by Jessica Martini & Christina Bossinakis
SARATOGA SPRINGS, NY – The Fasig-Tipton Saratoga Sale of Selected Yearlings, which looked to have a tough task to live up to its record-smashing 2022 renewal, proved more than equal to that task and, when a fast and frenetic session concluded Tuesday night, the auction had once again set high-water marks for gross and average and tied its record median.
“We have experienced some magical nights in Saratoga in the past and you've heard me talk about the Saratoga magic, but we ain't seen nothing like tonight,” a jubilant Fasig-Tipton President Boyd Browning, Jr. said Tuesday night. “It was spectacular from the very first horse in the ring–or maybe the very first share in the ring–to the very conclusion of the sale. It just goes to show you what happens when you have the opportunity to sell exceptional physical horses that have outstanding pedigrees to an unbelievable group of buyers that love Saratoga.”
A total of 153 yearlings sold during the two-day auction for a record gross of $74,780,000. The average was $488,758–an increase of the record of $468,217 set last year–and the median was unchanged at $375,000.
With 50 horses reported not sold, the buy-back rate was 24.6%. It was 20.11% last year.
A colt with a sparkling pedigree–a son of champion Curlin out of champion Beholder–had been the most- discussed yearling on the grounds leading up to the sale and, during a dramatic star turn in the ring, the yearling became the highest-priced horse to sell at Saratoga since 2000 when Amr Zedan made his $4-million bid.
The Saratoga record for a yearling is a $4.6-million colt by Northern Dancer sold in 1984, the same year a son of Roberto sold for $4 million. In 2000, a son of Seattle Slew brought a final bid of $4.2 million.
Zedan, who has habitually made the top purchases at the 2-year-olds in training sales in the last three years, returned later in the session to purchase a colt by Into Mischief for $3.2 million.
“Obviously, I hope Mr. Zedan returns to Saratoga,” Browning said. “His first trip to Saratoga had quite an impact on the sale overall, but it wasn't a one-man show.”
In all, 10 yearlings sold for seven figures this year. There were 14 to hit that mark last year. Fifty-two yearlings sold for $500,000 or above this year, compared to 39 a year ago.
“The consistency of bidding throughout the night, particularly on the top-end lots–anything over $300,000–at times the auctioneers and the bid spotters had trouble keeping up with the bidding,” Browning said. “Not because they weren't doing their job, but because there were so many bids coming it was hard to keep up. It was an unbelievable energy, an unbelievable atmosphere and unbelievable results tonight.”
Fireworks for Beholder's Colt by Curlin
Amr Zedan, who has made a habit of buying high-priced juveniles at auctions in the last few years, was an ominiously quiet presence around the sales grounds during Monday's first session of the Fasig-Tipton Saratoga sale, but the Saudi businessman made plenty of noise during the auction's second session, going to $4 million to acquire a colt by Curlin out of champion Beholder (hip 165) and following up with a $3.2-million son of Into Mischief (hip 228). Zedan stood alongside trainer Bob Baffert and bloodstock agent Donato Lanni on the balcony overlooking the ring during the bidding on the colt, who was consigned by Taylor Made Sales Agency on behalf of his breeder, Spendthrift Farm.
“It is very difficult to find these kind of bloodlines,” Zedan said. “It's a rarity to find them at auction. Coming in here and seeing that quality–it took some time to actually take a look at him and really appreciate who he is as an individual. We hope he makes us proud when he becomes a stallion. He could actually be as impactful as his predecssors–as his mother and his father. We are so blessed and privileged to have him and can't thank the boss [Baffert] right here enough.”
Baffert had a front-row seat to Beholder (Henny Hughes)'s historic racing career, which included four Eclipse championships and 11 Grade I victories for Spendthrift Farm and trainer Richard Mandella. When the mare's yearling son began rearing in the ring Tuesday night, Baffert saw some similarities.
“I was stabled next to Richard Mandella and I watched Beholder go by my barn every day and she was a handful,” Baffert said. “He is a handful, too, but with a pedigree like that you have to take a swing at it if you want to play at that top level, which is where Mr. Zedan wants to be. It's a lot of money for a horse who hasn't run, but he looks like an athlete and hopefully everything goes well. He's an outstanding individual. We loved him at the barn and we are excited to get him. He's headed to California.”
