Expanded Spa Fall Sale Begins Today

Fasig-Tipton will hold the third renewal of its Saratoga Fall Sale today and tomorrow in Saratoga Springs, NY. A total of 431 broodmares/broodmare prospects, horses of racing, weanlings and yearlings will be offered, up from a catalog of 279 12 months ago and necessitating a switch to a two-day format. Monday’s session will begin at 2 p.m. and will feature mares and horses of racing age, while Tuesday’s session kicks off at 10 a.m and focuses on weanlings (193 catalogued) and yearlings (107 catalogued). This is the first year that yearlings have been included in the sale. 

Fasig-Tipton President Boyd Browning, Jr. hopes to build on the sale’s momentum, which has been aided by an ever-growing New York-bred program and the exploits of a pair 2013 sale graduates on the track. 

“The New York-bred program is the poster child for state-bred programs in the United States,” Browning said. “The racing opportunities for New York-breds are tremendous, and they continue to improve and increase each year. As a result, the quality of horses that are being raised and bred in New York has improved as well, in line with the racing. So there’s tremendous interest in the New York-bred program, plus last year we had the good fortune of selling a couple nice horses of racing age that went on to achieve success. Throughout the United States this year, the New York-breds have had great success… The perception of New York-breds has certainly undergone a transformation and people recognize that they can be competitive at the highest levels both inside and outside the state of New York.” 

Last year’s topper was then-3-year-old Dixie Union filly Secret Union, who was consigned by trainer Kiaran McLaughlin, agent as a racing/broodmare prospect and secured by Ken and Sarah Ramsey for $150,000. Also from last year’s McLaughlin consignment were a pair of Medaglia d’Oro geldings–Lochte and Valid–purchased by Carolyn Vogel of Crossed Sabres Farm for $60,000 and $115,000, respectively. Both were transferred to conditioner Marcus Vitali, and Lochte went to an upset victory in February’s GI Gulfstream Park Turf H., while Valid annexed July’s GII Monmouth Cup. 
Among McLaughlin’s 2014 Saratoga Fall Sale consignment is GSP North Slope (Elusive Quality) (hip 128), winner of a solid Belmont allowance last time Sept. 19; and unraced 3-year-old Seagate (Distorted Humor), a half-brother to recent GIII Pilgrim S. winner Imperia (Medaglia d’Oro) out of MGISW Cocoa Beach (Chi) (Doneraile Court) (hip 130). 

One broodmare highlight could be Roots Run Deep (Forestry), consigned to the sale as hip 86 by Rhapsody Farm LLC/Hidden Lake Farm LLC, Agents for Sequel Thoroughbreds & Hidden Lake Farm. The 6-year-old mare is out of MGSP Indy Glory (A.P. Indy), a full-sister to Grade I winner and sire Stephen Got Even who is already responsible for Artemis Agrotera (Roman Ruler), among the likely favorites for the GI Breeders’ Cup F/M Sprint off of wins in the GI Ballerina S. and GII Gallant Bloom H. Roots Run Deep sells in foal to Desert Party. 

A long list of young sires, both as covering stallions and with weanlings, are also spotlighted in the catalogue. 
“People are always interested and excited to see the foals by the new stallions and also have an opportunity to buy mares in foal to young stallions,” Browning offered. “The market’s going to continue to gravitate towards the more desirable individuals. I don’t think there’s a buyer anywhere who’s going to buy a foal just because of who it’s by. But certainly there are some very interesting and promising young stallions represented at this sale.” 

Browning is hopeful for the overall market over the next two days, but is also realistic in his expectations. 
“I think there will be significant demand for what are perceived to be the quality offerings, but we have to be realistic with the ones who may not be perceived to be as commercially desirable,” he noted. “For those, it probably won’t be an easy marketplace. The buying public is going to be selective, and they don’t want every horse, they want the horses they perceive to be quality.” 

For more information, visit www.fasigtipton.com.