Practical Joke Makes Mischief at The Saratoga Fall Sale

The Saratoga Fall Sale was held Tuesday, October 15 in Saratoga Springs, NY. Offspring of young sires were popular, with seven of the top 10 weanlings sold sired by stallions whose first crops are weanlings or yearlings, and one by successful 2019 Freshman Sire Constitution. The sale's top colt and filly were by the same first crop sire – Practical Joke – a millionaire and multiple Grade 1 winner by current Leading Sire Into Mischief.

The sale topper came in the form of Hip 238, a colt from the first crop of multiple Grade 1 winner Practical Joke which sold for $160,000 (video). The bay colt was purchased by Steven Weston from the consignment of RFHF Bloodstock, agent.  The sale-topping colt is a half-brother to three winners, including multiple stakes winner Pain and Misery. Out of a half-sister to stakes winner Awesome I Am, Hip 238 was bred in New York by Hidden Lake Farm, 3C Thoroughbreds, West Point Thoroughbreds, et al.

Not far second came a filly, also by Practical Joke, which sold for $150,000. Offered as Hip 260 by The New Hill Farm, the chestnut filly was purchased by Exclusive Equine Investments (video). The filly is half-sister to four winners, including champion stakes winner Pure Lemon and stakes winner Crafty Unicorn. The family includes graded stakes winners Quintana and Now Listen. Hip 260 was bred in New York by the consignor.

The sale's top broodmare was Spa Treatment, offered as Hip 59 by Sequel New York, agent for Chester & Mary Broman. She was purchased for $140,000 by Springhouse Farm (video). A five-year-old winning daughter of Bernardini, Spa Treatment was offered carrying her first foal, a colt or filly by classic sire Maclean's Music. Spa Treatment is herself a half-sister to stakes winner Manipulated, descended from Grade 1 winning juvenile Joe's Tammie.

Overall, 134 horses changed hands for a total of $3,384,700, up slightly from last year's gross of $3,381,200. The average and median were $25,259 and $15,000, respectively. Six horses sold for six figures or more, while 20 equaled or exceeded the $50,000 mark.

Full results are available online.