Day 1 of Fasig-Tipton's Kentucky October Yearlings Sale concluded Oct. 21 with similar results to opening day of 2023. Total gross sales and average increased from the previous year, with the median staying the same.
"The results basically tracked very similar to last year on an overall basis," said Boyd Browning Jr., president and CEO of Fasig-Tipton. "I'll always say on a four-day sale like this, when the horses are interspersed, we don't have any idea which day is going to be the strongest. I think it's more comparable to compare day one to the overall sale average last year."
Two colts tied for the top price of the day at $350,000. Hip 39, a colt by Quality Road was purchased by Novogratz Racing Stable from the Brookdale consignment. He was bred in Kentucky by Lynch Bages and Camas Park Stud. This is the second foal of the Pioneerof the Nile mare Evocative. The mare is a half sister to graded stakes winners Justwhistledixie, New Year's Day, Mohaymen , and Enforceable. He was a $425,000 buy-back at Fasig-Tipton's Saratoga Sale.
Hip 241, a colt by Into Mischief , sold to BSW/Crow, agent, from the Blake-Albina Thoroughbred Services consignment. He is out of the multiple graded stakes-producing mare Indy Punch, making him a half brother to millionaire United, Harlan Punch, and Ascendancy. The bay colt was bred in Kentucky by Newtownanner Stud. He also failed to meet his reserve at The Saratoga Sale of $325,000.
"(Hip 241) is just a big, good-looking horse who just kept getting better for us. He looks like he'll cover a lot of ground and be a good racehorse and stay sound," said Ron Blake, co-owner of Blake-Albina Thoroughbred Services.
"I think if you have the right horse, they'll give you the money. We did OK in some spots and not as well in others."
The highest price for a filly was $300,000, shared by Hip 102 and Hip 344.
Hip 102, a filly by Speightstown, out of the Rockport Harbor mare Froyo Star and consigned by Hill 'n' Dale at Xalapa, agent, sold to trainer Chad Summers. She was bred in Kentucky by Cypress Stud Equine.
"You go to these sales looking for something special. From the time we looked at her, she was special, kind of love at first sight," said Summers.
"The October Sale has always been primarily a buyer's sale, because that's your last chance, there are no more yearling sales. The digital market might have changed that a little bit, but at the end of the day I kind of equate it to Super Bowl tickets. If you go to an early sale, the consignors and breeders have the advantage, because they can come back to a later sale, so they're not afraid to RNA a horse. Here (October Sale), if the horse RNA's, you've got to go to the races or find somebody to break it. So, it puts a little bit more pressure on the breeders and consignors, and it's a little more lenient towards the buyers."
Hip 344, a filly by first-crop yearling sire Charlatan , sold to Charlie Allen from the Eaton Sales consignment. The filly out of multiple graded-stakes-winner Late Night Pow Wow was bred in Kentucky by Breeze Easy. She was bought by PB Stables at last year's Keeneland November Sale for $250,000.
"I think it's a tremendous buyer's market," said Price Bell Jr. of Mill Ridge Farm. "We're at the end of the sales season today, and this sale is different because it's alphabetical, and so the same horses are in theory across all four days. Yet, anytime a sale starts, it takes a little bit to get going. And so I think very smart buyers are being active today where there's value. I hope that, as often the case in this sale, it builds momentum through the week, but I do think it's a great buyer's market opportunity.
"Great horses come out of this sale. We sold Nobals, who won the Breeders' Cup Sprint (G1) last year, for $15,000 out of the sale. Thorpedo Anna came out of this sale, and she's in the running for Horse of the Year."
The first session saw an increase in gross sales and average, with gross sales totaling $13,198,000, and an average of $49,804, representing the 265 yearlings to change hands. The median stayed the same at $20,000. Eighty-six horses failed to meet their reserve, resulting in an RNA rate of 24.5%, almost identical to last year's RNA rate on the first day of the sale.
"There was a tremendous crowd here today, buyers said it was very difficult to buy the horses they wanted. I think the consignors were generally satisfied," said Browning.
Taylor Made Sales Agency sold 24 head for a total of $1,525,000 to be Monday's leading consignor.
Last year's first session produced a gross of $11,339,800, including private sales. The average was $42,954, with a median of $20,000. The RNA rate was 24.4%, representing the 85 yearlings that failed to meet their reserve.
"Lots of good horses left in the pipeline for Tuesday through Thursday," Browning said. "A good start, kind of met what our expectations were."
The sale continues Oct. 22 at 10 a.m. ET with Hips 405-808 set to go through the ring. As of Monday evening, Fasig-Tipton reported 60 outs for the second session.
