Fasig-Tipton Midlantic Fall Sale Next Stop for Buyers

Following a hot summer yearling sales market, the Fasig-Tipton Midlantic Fall Yearlings Sale takes place Oct. 4-5 at the Maryland State Fairgrounds in Timonium, Md. The two-day sale has cataloged 514 yearlings this sale, with the supplemental catalog containing Hips 501-514.

Horses cataloged as Hips 1-200 will be offered Monday starting at 1 p.m. ET. Tuesday will provide Hips 201-514 starting at 10 a.m. As of Sunday evening, there are 48 outs.

"It's very exciting for us being on the heels of another regional sale in the Fasig-Tipton Fall California Yearling Sale, which was so successful. Consignors are equally excited, based on their experience at the Kentucky sales over the last few weeks," said Paget Bennett, sales director for Fasig-Tipton Midlantic. 

"There were a lot of people that weren't able to buy horses, even shopping later catalogs than they normally do in September, still unable to get their orders filled. We are their next stop. We are hopeful that we will have horses that fit their criteria."

While this sale is not the largest in size or by sire power, it has become well known for its results and is a regional diamond in the rough. Ranked number one in the United States by the percentage of 2-year-old winners, pinhookers are turning to this sale and gaining ground in receipts the following year at the 2-year-old sales.

In 2020, Fasig-Tipton reported 379 yearlings sold at the Midlantic Fall sale for gross receipts of $9,120,700, an average of $24,065, and a median of $14,000. There were 105 yearlings that went unsold for an RNA rate of 21.7%

Graduates from this sale include Field Pass , winner of this year's Baltimore/Washington International Turf Cup Stakes (G3T) and the Jeff Ruby Steaks (G3) and Kentucky Utilities Transylvania Stakes (G3T) in 2020; this season's Royal Delta Stakes (G3) winner Queen Nekia ; Project Whiskey , winner of the 2020 Delaware Oaks (G3); and Captain Scotty , the Palos Verdes Stakes (G2) winner of 2020. Army Mule  , winner of the 2018 Carter Handicap (G1), is another Fasig-Tipton Midlantic Fall grad and has four first-crop yearlings entered in this year's sale.

First-crop yearling sires are represented by 121 yearlings in the catalog, while second-crop yearling sires account for 54 yearlings in the sale. Regional sires standing in Maryland, New York, Pennsylvania, and West Virginia account for 200 yearlings on offer. There are 116 Maryland Million Certified yearlings offered over the two days of selling.

"Racing in Maryland is very strong, and they have a great program with the Maryland Million, which is for our stallions that stand in Maryland; it's their Breeders' Cup, so to speak," Bennett said. "When people come to shop this sale, they target a Maryland-bred or Maryland Million-nominated so they can participate on that day in racing."

The following yearlings are Maryland Million certified.

Following last year, where changes were seen throughout the sales calendar, this year's catalog is smaller at 514 head compared to 2020, when 573 yearlings were cataloged with the beginning portion on the first day being New York-breds. This year will continue to offer New York-breds throughout both days of selling. 

"This year, things are back to normal. Lots of New York-breds; they are very popular with the programs that New York offers. We have something for everyone from the tip-top to the smaller trainers, and we should have something that fits everyone's pocketbook," Bennett said.

Buyers can find exciting offerings with siblings of graded stakes winners, including Hip 69 consigned by Chanceland Farm, agent. The Maryland-bred colt by Mr Speaker   out of the French Deputy mare Parlez is a half brother to International Star , a multiple graded stakes winner who took the 2015 Louisiana Derby (G2) and earned $1,247,529. The colt is also a half brother to the stakes winner Fools in Love , dam of this year's Jockey Club Gold Cup (G1) winner Max Player . Katharine Voss is the breeder of Hip 69.

Hip 318, a Maryland-bred Mastery   filly consigned by breeder Dark Hollow, is a half sister to multiple graded stakes winner Strike Charmer . She is out of the stakes-winning Storm Cat mare Cat Charmer and from the female family of champion sprinter Gold Beauty, English Horse of the Year Dayjur, champion older mare Sky Beauty, and grade 1 winners Maplejinsky, Pleasant Home, and Tale of Ekati.

An active female family can be found in Hip 331, a Kentucky-bred Kantharos   filly offered by Blake-Albina Thoroughbred Services, agent. The filly was bred by Newtown Anner Stud out of the stakes-placed Dehere mare Cold Awakening. She is a half sister to grade 2 winner and sire Recapturetheglory  and to Sweet Awakening, the dam of Canada's 2015-16 champion older horse Are You Kidding Me  as well as Core Values , a two-time stakes winner this season.

Hip 505, a Connect   filly consigned by Marshall Silverman, agent, was bred in Kentucky by Parkway Farm out of the multiple graded stakes producer Well (by Well Decorated). She is a half sister to multiple graded stakes winner, millionaire, and sire Kobe's Back , and grade 3 winner and sire Well Spelled .