Demand for Weanlings Fuels Strong Renewal of The Saratoga Fall Sale

saratoga fall sale
Fasig-Tipton Photo

A vibrant weanling market bolstered the 2022 edition of The Saratoga Fall Sale, Fasig-Tipton’s fall mixed sale held Monday in Saratoga Springs, New York. The single-session sale yielded across the board gains, led by a bevy of six-figure weanlings.

A trio from the New York-bred class of 2022 topped the sale when sold for $150,000 each throughout the session. The first of these through the ring was a filly (Hip 14) from the final crop of Malibu Moon, purchased by Willow Brook Stables, agent, from the consignment of Vinery Sales, agent. Out of the graded stakes placed Montbrook mare Stopspendingmaria, the chestnut filly is a half-sister to three winners, including 2020 Joseph A. Gimma S. winner No Mo’ Spending (Uncle Mo). Hip 14 was bred by Rockridge stud, Ascendant Farms, and Spendthrift Farm.

Trainer Christophe Clement, agent, went to $150,000 to secure a filly (Hip 167) by current leading third-crop sire Not This Time, which was consigned by Stuart Morris, agent. The bay filly is the first foal out of the winning Lookin At Lucky mare Lookin Sharp, herself a half-sister to three stakes winners. Hip 167 was bred by Drumkenny Farm, Springhouse Farm, and Magnolia Mares.

A colt (Hip 196) from the first crop of multiple Grade 1 winner Vekoma sold for $150,000 to Glencrest Farm, Dailey Bloodstock, agent, to complete the top three. The chestnut colt was consigned by Stuart Morris, agent for breeders Constance Wickes, Amy Rabanal, and Highclere Inc. Hip 196 is the first foal out of Nice Smile, a Smiling Tiger half-sister to multiple Grade 1 placed stakes winner Red Vine and stakes winner Breakthrough.

Reeves Thoroughbred Racing purchased back-to-back six-figure weanlings to round out the sale’s top five prices. They first went to $140,000 for a filly (Hip 96) by Maclean’s Music from the consignment of RFHF Bloodstock, agent. That filly is out of Downdraft, a winning Warrior’s Reward half-sister to multiple graded stakes winning millionaire Neck ‘N ‘Neck. Hip 96 was bred in New York by Rhapsody Farm and Rebecca Coleman-Provo.

Reeves struck again on the sale’s next offering, going to $130,000 for a filly (Hip 97) from the first crop of stakes winner King for a Day (Uncle Mo) consigned by Saratoga Glen Farm, agent. Out of the winning Sky Mesa mare Downtown Daria, Hip 97 is a half-sister to current New York-bred multiple stakes winner Dream Bigger and stakes placed Downtown At Noon. The filly was bred in New York by Saratoga Glen Farm and Beals Racing Stable.

The sale’s top broodmare offering came in the form of Ventriloquist (Hip 38), sold for $90,000 to MWG from the consignment of Stuart Morris, agent. The four-year-old daughter of Nyquist was offered carrying her first foal by Frosted. The mare is a half-sister to three winners, including Group 1 placed graded stakes winner Conquest Tsunami.

Overall, 136 horses changed hands for a gross of $4,533,200, up 24% from when 163 horses sold for $3,657,800 in 2021. The average rose to $33,332, an increase of 49% from $22,440 last year, while the median doubled to $20,000. Thirty-two horses sold for $50,000 or more, up 39% over last year, including nine which sold for $100,000 or more.

Full results are available online.