizes to some degree, said it was important to her to look at yearlings by a wide variety of sires.

“I am a big proponent for coming to some kind of agreement with the stallion farms,” she said. “I am not saying 140. I am not even saying 180, but to start limiting the books some. So I feel like, if I am going to try to preach to people, then I owe it to the other people to at least look at not all the best stallions. I've looked at all of Chuck Fipke's Danish Dynaformers. I looked at all of his Perfect Timbers. I feel it's important for me, as an agent, to not discount everything when I want the business to move forward in a better direction.”

Asked if she has been impressed by any of those sires who might be flying under the radar, Valerio said, “I don't know if he's under the radar, but I've bought a Raging Bull (Fr). I do like those. Cairo Prince isn't under the radar, but he's underlooked.”

 

More Constitution for Twin Creeks

Twin Creeks Farm, which campaigned Constitution, acquired a filly by the sire to add to its Red White and Blue Racing syndicate when farm manager Ryan Bardin bid $350,000 for hip 620 from the Woods Edge Farm consignment Tuesday at the October sale.

 

“She is an outstanding physical,” Bardin said of the yearling. “She is a very beautiful filly. I think she's the best I saw at this sale. And she is by Constitution. So we get to support the home team.”

Bred by Narola, the yearling is out of Panthera Onca (Super Saver), a daughter of graded winner Molto Vita (Carson City).

Red White and Blue Racing campaigns Neat, also by Constitution, who won this year's GII National Museum of Racing and Hall of Fame Stakes, as well as this year's GII Beaumont Stakes winner Denim and Pearls (Into Mischief).

Of immediate plans for the syndicate's newest acquisition, Bardin said, “She will ship over to WinStar to get broke. [Twin Creek's] Randy Gullatt will determine who suits her as a trainer.”

 

Broman Continues to Dream of Derby

Longtime owner and breeder Chester Broman, whose wife Mary passed away last week at 88, continues to pursue the couple's shared dream of reaching the GI Kentucky Derby, with advisors Becky Thomas and Carlos Manresa acquiring a pair of yearlings on his behalf during Tuesday's second session of the October auction. Broman purchased a colt by Tapit (hip 757) from the Gainesway consignment for $350,000 and paid $300,000 for a colt by Nyquist (hip 729) from Blandford Stud.

 

“It has been a dream of his–both his and his wife–to go to the Derby,” Manresa said. “That is something they shared together and that he wants to continue in her legacy. So that is the plan. We are going to continue to buy horses and try to make that dream come true for him.”

Bred by Mark Stansell and Tapit Syndicate, hip 757 is out of graded stakes winner River Maid (Where's the Ring) and is a half-brother to Grade I-placed Cocktail Moments (Uncle Mo).

“He has a beautiful body,” Manresa said of the colt. “He could have been placed in any sale anywhere in the country and I think he would have been very popular. Gainesway did a great job with him. We all loved him and we are happy to have him.”

Hip 729 is out of Ready Ready Ready (More Than Ready), whose 2-year-old daughter Abientot (Not This Time) won the GIII Matron Stakes earlier this month.

“He had a big update, a lot of pedigree, and great physical, especially for a Classic distance,” Manresa said of the yearling, who was bred by Killora Stud.

Thomas purchased a pair of yearlings on behalf of Broman at the Keeneland September sale last month, going to $1.15 million for a colt by Gun Runner (hip 73) and $325,000 for a son of Constitution (hip 836).

“I think what helps him through the whole process is his love for horses and the fact that he and Mary shared that together,” Manresa said of Broman.

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