Stewart acquires five yearlings for US$5,425,000 as Fasig kicks off with a bang

Cover image courtesy of Fasig-Tipton

The Fasig-Tipton Saratoga Sale, a record-setter during its last two renewals, opened with a power-packed start-to-finish session Monday evening in the Humphrey S. Finney Pavilion.

“We won the first half,” said Fasig-Tipton President Boyd Browning, Jr. “It was a really strong start to the opening session of the 2024 Saratoga yearling sale. We averaged over $500,000 (AU$768,800) tonight and the median was $400,000 (AU$615,000). Our RNA rate at an elite sale at 20 per cent is pretty remarkable. We always aim for zero, but that's certainly encouraging. It was a very, very encouraging start to this sale.”

For the session, 77 yearlings grossed $38,910,000 (AU$59,800,100) for an average of $505,325 (AU$776,900) and a median of $400,000 (AU$615,000). With 20 horses reported not sold, the buy-back rate was 20.6 per cent. These figures are well ahead of last year's opening session, with the average and median surpassing the 2023 auction's record-setting cumulative average and record-tying median.

During the two-day 2023 Saratoga sale, 154 yearlings grossed a record $75,055,000 (AU$115,400,100) for an average of $487,370 (AU$749,300) and a median of $375,000 (AU$576,600).

“Since we were over $500,000 tonight, I hope we are over $500,000 for the entire sale because it has a really good ring to it,” Browning said. “$502,000 sounds a whole lot better than $498,000, but the key is to deliver as good a result as we can for the men and women who brought quality products to the sale.”

Six yearlings topped the seven-figure mark during the session, led by a colt by Not This Time (USA) purchased by Amr Zedan for $3.4 million (AU$5.2 million) from the Nardelli Sales consignment. Ten yearlings brought seven figures during the entire 2023 auction.

The opening session of the Saratoga sale was held just hours after strong thunderstorms swept through the upstate New York town and on a day which saw upheaval in the global economic markets. Neither were concerns, according to Browning.

“Our job is to focus on what we can control,” Browning said. “We have absolutely no control over the stock market or the weather. Our world has gotten used to a little volatility, particularly in the markets. Relatively speaking, over the last 12 months, most people are in a much better financial position. If you are invested in the market, you are probably in better shape in August of 2024 than you were in August of 2023. And a lot of people who are participating, particularly in this upper part of the market, are a little bit more immune to fluctuations. But they are also used to fluctuations.”

The Fasig-Tipton Saratoga Sale continues with a final session beginning at 6:30 pm. Tuesday (10:30am AEDT Wednesday).

Zedan strikes again at Saratoga

Amr Zedan, who made headlines last year at Saratoga with a US$4 million (AU$6.15 million) sale topper, returned to the auction on Monday, securing another high-profile yearling. Bidding alongside trainer Bob Baffert and bloodstock agent Donato Lanni, Zedan went to $3.4 million (AU$5.2 million) for a colt by Not This Time (USA) (Hip 72). The trio made their bids from the balcony, countering each offer from St. Elias Stable's Vinnie Viola, with West Point Thoroughbreds' Terry Finley seated downstairs.

“He's a beautiful horse by a really hot sire, from a good family,” Baffert said. “We knew he was going to be expensive, but we didn't know he would be that expensive. We came here trying to buy a horse that you could get to the Derby with, so that's why we bought him. We loved him. He stood out pretty well. Hopefully, he works out.”

The dark bay colt, consigned by Nardelli Sales, is out of the stakes-placed Kayce Ace (USA) (Tiznow {USA}), a full sister to multiple Grade 1 winner Colonel John (USA). He was bred by Bill and Susan Casner and is a half-brother to Graded winner Comical (USA) (Into Mischief {USA}).

Stewart active at Saratoga

Stewart, who dipped into the Australian market at this year's Inglis Australian Easter Yearling Sale, continues to demonstrate his resolute commitment to acquiring top-quality bloodstock on an international scale.

Stewart, the principal behind the aptly named Resolute Bloodstock, had his eyes trained on several of the top money-generating yearlings on the opening day of the Fasig-Tipton Saratoga Sale. When Stewart decided he really wanted a yearling, he proved impossible to beat, as seen on five occasions Monday.

