A trio of colts by first-crop sires were among four weanlings to crack the $100,000 barrier Monday at Fasig-Tipton's Saratoga Fall Sale, contributing to a record-setting day of trade in Saratoga Springs. Hip 180, a colt by Laboan (Uncle Mo) out of the Broken Vow mare Promising Vow, hammered for $140,000 to Bluewater Sales to top the sale, which saw a total of 115 offerings sell for a gross of $3,381,200. The sale's $29,402 average represented a 29.67% increase from last year's $22,674 average, while the median also rose from $12,000 to $20,000. The 2018 sale also produced an improved RNA rate, which dropped from 38.98% in 2017 to 32.35% in 2018.
Hip 180 was one of three colts to sell for over $50,000 from the first crop of Laboan, best known for his front-running victory in the 2016 GII Jim Dandy S. at Saratoga. Bred in New York by Thomas/Burleson and consigned by Sequel New York as agent, the colt is out of a mare who is a half-sister to SW/GSP Top Surprize (Pure Prize).
Laoban wasn't the only freshman son of Uncle Mo making noise Monday, as Hip 78 from the first crop of GI Wood Memorial S. winner Outwork was scooped up by Machmer Hall for $125,000 from the Catalyst Bloodstock consignment. The colt, whose dam is a half-sister to SW/GSP Tiger Hunt (Kris S.), was one of two weanling acquisitions for Carrie and Craig Brogden and Sandy Willwerth's Machmer Hall, which also signed the $100,000 winning ticket on Hip 72, a son of Kantharos.
Rounding out the gold rush for offerings from freshman sires was Hip 225, a colt by GIII Iroquois S.-winning Taylor Made stallion Not This Time (Giant's Causeway) from the family of New York-bred GI Breeders' Cup Filly and Mare Sprint winner Bar of Gold (Medaglia d'Oro). The colt brought a final bid of $100,000 from Bloodstock Investments VI and was consigned by RFHF Bloodstock, agent.
Hip 132, a daughter of Freud, was the top weanling filly through the ring, selling for $70,000 to Jonathan Thorne, who bred and consigned a $600,000 Pioneerof the Nile colt who topped this year's Fasig-Tipton New York-Bred Yearlings Sale.
Southern Equine Stables went to $105,000 to secure the top broodmare at the sale, Mama Maxine (More Than Ready) (Hip 33), an unraced daughter of GI Del Mar Debutante S. winner Miss Houdini (Belong to Me) offered in foal to Exaggerator from Pope McLean's Crestwood Farm consignment. Mama Maxine, who produced 2016 GIII Canadian Derby winner Ready Intaglio (Indygo Shiner), received a timely update to her page when her half-sister Magical Victory (Victory Gallop)'s son Hot Springs (Uncle Mo) captured the Jefferson Cup S. at Churchill Downs Sept. 29.
Not a subscriber? Click here to sign up for the daily PDF or alerts.
