Historic Renewal of Kentucky October Yearlings Sale Concludes with Across the Board Gains

The 2025 Kentucky October Yearlings sale, whose fourth and final session was conducted Thursday at the Newtown Paddocks in Lexington, Kentucky, established new sale records across the board, with $71,843,500 in gross for 1097 sold, an average of $65,491 and median of $30,000.

A filly by current leading first-crop sire Yaupon (hip 1542) topped the session when sold for $400,000 to Dixiana Farm from the consignment of Stoneriggs Farm (video). The dark bay or brown filly is out of the winning Palace Malice mare Ill Will, whose first foal Reb Five (Vekoma) is a winner in 2 starts at 2 this year. Ill Will is herself a half-sister to four other winners, including Grade 1 placed stakes winner Indian Gracey, and the immediate family includes graded stakes winners Warbling, Distorted Passion, and Mrs McDougal, among others. Hip 1542 was bred in Kentucky.

“The sale was a tremendous success,” said Fasig-Tipton President Boyd Browning. “Great crowd, great participation, great interest and great activity on the sales grounds from Saturday through the end of the sale tonight. We’re thrilled with the results.”

Other top hips of the final session included:

• A filly by Justify (hip 1567), sold for $385,000 to Mahmud Mouni from the consignment of Hunter Valley Farm, agent. The dark bay or brown filly is out of the multiple stakes placed winning Quality Road mare Isla Road, from the immediate family of Belmont S. (G1) winner Da’ Tara.
• A colt by Army Mule (hip 1576), sold for $370,000 to Kenny McPeek from the consignment of Blake-Albina Thoroughbred Services, agent. The chestnut colt is out of the winning Harlan’s Holiday mare J La Tache, making him a full sister to multiple winner Pam Pam. The immediate family includes champion and twice-leading sire Royal Academy, as well as breed shaping sire Storm Cat.

The sale topper was a $900,000 colt by Curlin (hip 268) out of Canadian champion Munnyfor Ro sold during the first session on Monday.

“If you chart the growth of this sale over the last 10-15 years, it’s certainly solidified its place on the calendar as an important sale for both buyers and sellers,” added Browning. “It’s very rewarding and very encouraging for breeders to be able to come to this sale and have outstanding results.”

Overall, 1095 yearlings sold for $71,843,500, a 21.9% increase over the record set in 2024 when 1125 yearlings sold for $58,940,000. The average rose 25% to $65,491 from last year’s then-record average of $52,392. The median of $30,000 was also a new sale record, a 50% increase over the $20,000 median in 2024. The RNA rate was 18.0%.

Full results are available online.