Tapit Tops Sire Ranks at Fasig-Tipton October

The October Sale's growing reputation as an important late-season outlet for quality yearlings with sire power is reinforced by the presence of Gainesway's Tapit  atop the Fasig-Tipton sale's leading sire list by average price.

Among stallions represented by a minimum of three yearlings sold, Tapit led the standings with a $234,167 average and a $207,500 median from six sold. The son of Pulpit and three-time leading North American sire was the second-leading sire by average at the Keeneland September Yearling Sale and third-leading sire by average at Fasig-Tipton's The Saratoga Sale in Saratoga Springs, N.Y.

Though Tapit was the only sire with an average and median above $200,000, the sale featured five other stallions with averages and medians above $100,000: American Pharoah , Uncle Mo , Ghostzapper , Tonalist , and Pioneerof the Nile . The progeny of four stallions generated gross sales of more than $1 million—Tapit, Uncle Mo, Cairo Prince , and Violence . 

Tapit was represented by the second-highest-priced yearling at the October sale, a $430,000 colt out of the winning End Sweep mare Receivership, who is the dam of multiple grade 1 winner and sire Palace . The colt was bought by trainer Ken McPeek on behalf of a partnership that includes Three Chimneys Farm, Paul Fireman's Fern Circle Stables, Scott Leeds' Walking L Thoroughbreds, and Peter Callahan. The colt was bred and sold by Gainesway.

The sale-topper was a colt by Darley's Street Sense  whom agent Donato Lanni bought for $500,000 for an undisclosed client. Eaton Sales sold the leggy, athletic colt for breeder Forging Oaks, which bred him in Kentucky out of the winning Pulpit mare Shimmer. The colt is a half brother to stakes-placed winner Sister Moon, who won in her first start by 9 3/4 lengths and set a Del Mar track record for 5 1/2 furlongs at 1:02.70 in 2011.

Street Sense was the October sale's fourth-leading sire by average at $152,800 from five sold, behind second-ranked American Pharoah ($185,000 from four sold) and third-ranked Uncle Mo ($175,000 from seven sold).

Fasig-Tipton president Boyd Browning said the October sale continues to attract the progeny of top sires because foals are born at different times, they mature at different rates, and sellers simply need options in order to offer sale horses when they are at their best.

"The worst things we can do in the world we live in, from a sales perspective, is miss your sale placement; you don't want to be in the wrong spot, too early or too late," Browning said. "It is valuable for a breeder or pinhooker … to have a legitimate marketplace in October. Having these viable places throughout the calendar creates stability and improves performance for the sellers."