Fasig-Tipton Releases Yearlings Showcase Catalog

Fasig-Tipton has cataloged 662 yearlings for The Selected Yearlings Showcase, its sale that will be conducted at the company's Newtown Paddocks facility in Lexington on Wednesday and Thursday, Sept. 9-10, following the previous weekend's Kentucky Derby Presented by Woodford Reserve (G1) in nearby Louisville. Each sale session will begin at 10 a.m.

The catalog can be viewed online here. It will also be available via the Equineline sales catalog app. Print catalogs will be available this week.

Hips 1-330 will be offered on Wednesday and Hips 331-662 offered on Thursday. The sale will begin with a group of New York-bred yearlings, which are cataloged as Hips 1-164.

"We have been overwhelmed with the support we have received for this sale from our consignors, and that support is reflected in both the quality—and quantity—offered in this catalog," said Fasig-Tipton president Boyd Browning Jr. "The quality is excellent by any measurement we would use. The pedigrees are strong and certainly reflective of a diverse group that should have a very broad range of appeal. There are some of the best pedigrees in the world, by the best stallions in the world and from the best female families in the world. There are a lot of racehorse-type pedigrees and a sprinkling of new sires throughout the catalog, along with a nice group of New York-bred yearlings. Any serious yearling buyer needs to make plans to participate in this sale."

All yearlings cataloged for the sale have been approved on pedigree and conformation by Fasig-Tipton's inspection team. 

"We have made our reputation and continue to stake our reputation on the quality of the selection process," noted Browning. "Our traditional selected yearling sales annually produce the highest percentage of grade 1 winners and graded stakes winners of all major North American yearling sales. All yearlings in this catalog were inspected via that same process and meet our traditional standards. I think buyers will be very pleased with the quality of the horses when they come onto the sales grounds."

Browning also expounded on how the Selected Yearlings Showcase concept came into being, and the makeup of the catalog in a year in which the sales calendar has been disrupted by COVID-19.

"We have all had to adjust our lives in 2020 as we deal with the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic. Fasig-Tipton was forced to cancel its three traditional selected yearling sales—July, Saratoga, and the New York Bred Sale—and regroup by putting together this single selected yearling sale to be held after the Derby in Lexington. This sale combines the best of our traditional selected yearling sales."

The catalog's front and back covers feature recent graduates of Fasig-Tipton's traditional selected yearling sales. Presented on the front cover are Kentucky Derby contenders Tiz the Law (winner of the Belmont Stakes Presented by NYRA Bets, G1) and Honor A. P. (the grade 1 Santa Anita Derby winner); Longines Kentucky Oaks (G1) contender Speech (winner of the Central Bank Ashland Stakes, G1); Breeders' Cup champions Sharing and Four Wheel Drive; leading female turf horse Rushing Fall; as well as grade 1-winning 2-year-olds Bast and Perfect Alibi.

The Selected Yearlings Showcase will also mark the debut of Fasig-Tipton's newly updated Enhanced Catalog platform historically utilized for the company's November and July Horses of Racing Age sales. The Enhanced Catalog will be available beginning in late August. Walking videos will be featured for all yearlings and available for viewing beginning Sept. 2.   

Online bidding, successfully utilized at Fasig-Tipton's recent Midlantic 2-Year-Olds in Training and July Horses of Racing Age sales, will also be available for the Selected Yearlings Showcase.

Browning said Fasig-Tipton continues to monitor the pandemic throughout the world and will be releasing its COVID-19 protocols for sale participants when it gets closer to the auction.

"We will continue to monitor and evaluate activities occurring in the state of Kentucky, throughout the United States, and around the world as we approach the sale," said Browning. "We have not made a final determination as to what our protocols will be and when we do make a determination they will be clearly communication in a professional manner to buyers and sellers alike."