Zedan purchased the top two offerings at this year's OBS April sale, going to $2.2 million for a son of Gun Runner and $1.45 million for a colt by Arrogate. He had the top lot at the OBS March sale with Muth, a $2-million son of Good Magic, who became a 'TDN Rising Star' on debut in June.
“Spending that kind of money–it's a lot,” Zedan said of his latest sale-topping bid. “But from an operational standpoint, for the portfolio we've got, it's a well-hedged, well-calculated venture. It's not like we are shooting from the hip.”
On the racetrack, Zedan has been represented by Grade I winners Taiba, Arabian Lion and Princess Noor, as well as graded winner Arabian Knight, all 'TDN Rising Stars'.
“We have been blessed with successes–that's all Mr. Baffert,” Zedan said. “We do the easy part, he does the heavy lifting. We are so glad to have him on board.”
Spendthrift's Ned Toffey admitted the colt's final price tag, was no great surprise.
“We thought he would be in the $3-million to $4-million range,” Toffey said. “When we got to three, I was a little relieved and when we got to four, I was pretty happy. But that's a nice colt and that kind doesn't come along very often. A colt that looks the part with that kind of pedigree, he's a special horse. We are really happy that Amr Zedan got him.”
Toffey watched the yearling's antics in the sales ring from just a few rows back in the pavilion.
“I was very calm and relaxed,” he deadpanned when asked what he was thinking. “You saw the way the threw himself up there–he doesn't do anything casually. I am glad we had a good man on him in the ring. He did a great job handling him and keeping him in one piece. That was a little nerve-wracking, but the guy did a great job with him.”
Just minutes after purchasing the colt, Zedan joined Toffey by his seat in the pavilion. Asked what was discussed, the Spendthrift manager said, “We've done a number of deals with him now. They have been great to deal with. So hopefully it will not be the last.”
Pressed if there was a possible partnership afoot on the colt between Zedan and Spendthrift, Toffey said, “Well, there might be.”
Taylor Made's Duncan Taylor put the colt's yearling price tag in context of his potential value down the road.
“I remember when we sold Mariah's Storm to Mr. Magnier for $2.6 million, I thought, 'Man, I can't believe he paid that much.' And [her son] Giant's Causeway probably produced $200 million worth of stud fees.
“That's the kind of horse this colt was. Taylor Made has never sold a yearling that had so much stallion power. Into Mischief, Beholder's half-brother, has been the leading sire in America four years in a row. So when you have that sire power and the father of the yearling is Curlin, who has had Cody's Wish, Elite Power, Malathaat, Clairiere and Nest all running in the same year and he still can't get ahead of Into Mischief, you know you have one yearling with a lot of stallion potential. If he wins a Grade I, it's a $75-million syndication. So it was a lot of money, but there can be a lot of return.”
Taylor concluded, “Hopefully, he will do great for Bob Baffert and Amr Zedan. And he's another picture up on the Taylor Made wall of another success story.” @JessMartiniTDN
Into Mischief Colt to Eclipse Thoroughbreds
A colt by Into Mischief out of Rachel's Valentina (Bernardini), a 'TDN Rising Star' Grade I-winning daughter of champion Rachel Alexandra (Medaglia d'Oro) (hip 135) brought a final bid of $1.5 million from Eclipse Thoroughbred Partners' Aron Wellman.
“He was an absolute standout all week long,” Wellman said of the colt. “He is by arguably the greatest sire of our generation in Into Mischief, he is out of a Grade I-winning mare, who is by Bernardini, one of the best broodmare sires of our generation. And she is out of Rachel Alexandra, who is arguably one of the best race mares of our generation. As far as his pedigree, it speaks for itself, but he has to match up physically. And he did that every which way.”
The bay colt was consigned by Taylor Made Sales Agency on behalf of his breeder, Barbara Banke's Stonestreet Thoroughbred Holdings.
“He is bred, not just the right way, but by the right people,” Wellman said. “They raise them incredibly well at Stonestreet. Every year they are turning out champions. It's an incredible operation.”
Banke sat a few rows behind Wellman during the bidding and walked up to congratulate him after the purchase.
