Nyquist Filly Tops Second Session of Kentucky October Yearlings Sale

The second session of the Kentucky October Yearlings sale, held Tuesday in Lexington, KY, continued the upward trend established during Monday's first session. The second session was up over the second session last year, and the 2019 sale compares favorably to last year's sale at the midway point.

The session topper came in the form of Hip 703, a filly from the first crop of dual Eclipse Champion Nyquist. Calvin Nguyen, Mead/Lloyd Bloodstock as agent, purchased the chestnut filly for $325,000 from the consignment of Dromoland Farm (Gerry Dilger), agent (video). Hip 702 is the second foal out of a graded stakes placed Dixie Union mare, from the immediate family Grade/Group 1 winners Sinfonia Fantastica and Peristaltica (ARG), and of multiple Grade 2 winning millionaire Green Mask. The filly was bred in Kentucky by Dell Ridge Farm LLC, and was the most expensive yearling by a first-crop sire sold during the session.

The top colt of the session was a son of was Hip 698, a colt by current Leading Sire Into Mischief. Team Casse purchased the bay colt for $300,000 from the consignment of Taylor Made Sales Agency, agent (video). This colt is the first colt out of a daughter of three-time Leading Sire Tapit, from the immediate family of Grade 1 winner Strategic Maneuver and recent graded stakes winner Jennifer Lynette.

"Statistically, it was a very good day again," said Fasig-Tipton President Browning. "There's certainly a legitimate marketplace out there."

Liam's Map, already the sire of a Grade 1 winning colt and filly in his first crop, and the Leading Freshman Sire by that metric, was responsible for the session's top-priced yearling by his sire class. Kenneth McPeek, agent purchased $250,000 for a Liam's Map filly offered as Hip 360 by Little's Bloodstock, agent (video). The filly is out of a graded stakes placed daughter of successful broodmare sire Indian Charlie, from the immediate family of four-time stakes winner Synchronized. Hip 630 was bred in Kentucky by Carolyn R. Vogel.

"We're very encouraged with the results after two days," added Browning. Hopefully the next two days will continue the trends."

During the second session, 256 horses sold for $9,530,200, compared to the first session, when 244 sold for $9,668,000. The average was $37,227 compared to session one's average of $29,627. The median held steady at $15,000.

Over the first two sessions, 500 yearlings sold for $19,199,100, up 16% from the halfway point last year, by which time 479 yearlings had sold for $16,585,000. The two-session average was $38,398, up 11% from $34,614 last year. The median was $15,000 at the midway point both years.

Session results are available online. The Kentucky October Yearlings sale continues tomorrow at 10 AM.