Curtain Falls on F-T NY Sale, Similar Results to 2022

The final 2023 auction in the Empire State, the Fasig-Tipton Saratoga Fall Mixed Sale, concluded Oct. 17 with a weanling Good Magic   colt topping the sale at $230,000, going the way of C F Farm. All statistical analytics dipped slightly from the previous year's sale.

The Vinery Sales-consigned colt out of the winning Medaglia d'Oro   mare Popstar claimed top honors Tuesday, well above his peers. Bred in New York by Fortune Farm, the colt is half sibling to the Catholic Boy   juvenile filly Lady d'Oro , who ran second in the July 29 Colleen Stakes at Monmouth Park on the grass.

The bay colt comes from the family of Catstar , by Storm Cat. Catstar is a grade 3-placed runner out of the three-time grade 3 winner Advancing Star, a runner on both surfaces and grade 1-placed in the Hollywood Starlet and Santa Monica Handicap.

"He was a very nice weanling with some pedigree," Fasig-Tipton president and CEO Boyd Browning said. "Good Magic has had a magnificent year, with the Kentucky Derby winner and many other top runners. It just goes to show you what can happen when you get a good physical by a young horse who's certainly on the improve as being highly commercial and marketable and there's great competition for. It was a very nice physical and had tremendous vetting and interest in the horse."

Craig Bernick's Glen Hill Farm signed for Bahama Banks at $170,000, who sold in foal to New York sire Honest Mischief  ; she has a weanling filly by the same sire as her first foal. Sequel New York, agent for Juddmonte, consigned the Arrogate mare, who is half sister to Gulfstream Park Oaks (G2) and Demoiselle Stakes (G2) placed Millefeuille .

The 4-year-old mare comes from the prolific family of grade 1 winner Honest Lady, a half sibling to grade 1 winning sires Empire Maker, Chester House, and Chiselling. Honest Lady is the dam of grade 1-winning sire First Defence  and stakes winners Honest Mischief, Honest Quality , and Phantom Rose.

Tuesday's sale saw 156 horses change hands of the 243 through the ring, setting a $4,522,200 gross, posting a 1.6% decrease over 2022. An average price of $28,988 and a $19,000 median was recorded, showing a decline of 10.5% and 5%, respectively. There were 87 individuals who failed to meet their reserve price, representing a RNA rate of 35.8%.

During last year's sale, 142 horses sold of the 182 to go under the hammer for a $4,599,700 gross, suitable for an average price of $32,392 and a $20,000 median. A RNA rate of 21.9% represents the 40 individuals who remained unsold.

"The sale was similar to last year and generally as expected in today's marketplace," Browning said. "There was a strong demand for the top weanlings and nice mares in foal. We were fortunate to have three nice mares owned by Juddmonte, which Sequel New York consigned. They impacted a lot of attention and sold well."

Bronco Bloodstock was the leading buyer, purchasing 10 head for receipts of $449,000 at an average price of $44,900. Vinery Sales sold 38 of its 68-horse draft for a $1,318,000 gross, at an average of $34,684 per head, to be the leading consignor of the single-session sale.

Browning added: "We see the same trends that we've seen in recent years and throughout the yearling and 2-year-old sales of 2023. The market is selective; there is a weakness in the ranges where the carrying costs may equal or exceed the horse's value. The demand for those horses continues to be light. The demand for the horses perceived to be high quality continues to be very strong."

Fasig-Tipton now heads home for the Kentucky October Yearlings Sale, Oct. 23-26 in Lexington.