“I just spoke to Barbara and she was certainly intrigued by the opportunity to stay in,” Wellman said. “We will discuss the details at some point. There are no other partners at this point, but Barbara will definitely stay in. We have partnered previously and there is no one better in the game than her from top to bottom. We are really honored to be associated with Stonestreet.”
The only question for Wellman came as he examined the ticket before signing for the yearling. It came in with the wrong price.
“I was astonished,” he said with a laugh. “It hung up there at $1.5 million for a while, the hammer dropped at $1.5 and she brought the ticket down at $1.6 million. Of course, Fasig-Tipton was very gracious in expeditiously correcting it.”
Eclipse also bought a Denali Stud-consigned colt by Curlin–Mopotism (Uncle Mo) for $825,000 during Monday's round of bidding. Eclipse has campaigned Curlin's Grade I-winning fillies Curalina and champion Nest.
Tapit Colts Head Early Action at Day 2 at Fasig-Tipton
In contrast to Monday's opening session, it didn't take very long for the fireworks to light things up on the second day of Fasig-Tipton's Saratoga sale. A pair of Tapit colts reeled in seven-figure final bids, led by hip 129, who brought a cool $1.2 million. A son Plenty O'Toole (Tiznow), the Feb. 24 foal was purchased by Mandy Pope's Whisper Hill Farm. A $275,000 Keeneland November weanling purchase by Randy Hartley and Dean DeRenzo's AAA Thoroughbreds, the colt was consigned by Taylor Made Sales Agency.
“I liked everything about him. He has a stallion-making pedigree. This was my pick of the sale,” said Pope.
Dam of MGSW and GISP Mr. Money (Goldencents) and SP Tizplenty (Speightstown), the 13-year-old Plenty O'Toole is from the family of UAE highweight Well Armed (Tiznow), victorious in the G1 Dubai World Cup in addition to the GI Goodwood S. stateside, as well as MGISW Cyberknife (Gun Runner).
“For what we were looking at, he fit the bill,” added advisor Todd Quast.
Whisper Hill has already tasted success courtesy of Tapit, led by Tapit Trice, winner of this year's GI Toyota Blue Grass S., and Charge It, who won the GII Suburban last month. Both colts are trained by Todd Pletcher.
Pope explained, “We're working on getting colts, and with the success of [Tapit colts] Charge It and Tapit Trice, we are trying to hit on that horse that is going to become the big stallion. That is what seems to make this business work. You have to find one of those and [develop] them. That's what you have to do.”
Only moments before, hip 123, another colt by Tapit, lit up the board to the tune of $1.1 million from the Gainesway draft. Holding the winning bid for the son of GISW Paola Queen (Flatter) was agent Mike Ryan.
“We put a syndicate together to buy him, and we'd like to keep that anonymous for the moment,” said Ryan. “He's a horse that we hope will be showing up on the big days. He has a great demeanor which is wonderful for a Tapit. He is an unbelievable stallion and a sire of sires, but you have to make sure you get the ones with the right character, personality and demeanor. He seemed to have all of that. Time will tell.”
Out of MSW and GSP Kadira (Kafwain), Paola Queen recorded her biggest career win on the track in the GI Test S. at Saratoga.
“He's a beautifully made horse with a great mind,” offered Ryan. “I'm familiar with the family. I bought the second dam, Kadira, for Carl Pollard and he bred Paola Queen. She was very brilliant the day she won the Test here. It was a fantastic performance. She was very, very impressive.”
A $180,000 Keeneland September yearling purchase, Paola Queen returned to the sales ring to bring $1.7 million from SF Bloodstock at Keeneland November in 2016 before realizing the same price from Don Alberto at that venue the following year.
“He's a beautifully made horse. He'll run at two, but he will get 1 1/8 miles,” Ryan continued. “Who knows if he will get 1 1/4 miles, but he gave us a good feel.”
He continued, “It's going to be a very strong sale, there are a lot of good horses here tonight and we knew we were going to have to stretch on this horse. That's what it takes for horses who have a chance of stallion potential after they run.”
