At Fasig-Tipton’s select yearling sale in Saratoga Springs, Aug. 5-6, auction house president and CEO Boyd Browning Jr. praised his team for assembling an exceptional catalogue. His confidence paid off as the sale set new records for gross sales and average, surpassing last year's figures by 9.5%.
Browning credited his team, saying, "Thank goodness for an unbelievable team. They’re the unsung heroes, working tirelessly without much credit. It's a shared effort that led to this success."
Key highlights included 12 horses sold for $1 million or more. The sale's total reached $82,160,000 with an average of $533,506 from 154 horses sold. The second session saw stronger numbers with $41,900,000 in sales from 73 horses and an average of $573,973. The sale's RNA rate was 19%.
The top lot was an Into Mischief colt (Hip 183), consigned by Lane's End and sold for $2.4 million to Marette Farrell for Speedway Stable. Farrell described the colt as a "stallion in the making" and praised the late Marty Wygod, who bred the colt’s dam.
Lane's End also sold a Gun Runner colt (Hip 146) for $1.9 million to M.V. Magnier and White Birch Farm. Resolute Racing’s John Stewart led buyers, spending $9,085,000 for 11 yearlings.
Gainesway was the leading consignor, selling all 19 yearlings offered for a total of $12,740,000 with an average of $670,526.
The sale continues with Fasig-Tipton’s New York-Bred Sale on Aug. 11-12, featuring sessions at 7 p.m. ET and 12:00 p.m. ET. Browning expressed optimism about the quality of New York-breds, reflecting a strong program.