NEWS
New York-bred preferred yearling sale opens with improvements
Posted: Sunday, August 08, 2010 12:19 AM
TOP-PRICED FILLY OF FIRST SESSION, BY STONESIDER
PhotosByZ.com/Thoroughbred Times
by Pete Denk
The Fasig-Tipton New York-bred preferred yearling sale opened with across-the-board improvements compared with last year, including a considerably lower buy-back rate in Saratoga Springs on Saturday night.
The buy-back rate at the opening session in 2009 was a disappointing 50.5%, so this year’s rate of 29.7% was a major improvement. On the night, Fasig-Tipton reported 52 horses as sold from 74 offered for total sales of $1,822,000, a 1.6% increase from last year when 105 horses went through the ring and the same number (52) sold.
Average price also increased 1.6% to $35,038, and median improved 1.9% to $27,500.
“People wanted horses. It was a vibrant market out there tonight,” said Fasig-Tipton Chairman Walt Robertson. “We had lots of trainers on the grounds the last two days, and we had some good horses for them.
“At the end of the day, you’ve got to sell a high percentage of horses. That’s what we’re here for, and that’s what they’re here for. We did tonight, and we’re thankful for that. Last year, it was pretty tough on this night.”
Bloodstock agent Buzz Chace, representing West Point Thoroughbreds, bought the session topper when he went to $100,000 for a colt from the first crop of Half Ours.
“That’s the first Half Ours that resembled his father that I’ve seen. He actually had a little more to him than his father,” said Chace, who bought Half Ours for $625,000 at the 2004 Keeneland September yearling sale on behalf of Barry Schwartz and Aaron and Marie Jones.
Thorndale Farm, agent, consigned the Half Ours colt, whom it co-bred out of Dixie Lyrics, by Dixie Union.
“It might look expensive tonight, but I think in the long run it’s going to look like a good buy,” said Thorndale’s Jonathan Thorne, who foaled and raised the colt at his Millbrook, New York, farm.
Half Ours was leading sire by average price with two sold for an average of $74,000.
Anthony Bonomo of Brooklyn Boyz Stables bought the night’s second most expensive horse and top-priced filly when he went to $82,000 for a filly by first-crop sire Stonesider out of Katina K, by Distinctive Pro.
Blake-Albina Thoroughbreds, agent for breeder Carl Bennett, consigned the Stonesider filly.
Paul Bulmahn’s GoldMark Farm in Ocala was leading buyer with three purchases for $225,000, all fillies.
“We already have bought more colts than fillies, and if we’re buying colts, we want them to have stallion potential, and there’s not that kind of pedigree here,” said GoldMark’s Todd Quast. “Fillies can make their own pedigree as long as there’s a little something there.
“We probably paid a little more than we thought we would, but in this sale the gems are few and far between, so we stretched a little on the ones we liked.”
Lexington-based Paramount Sales was top consignor by total sales, selling 11 of 13 offerings for $417,000. The sale’s final session begins Sunday at 7 p.m. EDT.
For hip-by-hip results, click here.
Pete Denk is sales editor of Thoroughbred Times