The mare has proven to be nothing but a money-making machine, foaling an Into Mischief colt in 2020 who would go on to bring $2.6 million in Saratoga in 2021 and was duly followed by a filly, also by Spendthrift's premier sire, who brought $1.2 million at this venue last year. The latter, now named Mugen and trained by Steve Asmussen for Japanese owner Koji Maeda, was third to the promising Alys Beach (Omaha Beach) on Saratoga debut July 30 —@CBossTDN
Gainesway Hits With Another Seven-Figure Yearling on Day 2
Gainesway enjoyed a profitable run at Fasig-Tipton this week, headed by hip 77, a Quality Road colt who brought $1.1 million on Day 1 and hit the same mark Tuesday with Hip 123, a colt by Tapit out of Grade I winner Paola Queen.
Opting to bring only their highest-tier stock to Saratoga each summer, the operation's latest million dollar baby represents a family that has already proven profitable in seasons past. Over the past two seasons, Gainesway has consigned both of Paola Queen's seven-figure yearlings that have gone through the ring.
“We were thrilled with [the price],” said Gainesway's Brian Graves of Tuesday's Tapit colt. “[Paola Queen] throws beautiful foals with athleticism. That is the third million-dollar yearling out of that mare. This horse really fits in line as the third foal.”
He continued, “The price wasn't a surprise. The first time we saw him, we thought he could be a very high-profile sale horse. He was leggy, beautiful neck and just a beautiful mover. He was worth every penny. He can be another Constitution or Flightline. He can be anything.”
At the conclusion of the first day of selling, Gainesway sold all five members of its consignment, which also included an $850,000 Gun Runner filly (hip 33) secured by Lauren Carlisle.
On Day 2, Gainesway sold five of seven head offered, including a pair of colts by Not This Time (hip 122) who brought $900,000 and $725,000, respectively. Gross revenue for two days was $4.7 million, with an average of $671,429.
“We've always aim to bring as high caliber as we can here,” explained Graves. “We sift through them three, four or five different times throughout the year to determine what we will sell here. Every time we look, we keep clipping the bottom 20% of the group and we usually end up with a really select group here.”–@CbossTDN
Hartley/De Renzo Busy Buying and Selling
Ocala horsemen Randy Hartley and Dean DeRenzo stood alongside partner Rich Mendez under the auction stand out back to buy a colt by Not This Time (hip 122) for $900,000 from the Gainesway consignment.
The team came back to the same spot just a few hips later, but this time it was to sell, not buy. Through the Taylor Made Sales Agency consignment, they sold a colt by Tapit (hip 129) for $1.2 million to Mandy Pope. The yearling had been purchased for $275,000 at last year's Keeneland November sale.
“He had a lot of bone and he has a hip,” DeRenzo said of the colt's appeal as a weanling. “Tapits are amazing. And when they have a hip, they are extra amazing. And he comes from a great family. It's a young family and it keeps getting better and better. So when we bought him as a weanling, he looked very immature, but we just knew he would develop.”
Hip is 129 is out of Plenty O'Toole (Tiznow) and is a half-brother to multiple graded winner Mr. Money (Goldencents) and to stakes-placed Tizplenty (Speightstown).
A few hips later, Hartley/DeRenzo enjoyed another pinhooking success with a filly by Authentic (hip 139), who was purchased for $260,000 at Keeneland November, and sold Tuesday for $800,000 to BC Stables. As the session drew to a close, the operation was represented by another seven-figure yearling when a filly by Gun Runner (hip 194), originally led out unsold, sold for $1 million to Randy Gullatt, as agent for Jackpot Farm, Whispering Oaks and Rick Ortyl. The filly had been purchased for $675,000 at the 2022 Fasig-Tipton November sale.
“It's part of our program,” De Renzo said. “We buy weanlings to go to the yearling sales and yearlings to go to the 2-year-old sales. We have several selling here and we have several selling in Kentucky, as well. Hopefully we will keep our pace up.”
As for the operation's lone purchase of the auction, hip 122 is out of Pammy Whammy (War Front). He was consigned by Gainesway and was bred by Rockingham Ranch.
“We know we have to stay in the upper end of the market,” De Renzo said of the colt who is expected to return to the sales next spring. “For us, it's easier because great horses do great things. And so, we will go to a 2-year-old sale and hope to do better.”
