Gun Runner Colt Tops ‘Tremendous’ First Session of The Saratoga Sale

The Saratoga Sale, Fasig-Tipton’s flagship selected yearling auction, conducted an exciting first session Monday night at the Humphrey S. Finney Pavilion in Saratoga Springs, New York. Among the highlights were nine horses sold for seven figures, a record for the sale’s first session, and an RNA rate of just 12.5%.

A colt by Gun Runner (hip 37) topped the session when sold to Winchell Thoroughbreds from the consignment of Stone Farm, agent (video). The bay colt is out of the graded stakes winning A.P. Indy mare America, already dam of a pair of winners, including Grade 1 placed multiple graded stakes winner First Captain. The immediate family includes champions Rags to Riches and Xaar, Grade 1 winners Blue with Pride, Chief Contender (IRE), Denon, Jazil, Peeping Fawn, and Lovethewayyouare, and broodmare of the year Better Than Honour. Hip 37 was bred in Kentucky by B. Flay Thoroughbreds.

“It was a tremendous start to the Saratoga Sale tonight,” said Fasig-Tipton President Boyd Browning. “There was competitive bidding from start to finish and tremendous activity across the board. It’s a tribute to our selection team, to our consignors, to the owners of these horses who trust us with some of their very best yearlings, year in and year out.”

Legion Bloodstock, agent for Hoolie Racing, went to $1,600,000 to secure the session’s next highest priced offering, a colt by Good Magic (hip 36) consigned by Warrendale Sales, agent. The dark bay or brown colt is the first foal out of the winning Shanghai Bobby mare Alpha Zulu, who is a half-sister to Grade 2 winner Recapturetheglory and to the dam of Canadian champion Are You Kidding Me and Grade 1 placed Grade 2 winner Kehoe Beach. Hip 36  was bred in Kentucky by Mesingw Farm.

A Justify half-brother (hip 29) to Breeders’ Cup Turf Sprint (G1) winner Caravel sold for $1,400,000 to Qatar Racing from the consignment of Hunter Valley Farm, agent. Out of the Congrats mare Zeezee Zoomzoom, the bay colt is also a half-brother to Grade 2 placed multiple stakes winner Witty. Hip 29 was bred in Pennsylvania by Elizabeth M. Merryman.

Making his first foray into thoroughbred racing after watching the Netflix show “Race for the Crown,” Kjell Andersen went to $1,400,000 to secure a colt by Not This Time (hip 66) consigned by Taylor Made Sales Agency, agent. Out of the multiple graded stakes producing Smart Strike mare Classic Strike, the dark bay or brown colt has nine winning half-siblings, including Grade 1 winner Union Strike and Grade 2 winner Handsome Mike.

The session’s top filly was a daughter of Curlin (hip 13) sold for $1,300,000 to Windancer Farm from the consignment of Warrendale Sales, agent for Stonestreet Bred for Brilliance. The chestnut filly is out of the graded stakes placed stakes winning Uncaptured mare Two Sixty from the family of Grade 2 winner Havnameltdown. Hip 13 was bred in Kentucky by Stonestreet Thoroughbred Holdings.

A filly by Flightline (hip 34), the first of her Saratoga Sale graduate sire’s yearlings offered at public auction, sold for $1,100,000 to West Point Thoroughbreds, L.E.B., agent. The bay filly is out of the American Pharoah mare American Dream, whose first foal is current Grade 2 winner Barnes. This filly’s third dam is the multiple Grade 1 winning millionaire and Grade 1 winner-producer Dream Supreme. Hip 34 was bred in Kentucky by Jeff Drown and Don Rachel.

A trio of late session offerings sold for $1,000,000 each, including:

• A Constitution colt (hip 97), sold to Pedro Lanz, agent for KAS Stables, from the consignment of Warrendale Sales, agent for Stonestreet Bred for Brilliance. Out of the winning Medaglia d’Oro mare Foolish Living, the bay colt hails from the immediate family of champion Halfbridled. Hip 97 was bred in Kentucky by Stonestreet Thoroughbred Holdings
• An Uncle Mo colt (hip 101), sold to M.V. Magnier and White Birch Farm, from the consignment of Anderson Farms, agent. The bay colt is out of the Tapit mare Full Tap, already the dam of three winners from as many to race, including Grade 2 placed Cafe Society. Hip 101 was bred in Ontario by Anderson Farms.
• A Constitution colt (hip 109), sold to Repole Stable from the consignment of Lane’s End, agent, as the last horse through the ring. The bay colt is out of the winning War Front mare Good On Paper, a half-sister to Horse of the Year Flightline. Hip 109 was bred in Kentucky by W. S. Farish, Ken Langone and Hronis Racing Stable.

“We’re delighted with the first session,” added Browning.  “I am confident and hopeful that we can continue the positive momentum tomorrow.”

Over the course of the first season, 77 yearlings sold for $39,975,000, up slightly from when 77 sold during last year’s first session for $38,910,000. The average rose to $519,156 from $505,325 in 2024. The median held steady at $400,000. The RNA rate during the session was just 12.5%.

Results are available online. The Saratoga Sale continues Tuesday at 6:30 PM.