Optimism Abounds Ahead of The Saratoga Sale

Summer in Saratoga Springs, N.Y., is defined by the historical Saratoga Race Course and Fasig-Tipton's premier offering of selected yearlings at The Saratoga Sale. This year for the 101st edition, the sales company has cataloged 216 yearlings for Aug. 8-9.

"You can feel the excitement in the air and on the sales grounds ahead of The Saratoga Sale. It's also partly due to the community and fabulous racing here at Saratoga Race Course—its absolute love and affection," said Fasig-Tipton president and CEO Boyd Browning Jr. "The excitement and energy the fans bring to the sale and racetrack—the community embraces the Saratoga race meet. It's a special place."

During last year's two days of selling, 135 of the 180 yearlings through the ring sold for gross of $55,155,000. An average price of $408,556 was achieved, with a median of $350,000. The 45 yearlings that failed to meet their reserve represented an RNA rate of 25%.

"We love coming to Saratoga; it's a sale we look forward to every year. We have tried to bring consistently nice groups each summer, and I think we have done that again this year," said Sarah Sutherland of consignor Indian Creek. "We have a nice range of stallions (represented), offering a little bit of something for everybody. We hope they will be well-received and continue to roll off the momentum seen at The July Sale. I think there is a lot of optimism again, which is awesome."

Watch: Browning Previews the 2022 Edition of The Saratoga Sale

This year's star-studded lineup offers the usual sire power and classic female families, with an opportunity to buy into several established families with current runners on the oval. Browning notes that some strong physicals have raised enthusiasm ahead of the auction.

"I truly believe this is one of the strongest catalogs we have ever assembled for The Saratoga Sale," Browning commented. "It combines both the pedigrees that people desire, but more importantly the physicals, which is our trademark at Fasig-Tipton. We are ecstatic with our overall group of horses on the sales grounds. This is a very athletic group."

Consignor Doug Arnold Jr. brought two yearlings from Kentucky and noted: "It's the first yearling sale of the year where you see the premium pedigrees and physicals in a boutique atmosphere. It's nice to see good horse flesh here."

Last year Coolmore's M.V. Magnier purchased an Into Mischief   son of grade 1 winner Paola Queen  offered by Gainesway, which topped the sale at $2.6 million. Magnier purchased three yearlings for a total of $3.4 million to be the leading buyer by gross. Antony Beck's Gainesway sold a dozen yearlings for a gross of $7,105,000 to be leading consignor.

This year Taylor Made Sales Agency has brought the most horses, with 42 horses cataloged. The Taylor family's stalwart operation is well-equipped with horses being inspected in two locations, Barn 7B and the new Annex Barn 10 across George Street.

"Sometimes the way we put these sales together, there is a premeditated vision to strategy. This year we ended up with quite a few more horses, it's one of the largest consignments we have had here," said Taylor Made CEO Mark Taylor. "Saratoga is a unique sale; customers enjoy taking one or two horses to Saratoga … It's a great trip, and it's more entertaining than just work. Clients love coming here; they can mix in racing, there is a lot of stuff going on, and it's a trip they look forward to."

Visitors attending this year's Racing Hall of Fame ceremony Aug. 5 saw Tepin , a 2012 graduate of The Saratoga Sale, enshrined after earning more than $4.4 million during a racing career in which she was twice named champion grass mare. Her success serves as just one reminder that bargains can be found, as she sold to Robert Masterson for $140,000 for breeder Machmer Hall under their Select Sales banner. 

A more current graduate of this sale is Flightline , this year's spectacular winner of the Hill 'n' Dale Metropolitan Handicap (G1). Bred by Summer Wind Farm, which each year consigns horses to the boutique New York, the son of Tapit  —Feathered  by Indian Charlie sold for $1 million to West Point Thoroughbreds, agent, here in 2019. The athletic colt is undefeated in four starts for Hronis Racing, Siena Farm, Summer Wind Equine, West Point Thoroughbreds, and Woodford Racing. The exciting prospect is being pointed the Sept. 3 TVG Pacific Classic (G1) at Del Mar. 

"One of the nice things about a sale of this nature is the graduates that it's produced. Flightline  is a graduate we have talked about more than anyone else coming out this year. He is the most exciting horse we have seen, certainly in my career," Browning commented. "The quality and depth of performance that comes out of this sale year-end and year-out is second to none. It is the number one ranked sale in the world in terms of percentage of grade 1 winners and graded stakes winners. Which reflects the quality of horses people have allowed us to sell here, and we are always very appreciative and cognizant of that."

As of Sunday evening, 27 horses have been withdrawn from the sale, which begins at 6:30 p.m. ET Monday.