The Fasig-Tipton Selected Yearling Sales, August 8-9, 2006

It is as long as a decade since Ted and I have attended the Fasig-Tipton Yearling Sales in Saratoga Springs, New York. We usually choose to go to Saratoga the last weekend in August for the Travers Stakes, known as the Mid-Summer Derby. This year we will be at The World Equestrian Games, in Aachen, Germany at the time of The Travers, hence our early trip to The Spa.

Among the yearlings Ted and I saw were Hip Number 16, consigned by Eaton Sales, who had sold for $340,000 to Dapple Bloodstock. This was a chestnut colt by Forestry, from Chalouchi, by Mt. Livermore. Hall of Fame Trainer Wayne Lucas was looking over the colt the morning after he had been bought. (The Forestry colt, Hip Number 16 is pictured at the right.) (Wayne Lucas is pictured at the right below.)

We also saw Hip Number 102, a Giant's Causeway chestnut colt out of Morning Devotion by Affirmed, consigned by Eaton Sales. This one sold for $250,000 to Hugo Merry Bloodstock. Giant's Causeway is a European Horse of the Year and ran second in the Breeders' Cup Classic. (The Giant's Causeway colt, Hip Number 102, is pictured at the left below.

This year five yearlings topped the million dollar level.

The first night, Tuesday, August 8th, Hip Number 32, consigned by Gainesway, Agent, a chestnut filly: by Sky Mesa out of Darling My Darling, by Deputy Minister, brought $1,150,000. Sky Mesa, a son of Pulpit, won The Hopeful Stakes (Grade 1) at Saratoga as a two year old and placed 2nd in the Haskell Invitational, at Monmouth Park, as a three year old. His first foals are yearlings of 2006. The winning bid was made by John Ferguson.

Also on Tuesday Hip Number 35, consigned by Lane's End, Agent, a chestnut colt: by Distorted Humor from Demi Souer, by Storm Bird, brought $1,000,000. Distorted Humor is the sire of five crops including the Kentucky Derby winner Funny Cide and the Travers winner Flower Alley. This one went to the Shadwell Estate Company of Sheikh Hamden al Maktoum.

The second night brought the sales topper, Hip Number 146, consigned by Falls Creek Farm, Denali Stud Agent, a dark bay or brown filly by Empire Maker, from Sluice, by Seeking the Gold who sold for $1,600,000 to Ahmed Zayat. Empire Maker was a winner of the Belmont Stakes (Grade 1), The Florida Derby, (Grade 1), and the Wood Memorial Stakes (Grade 1). His first foals are yearlings of 2006.

Also sold on Wednesday was Hip Number 171, consigned by Lane's End, Agent, a dark bay or brown filly by Mineshaft, out of Unbridled Lassie , by Unbridled who sold for $1,450,000 to Donald Adam. Mineshaft was a champion handicap horse, winner of the Jockey Club Gold Cup, the Pimlico Special and the Suburban Handicap among others. His first foals are yearlings of 2006.

The fifth yearling to sell for more than a million dollars was bought for Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid al Maktoum's Darley Stud by agent John Ferguson for $1,300,000. This one was the top priced colt at the sale consigned by Taylor Made Sales Agency is by Unbridled's Song, a winner of the Breeders' Cup Juvenile, out of Thiscatsforcaryl, by Storm Cat.

If the above prices don't catch your attention one buy back was Hip Number 94, a bay filly by A.P. Indy from Macoumba, by Mr Prospector, consigned by Taylor Made Sales Agency, who did not meet her reserve of $1,400,000!