14 Million-Dollar Yearlings, New Records Across the Board at The 101st Saratoga Sale

The 101st Saratoga Sale concluded Tuesday evening at the Humphrey S. Finney Pavilion in Saratoga Springs, New York, with an electric session that established new records for gross, average, and median for Fasig-Tipton’s flagship yearling sale.

A colt by Gun Runner topped the session and the sale when sold for $2,300,000 to White Birch Farm and M.V. Magnier late on Tuesday (video). Offered as Hip 202 by Gainesway, agent, the colt is the second foal out of the Grade 1 winning Malibu Moon mare Heavenly Love, from the immediate family of Japanese Horse of the Year Zenno Rob Roy and Grade 1 winner Roamin Rachel. Hip 202 was bred in Kentucky by Debby M. Oxley.

“Rarely do you find me speechless,” said Fasig-Tipton President Boyd Browning. “We are blown away by the results. The energy, the excitement, it just feels so good from an industry perspective.”

A partnership of West Point Thoroughbreds, Woodford Racing, and 3C Stable went to $2,000,000 to secure the sale’s top-priced filly, a daughter of Curlin offered as Hip 126 by Stone Farm, agent (video). Out of the graded stakes winning A.P. Indy mare America, the filly is a full sister to multiple graded stakes winner First Captain. The purchase of Hip 126 marks a return to the source for West Point Thoroughbreds and Woodford Racing, who purchased First Captain with a group of partners for $1,500,000 at the 2019 Saratoga Sale, where he was also consigned by Stone Farm. Both First Captain and Hip 126 were bred in Kentucky by B. Flay Thoroughbreds, and hail from the immediate family of Grade 1 winners Paris Lights, Blush With Pride, Xaar, Chimes of Freedom, Peeping Fawn, Thewayyouare, and back-to-back Belmont S. (G1) winners Jazil and Rags to Riches.

“It’s not just for us,” continued Browning. “We’ve basically had two yearling sales so far this year and both of them have been really good. It gives breeders hope and encouragement. It was just a robust market.”

Eight other yearlings sold for seven figures during Tuesday’s history-making session:

• Hip 213, a filly by Quality Road out of Ithinkisawapudycat, purchased for $1,800,000 by Donato Lanni, agent, from the consignment of Lane’s End, agent. The filly is a half-sister to five winners, including Grade 1 winner Sweet Loretta, and is out of a stakes-placed winning half-sister to Canadian Champion Two-Year-Old Filly Spring In the Air. Hip 213 was bred in Kentucky by Mt. Brilliant Farm & Ranch and W.S. Farish.
• Hip 127, a colt by Curlin out of Angela Renee, purchased for $1,750,000 by Mike Ryan, agent, from the consignment of Taylor Made Sales Agency, agent. The colt is the third foal out of Grade 1 winner Angela Renee, a full sister to multiple Grade 1 winner To Honor and Serve, and hails from the immediate family of Group 1 winner Mozu Ascot and Canadian champion Rahy’s Attorney. Hips 127 was bred in Kentucky by Don Alberto Corporation.
• Hip 186, a colt by Gun Runner out of Flag Day, purchased for $1,400,000 by M.V. Magnier from the consignment of Denali Stud, agent. The colt is the first foal out the unraced Giant’s Causeway mare Flag Day from the immediate family of multiple Grade 1 winner Diversify. Hip 186 was bred in Kentucky by Earle I. Mack.
• Hip 114, a colt by Medaglia d’Oro out of Walk Close, purchased for $1,350,000 by D. Wayne Lukas, agent for John Bellinger, from the consignment of Four Star Sales, agent. The colt is a full brother to 2019 Breeders’ Cup Juvenile (G1) runner up Anneau d’Or, from the immediate family of European Champion Hold That Tiger and Grade 1 winner Editor’s Note. Hip 114 was bred in Kentucky by Lochlow Farm and Godolphin.
• Hip 173, a colt by Constitution out of Dothraki Sea, purchased for $1,250,000 by Mayberry Farm from the consignment of Lane’s End, agent. The colt is the second foal out of the winning Union Rags mare Dothraki Sea, a half-sister to multiple Grade 1 winner Dixie Chatter and graded stakes winner Rumor. The immediate family includes Eclipse Champion Two-Year-Old Filly Phone Chatter and Grade 1 winners In Lingerie and Any Given Saturday. Hip 173 was bred in Kentucky by Band of Brothers.
• Hip 150, a filly by Into Mischief out of Paola Queen, purchased for $1,200,000 by Kohki Maeda from the consignment of Gainesway, agent. The filly is the third foal out of Grade 1 winner Paola Queen, whose second foal – this filly’s full brother – topped the 2021 Saratoga Sale when sold for $2,600,000. Hip 150 was bred in Kentucky by Don Alberto Corporation.
• Hip 151, a filly by Curlin out of Cassies Dreamer, sold for $1,050,000 to Eclipse Thoroughbred Partners, Whitehorse, and Madaket from the consignment of Taylor Made Sales Agency, agent. The filly is the first foal out of the winning Flatter mare Cassies Dreamer, twice runner up in Grade 1 events as a juvenile. The immediate family includes Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Turf (G1) winner Structor and Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies Turf (G1) winner More Than Real. Hip 151 was bred in Kentucky by GMP Stable.
• Hip 166, a filly by Into Mischief out of Curlin’s Approval, sold for $1,000,000 to Live Oak Plantation from the consignment of Gainesway, agent. The filly is the second foal out of the multiple Grade 2 winning Curlin mare Curlin’s Approval. Hip 166 was bred in Kentucky by Bridlewood Farm and Happy Alter.

“If you are in the Thoroughbred industry anywhere in the United States, Saratoga is the epitome at the racetrack, and I hope in the yearling sales arena,” added Browning. “It is kind of the annual dose of hope and excitement. This is why we do it.”

Over the course of the two days, 143 yearlings sold for a sale-record gross of $66,955,000, up 21% from last year’s gross of $55,155,000 for 135 sold, and up 7% over the previous record set in 2018 of $62,794,000 for 170 sold. The average also set a new sale record of $468,217, up 15% over last year’s average of $408,556 and 14% over the previous highwater mark of $411,459 set in 2019. The median was $375,000, up 7% over the previous benchmark of $350,000 set in 2019 and equaled last year. The RNA rate was 20%, down five points from 2021. Of the 143 yearlings sold, 14 sold for $1,000,000 or more, including the four sold at or above that price point during Monday’s opening session (read more).

Full results are available online.