Asked if there was potential for profit with a $900,000 purchase, De Renzo said, “We have before. And we've always been known to get the upper-end horses to pinhook to the 2-year-old sales and they always work out well for us. I think I've got this secret ingredient, which is my partner Randy. He trains amazing, he is light on them, and keeps them sound and we get them to the 2-year-old sales without any issues. And our horses run. That's the great part–162 graded stakes winners, 20 Grade I individual winners. We've been blessed, let's put it that way.” @JessMartiniTDN
Sonson Gets in on the Action at Saratoga
Chuck Sonson has enjoyed success in racing partnerships, but decided to up his participation when, standing alongside West Point Thoroughbreds' Terry Finley, he made a pair of purchases at the Saratoga sale Tuesday. He made his first acquisition when going to $1 million for a colt by Twirling Candy (hip 140). Out of Rehearsed (Tapit) and a full-brother to stakes-placed Chasing Fireflies, the yearling was consigned by Lane's End and was bred by W.S. Farish. Sonson signed for the youngster, along with West Point.
“I actually think this horse is going to be big player in this business,” Sonson said, echoing Finley's assessment of the new owner himself. “He's by Twirling Candy and is from the best consignor in Lane's End. We are really, really excited about this.”
Sonson, who divides his time between Aspen, Colorado, and Virginia, returned later to acquire a colt by Authentic (hip 169) for $525,000. Out of multiple graded winner Southern Ring (Speightstown), the yearling was consigned by Scott Mallory on behalf of Determined Stud.
Sonson was part of the West Point partnership which saw Giant Game (Giant's Causeway) go postward in last Saturday's GI Whitney S. just across the street.
“We had some interests in other horses and we kind of got more into it,” Sonson said. “We just had a horse in the Whitney, so we are just continuing on. We hope [hip 140] is going to be a big winner. We have every confidence that he will.”
Sonson indicated Steve Asmussen had been tabbed to train the seven-figure yearling. @JessMartiniTDN
Explosive End to a Robust Day at Fasig-Tipton Saratoga
The crowd in the Humphrey S. Finney pavilion had noticeably thinned out by the time hip 228, a colt by Into Mischief, strode into the ring. Despite the mass exodus, those who remained in play for the final showdown of the evening gave spectators an epic show of determination. With Amr Zedan, flanked by trainer Bob Baffert and Donato Lanni, stationed upstairs outside Fasig-Tipton's VIP suite, a prolonged battled ensued. Directing the bid spotter of his intent, Lanni never wavered, signaling his intention with an unwavering nod. In the end, the team upstairs celebrated after haltering the yearling for $3.2 million.
“If you play the game and want to buy on the top end, you have to stretch. And we stretched,” said Lanni.
“The team wanted the horse. Bob wanted this horse. He was very adamant that we weren't going home without him. The first time he saw him, he was just blown away.”
He continued, “He had that look about him. Let's hope we are all right and we can all talk again a year from now.”
Consigned by Indian Creek and bred by Jeff Drown and Don Rachel, the Feb. 12 foal is the first foal out of All American Dream, a daughter of American Pharoah.
“This was a pretty exceptional horse,” affirmed Lanni. “He had the Into Mischief and American Pharoah look. Every time I walked by that barn, he was out for somebody. But he did everything right every time. He just never seemed to have a bad moment. It is really rare to find a horse that is that cool. We couldn't go home without him.”
All American Dream, a half-sister to MSW & MGSP Wind Fire (Distorted Humor), is a granddaughter of GI Test S. winner Dream Supreme (Seeking the Gold), herself the dam of GI Hopeful winner Majestic Warrior (A.P. Indy).
Zedan Racing also secured the sale's topper, hip 165, a colt by Curlin out of Beholder for $4 million. That colt was consigned by Taylor Made Sales.
“It was a beautiful day and a beautiful night, very electric,” said Lanni. “Fasig-Tipton did a very good job bringing a lot of good horses here. Everybody is here and there are plenty of good horses. It's good to see the market be as strong as it is.
“I think that horse people are probably the most resilient people in the world. After everything we've all been through and for the market to be as strong as it is, it's unbelievable.”–@CbossTDN
Fasig-Tipton Still Jumping Late with $1-Million Into Mischief Colt
Just when it seemed that things might begin to cool down following a rocking first half of Tuesday's session, Hip 208–a colt by Into Mischief–secured a $1-million final bid from WinStar's Elliott Walden. Bidding from the back of the pavilion, Walden signed on behalf a partnership including China Horse Club, Siena Farm and Maverick Racing.
