25 Million-Dollar Yearlings, $100 Million Gross, Records Shattered at The 104th Saratoga Sale

Records fell across the board during the second session of The 104th Saratoga Sale, conducted Tuesday evening at the Humphrey S. Finney Pavilion in Saratoga Springs, New York. The two-night sale shattered previously established records for gross, average, and median, including topping gross sales of $100,000,000 for the first time in the boutique sale’s considerable history.

The $4,100,000 sale topper was the most expensive Saratoga yearling sold since 2000, and the RNA rate was just 11.6% - the lowest at this sale since 1981. Sixteen yearlings (16) sold for seven figures during the Tuesday session – a record for single-session million-dollar sales – while a total of 25 million-dollar yearlings sold over the course of the two nights, annihilating the previous record of 14 million-dollar yearlings sold over two nights set in 2021.

The eventual sale topper came late in the second session when a colt by Into Mischief (hip 218) sold for $4,100,000 to Coolmore & White Birch Farm from the consignment of Hill ‘n’ Dale at Xalapa, agent for Don Alberto Corporation (video). The bay colt is the first foal out of the Grade 2 placed and three times graded stakes placed winning Tapit mare Stellar Sound. The immediate family includes multiple Grade 1 winning millionaire Versailles Treaty and Grade 1 winners George Vancouver, General Assembly, Boisterous, and Gold Fever. Hip 218 was bred in Kentucky by Don Alberto Corporation. The colt’s price was the third highest price for a yearling in the history of The Saratoga Sale, and the highest since 2000.

The second highest priced yearling of the evening was also a colt by multiple champion sire Into Mischief (hip 178), sold for $3,000,000 to Resolute Bloodstock from the consignment of Gainesway, agent for Stonestreet Bred for Brilliance (video).  The bay colt is out of the Grade 1 placed winning Bernardini mare Lady Kate and was bred in Kentucky by Stonestreet Thoroughbred Holdings.

“It was a remarkable two days,” said Fasig-Tipton President Boyd Browning. “We’ve been selling at Saratoga for 104 years, so it’s not an overnight sensation. It’s the culmination of many years of hard work and sweat. We try to work hard and do the right thing and on nights like these it all comes together like magic.”

A Gun Runner (hip 179) half-brother to last year’s Demoiselle S. (G2) winner Muhimma sold for $2,900,000 to Donato Lanni, agent for Zedan Racing, from the consignment of Four Star Sales, agent. The gray or roan colt is out of the course record-setting Grade 1 placed Tapit mare Princesa Carolina, a daughter of multiple Grade 1 winning millionaire Pure Clan. Hip 179 was bred in Kentucky by Three Chimneys Farm.

Another colt by Into Mischief (hip 163), this out of the multiple Grade 1 winning multimillionaire I’m a Chatterbox, sold for $2,600,000 to Spendthrift Farm from the consignment of Warrendale Sales, agent for Spendthrift Farm and Grayson Farm. The bay colt was bred in Kentucky by  Carolyn Gray, Fletcher Gray and Spendthrift Farm.

A filly by Gun Runner (hip 175) sold for $2,600,000 to Love/Linton, agent for Boyd Racing, from the consignment of Lane’s End, agent for Tranquility Lake Farms. The bay filly is out of the multiple Grade 1 winning Union Rags mare Paradise Woods, whose 11 ¾-length victory in the Santa Anita Oaks (G1) remains that contest’s largest margin of victory. The immediate family includes Eclipse Champion Kentucky Derby winner Street Sense. Hip 175 was bred in Kentucky by Pam & Martin Wygod & Oliver & Emily Bushnell.

“This is a glory night,” added Browning. “This is unbelievable success, unbelievable results, but it’s because of our people. We’ve developed a culture and earned the trust and confidence of the marketplace as a result of those every day efforts from our team.”

John Oxley and West Point Thoroughbreds teamed up to purchase a colt by Flightline (hip 176) for $1,800,000 from the consignment of Lane’s End, agent for Summer Wind Equine. The bay colt is the first foal out of the graded stakes placed stakes winning Quality Road mare Park Avenue. Hip 176 was bred in Kentucky by Summer Wind Equine and Sarah S. Farish.

