Fasig-Tipton Saratoga Sale

by Jessica Martini & Christina Bossinakis SARATOGA SPRINGS, NY - The Fasig-Tipton Saratoga Sale, a record-setter during its last two renewals, opened with a power-packed start-to-finish session Monday evening in the Humphrey S. Finney Pavilion. "We won the first half," said Fasig-Tipton President Boyd Browning, Jr. "It was a really strong start to the opening session of the 2024 Saratoga yearling sale. We averaged over $500,000 tonight and the median was $400,000. Our RNA rate at an elite sale at 20% is pretty remarkable. We always aim for zero, but...

A half-brother to an unraced Curlin 2-year-old colt who brought $825,000 from Eclipse Thoroughbred Partners in this ring last year, hip 97 nearly doubled that return when hammering to Flying Dutchmen for $1.5 million at Fasig-Tipton's Saratoga sale Monday night. By Tapit, the colt is the second foal out of 2018 La Canada Stakes winner Mopotism (Uncle Mo), who also placed in four Grade I events. Flying Dutchmen is reported to be the same entity as Travis Boersma's Boardshorts Stables. Lane's End, agent consigned the Feb.19-foaled colt for his breeder,...

About two-thirds of the way through Monday night's boutique Fasig-Tipton Saratoga sale, it was Robert and Lawana Low, through West Bloodstock, agent, who successfully bid $1.9 million for a bay Curlin filly from a power-packed family. Don Alberto Corporation bred hip 85 in Kentucky after purchasing her dam, MSW & GSP Matera (Tapit), for $1.4 million as a 2018 Keeneland September yearling. The filly is the first foal out of Matera, whose dam, Taylor Made-based blue hen Miss Macy Sue (Trippi), produced sires Liam's Map and Not This Time. The...

Hip 75, a Bluewater Sales-consigned Gun Runner colt out of Lady Godiva (Unbridled's Song). was another high-profile purchase for John Stewart's Resolute Bloodstock during the opening session of the Fasig-Tipton Saratoga Sale, as he was extended to $1.7 million after a protracted bidding duel. An Apr. 17 foal, the gray is closely related to GI Clark Handicap winner and sire Leofric, a son of Gun Runner's sire Candy Ride (Arg), and his dam hails from the Peter Blum family of Grade I winners Well Chosen, Telling and this year's dual...

With the attendees in the Humphrey S. Finney Pavilion at Fasig-Tipton's Saratoga sale barely able to control their applause, a Not This Time colt from the family of GI Travers Stakes winner Colonel John (Tiznow) brought $3.4 million from Donato Lanni, agent for Zedan Racing, midway through Monday's session. The dark bay, consigned as hip 72 by Nardelli Sales, agent, is a half-brother to 2019 GIII Schuylerville Stakes winner Comical (Into Mischief). Winning dam Kayce Ace is a full-sister to Colonel John, who also captured the GI Santa Anita Derby....

One of the most anticipated yearlings to grace the ring Monday evening in Fasig-Tipton Saratoga's opening session was Hip 57, a half-brother to breakout first-crop sire star Complexity by popular and well-supported first-year yearling stallion Charlatan. He didn't disappoint, hammering for $1.5 million to John Stewart's Resolute Bloodstock, who had made no secret of his desire to purchase the colt over the weekend. Consigned by Warrendale Sales, agent for Stonestreet Bred & Raised, the chestnut colt is also a half to 2018 GIII Doubledogdare Stakes winner and 2016 GI Breeders' Cup...

After a seven-figure RNA earlier in the session, an Into Mischief colt was the first to crack the $1-million threshold in Monday evening's opening session of Fasig-Tipton's Saratoga Select Yearling Sale when selling to Coolmore's M. V. Magnier and White Birch's Peter Brant. The Darby Dan Farm-consigned colt was bred in Kentucky by Lothenbach Stables out of the winning Distorted Music (Distorted Humor), dam of 2022 GIII Chilukki Stakes winner She Can't Sing (Bernardini). The Feb. 28-foaled, $1-million colt, who went through the ring as Hip 30, sold earlier this...

If the weather in Saratoga Springs of late is any indication of what's to come at the Humphrey S. Finney Pavilion Monday and Tuesday evenings, the Fasig-Tipton Saratoga Sale is poised for a volcanic renewal. In 2023, a total of 154 yearlings sold for $75,055,000, averaging $487,370 with a median of 375,000. The gross jumped from $66,955,000 generated for 143 sold in 2022. "The vibe feels good here," confirmed Taylor Made's Frank Taylor. "Everybody you would want to see in the courtyard, you would have seen walk in. The horses...

Thoroughbred After Alliance will work to advance its initiatives at Saratoga in August, with a presence both at the racetrack for the GI Whitney Stakes weekend, as well as at the sales pavilion for both Fasig-Tipton Saratoga yearling sales. The TAA will be present at the New York Racing Association's  Community Outreach Booth on both Aug. 3 and 4. Patrons and race fans can visit to learn about accredited aftercare. Branded merchandise will also be available at the booth in exchange for a donation, including a limited-edition Thoroughbred Aftercare Alliance 'Saratoga'...

1st-CD, $120K, Msw, 3yo/up, f/m, 6 1/2f, 10:30 a.m. ET. The Kentucky Oaks curtain lifts with a debuting full-sister to champion 2-year-old colt and current sire Good Magic (by Curlin). PENNY ROYAL is a Stonestreet homebred trained by Steve Asmussen. Dam MSW Glinda the Good (Hard Spun), who also carried the Stonestreet banner, is a half-sister to GSW Take the Ribbon (Chester House) and SW Flash Forward (Curlin). TJCIS PPS 2nd-CD, $100K, OCN1X, 3yo, f, 1 1/16m, 11:00 a.m. ET. Owned by Woodford, West Point and Chris Larsen, the Shug...

1st-Santa Anita, $54,000, Msw, 4-21, 3, 4,/5yo, f/m, 7f, 1:23.90, ft, neck. JANE AUSTEN (f, 3, Tapit--Shayjolie {SW & MGSP, $415,843}, by Indian Charlie), sent off at 5-1 for this unveiling, broke well and was eased back but she eagerly tugged her way up upon the heels of pacesetters Quick Brown Fox (Justify) and Queen of Naples (Hard Spun) through a :22.58 quarter. Requiring racing room and finding it turning for home, Jane Austen closed on the stubborn leader late and forged past Quick Brown Fox to graduate by a...

Late in Wednesday's session at the OBS March sale, a colt by Not This Time realized a $1.5 million final bid. Jose d'Angelo signed the ticket on the Hartley/ De Renzo Thoroughbreds- consigned juvenile. Offered as Hip 533, the son of Pammy Whammy (War Front) breezed an eighth in :9.4 during last week's breeze show. Bred by Rockingham Ranch, the bay brought $900,000 at last summer's Fasig-Tipton Saratoga Select Sale.