“He was a really nice colt,” said Walden. “We've had a lot of good luck with Into Mischief. So I thought he was one of those we wanted to take a shot on.
Among the top offspring by Into Mischief that have been campaigned by WinStar: GI Florida Derby winner Audible and four-time Grade I winner and 'TDN Rising Star' Life Is Good. Both stallions stand at the Versailles nursery.
“He is a big and strong Into Mischief and he looked like he could go two turns. He is well balanced and looked athletic. We've had really good luck with those kinds. And he being out of a Distorted Humor mare doesn't hurt.”
Consigned by St George Sales, the Feb. 24 foal is the second foal out of GSP Virginia Key (Distorted Humor). Produced by GSW Our Khrysty (Newfoundland), the 8-year-old mare us a half-sister to GI Del Mar Debutante winner and 'TDN Rising Star' Grace Adler (Curlin).
“Any time you sell a million-dollar horse it's special,” said Archie St George. “I am delighted for the breeders. I just played a small part.”
The colt was bred by Bonnie Baskin's Blue Heaven Farm, who offered homebred Virginia Key at Keeneland September in 2016 but found no takers at $90,000. That result proved fortuitous, however. Her first foal, a filly by Medaglia d'Oro named Distorted d'Oro, sold for $235,000 at Keeneland September last season and subsequently sold for $325,000 at OBS April. Virginia Key produced a colt by Curlin this season.
“He is a horse that has improved and showed immaculately up here,” added St. George. “He got better every day. He's just a nice horse and he's by an exceptional stallion, arguably one of the best in the world. Into Mischief just speaks for himself.”
Over the course of two days, St George Sales sold all five yearlings that were offered for an average of $529,000 and $2,645,000 in gross revenue.
“It's been really good for us. We sold every horse through the ring. It's been a really good market. We hope to see him down the road.”–@CbossTDN
Not This Time Share Opens Tuesday Session
Before bidding commenced for the second and final session of the Fasig-Tipton Saratoga Sale, a share in leading Taylor Made stallion Not This Time (Giant's Causeway–Miss Macy Sue, by Trippi) was hammered down for an even $2 million. The share was purchased by D. J. Stable, BlackRidge Stables, Barry Fowler and John Cummins, according to Taylor Made's Mark Taylor. The sale of the share was coordinated by Taylor Made Sales and is subject to a 10-day match from the syndicate. Not This Time stands at Taylor Made Stallions in Nicholasville, KY.
It has been another banner season for Not This Time, the sire of five Grade I winners from his first three crops, including this year's Resorts World Casino Manhattan S. hero Up To the Mark. His Grade I winners on the dirt include sales-topping 'TDN Rising Star' Princess Noor, G1 Dubai Golden Shaheen hero Sibelius and GI Madison S. victress Just One Time. The leading fourth-crop sire of 2023, he is also responsible for Cogburn, who won the GIII Troy S. sprinting over the turf at Saratoga Aug. 5.
The share in Not This Time includes all the projected income from the just-concluded breeding season. Shareholders are entitled to one nomination annually plus the proportionate share of the excess book.
“It was a syndicate that we put together,” Taylor said. “Jon Green was the one who did the bidding, but we had three or four others partners that are going in with the Greens. Bill Daugherty and Barry Fowler and a few other people are going in with us.”
Of Not This Time's rise in the stallion ranks, Taylor said, “It's been a real blessing for the Taylor family. When we bought Not This Time, somebody came in with more money right after Mr. Albaugh had agreed to sell to us and he stayed with his. So to see one share bring almost half of what we paid is just fulfilling. All of the credit goes to my brother Ben, who is the syndicate manager. He is not in the public eye like the rest of the brothers, but he's always there working. He does a great job.”
Of the investment in the share, Taylor said, “Not This Time started at stud when he was a 3-year-old and he's an improving stallion when he's nine, so I think the sky is the limit on what he can do. And, knock on wood, he has a good long life and it should be a good investment for everybody.”
Not This Time is governed by a 50-share syndicate. @JessMartiniTDN
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Watch Hip 165 c. CURLIN o/o Horse of the Year Beholder sell for $4,000,000 at The Saratoga Sale!
Kicking off the festivities Tuesday at 