Also sold for $1,800,000 was a colt by the late Uncle Mo (hip 219), purchased by Flying Dutchmen from the consignment of Taylor Made Sales Agency, agent. The bay colt is out of the Grade 1 placed stakes winning Union Rags mare Still There, making him a full brother to multiple graded stakes placed winner Rothschild. Hip 219 was bred in Kentucky by PTK LLC.

A filly by Gun Runner (hip 200), the first foal out of speedy Kentucky Oaks (G1) winner Shedaresthedevil, proved popular, eventually hammering down to Erdenheim Farm for $1,475,000. Gainesway consigned the Kentucky-bred filly on behalf of breeder Whisper Hill Farm.

A colt by successful young sire Not This Time (hip 150) sold for $1,400,000 to the partnership of Repole Stable & Grandview from the consignment of Denali Stud, agent. The dark bay or brown colt is the first foal out of the stakes winning Ghostzapper mare Mariah’s Princess.  Hip 150 was bred in Kentucky by Rigney Racing.

Amo Racing went to $1,400,000 to secure a colt by Bolt d’Oro (hip 214) from the consignment of Bridie Harrison, agent for Kentucky breeder Peter E. Blum Thoroughbreds. Out of the multiple stakes placed Speightstown mare Spark, the bay colt is a half-brother to current graded stakes placed stakes winner Launch.

In addition to the sale topper, Coolmore & White Birch Farm teamed up to secure a second colt by Into Mischief (hip 123) for $1,250,000 from the consignment of Denali Stud, agent for Tommy Town Thoroughbreds. The bay colt is out of the Grade 1 winning Arch mare It Tiz Well. Hip 123 was bred in Kentucky by Tommy Town Thoroughbreds.

Marquee Bloodstock, agent, went to $1,100,000 to secure a daughter of Gun Runner (hip 168) out of graded stakes placed stakes winner My Miss Tapit from the consignment of Taylor Made Sales Agency, agent. Hip 168 was bred in Kentucky by  Breeze Easy.

A filly from the first crop of Life Is Good (hip 209) sold for $1,025,000 to Repole Stable from the consignment of Mill Ridge Sales, agent. The bay filly is out of the stakes placed Smart Strike mare Smart Shopping, making her a half-sister to last year’s Preakness S. (G1) victor and fellow Saratoga Sale graduate Seize the Grey. Hip 209 was bred in Kentucky by Jamm LTD.

A colt by Good Magic (hip 117) was the first in the session to reach seven figures when sold for $1,000,000 to Grandview Equine from the consignment of Gainesway, agent for Don Alberto Corporation. Out of the winning Uncle Mo mare Hoppa, the bay colt is a full brother to multiple Grade 1 winner Muth. Hip 117 was bred in Kentucky by Don Alberto Corporation.

Pin Oak Stud went to $1,000,000 to secure a son of Not This Time (hip 121) out of Impazible Woman from the consignment of Blake-Albina Thoroughbred Services, agent. The colt is a half-brother to multiple stakes winning juvenile Tyler’s Tribe. Hip 121 was bred in Kentucky by Newtownanner Stud Farm.

Midway through the session, Pin Oak Stud also laid down $1,000,000 for a first-crop son of multiple Grade 1 winner Mandaloun (hip 173). A half-brother to last year’s Champion 2YO Male Citizen Bull, the colt was bred in Kentucky by Robert Low and Lowana Low.

During the Tuesday session, 82 yearlings sold for $60,540,000, with an average of $738,294 and median of $512,500.

Over the span of two nights, 160 yearlings sold for $100,715,000, a sale record gross and an increase of 22.6% over the then-record gross established last year when 154 yearlings sold for $82,160,000. The average was $629,469, up 18% over the highwater mark set last year of $533,506. The median rose 5.9% to $450,000 to establish a new record over last year’s median $425,000. The RNA rate was just 12.3%, the lowest in this sale’s history since 1981.

Full results are available online.