Leading the fray was Hip 75, a colt by Gun Runner (USA) who realised a $1.7 million (AU$$2.6 million) final bid from the Bluewater Sales consignment. Bred by Cypress Creek Equine, the grey is closely related to G1 Clark H. winner Leofric (USA) (Candy Ride {Arg}). The colt is out of the unraced Lady Godiva (USA) (Unbridled's Song {USA}), a $600,000 (AU$920,000) purchase by Bluewater Sales from the Fasig-Tipton November Sale in 2018. This family includes G1 Preakness S. winner National Treasure (USA) (Quality Road {USA}).

The founder and managing partner of MiddleGround Capital also extended to US$1.5 million (AU$2.3 million) for Hip 57, a colt from the first crop of the multiple Group 1 winner Charlatan (USA). The 22 February foal was consigned by Warrendale Sales.

“I told my team earlier he was going to go for $1.5 million,” Stewart admitted. “It's good it ended up in that range. It was a good price, and I feel really good about that. I could have probably gone a little higher and I was prepared to go higher if it did. There were a few horses here that 100 per cent were going to go home with me, and that was one of them.”

Warrendale's Kitty Taylor was equally pleased with the price the colt commanded.

“We expected him to sell very well. I don't think anyone can ever really say that they can confidently expect over $1 million because a lot of things can go wrong in a sale and everything needs to go right. So we are thrilled,” said Taylor.

The chestnut was bred by Barbara Banke's Stonestreet Thoroughbred Holdings.

“We think Charlatan is going to emerge as a good stallion as well, so we like that cross,” Stewart added. “Stonestreet also bred the horse and that says a lot. Any time Barbara Banke is associated with something, it gives you a lot of confidence as a buyer.”

According to Taylor, the yearling appeared to be stamped by his talented young sire.

“This colt looks so much like the sire, and he has a stallion's pedigree, so that really moved people on the horse,” she said. “And he was a beautiful physical.”

The 22 February foal is out of unraced Goldfield (USA) (Yes It's True {USA}), already responsible for G1 Champagne S. winner and leading 2024 freshman sire Complexity (USA) and the Group winner Valadorna (USA) (Curlin {USA}), who also finished runner-up in the G1 Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies. Valadorna is in turn the dam of Tuscan Gold (USA) (Medaglia D'Oro {USA}), third in this year's G2 Louisiana Derby.

“How often do you get to buy a half to a stallion?” Stewart asked. “Especially one like Complexity and with what his offspring are doing on the track right now. I already have a couple of Complexitys and one who is a stakes winner, so we've done well with them.”

Stewart campaigns Complexity's daughter Mensa (USA), a US$740,000 (AU$1.1 million) Fasig-Tipton Digital purchase who romped in the Victoria S. at Woodbine in July.

He continued, “His physical is almost perfect. We went through probably 50 per cent of the horses with a physical inspection, and I looked at the horses as well. It takes a lot to go through our whole process, to go through the 120 horses and get down to six or 10 that we are going to try and buy. All of these horses are really good physical specimens, so you can't really knock a lot of them. But this horse had everything going for it, so it gives us a lot of confidence.”

Stewart also signed for a trio of fillies Monday, led by Hip 37, a daughter of Curlin (USA) who brought US$850,000 (AU$1.3 million), the second-highest priced filly of Monday's session.

“We really like Curlin,” he explained when asked about the filly's general appeal. “We have several Curlins as well. We are trying to build our families and our broodmares. All the fillies that we buy, we are looking at as potential broodmares. We really liked how this filly lined up for a future breeding mare. A really beautiful physical specimen. We're excited about that.”

Consigned by Hill 'n' Dale at Xalapa, the dark bay filly is out of Elle Sueno (USA) (Street Cry {Ire}), dam of G2 Golden Rod winner and G1 Acorn S. third Dream Lith (USA) (Medaglia D’Oro {USA}), herself a US$1.2 million (AU$1.8 million) purchase at the Fasig-Tipton November Sale in 2022. Bred by Cypress Creek Equine, the 4 February foal is a granddaughter of Grade 1-scorer Mi Sueno (USA) (Pulpit {USA}), who in turn is a daughter of G1 Ashland S. victress

“One of our trainers, Chad Brown, really liked that horse. That's more than likely where she's going to go,” Stewart confirmed. “When you have something that Chad Brown likes and it lines up in our program, we wanted to make sure we got her before we left.”

Rounding out Monday's purchases, Hip 106, a half-sister to G1 Frizette S. winner Nickname (USA) (Scat Daddy {USA}) by Triple Crown winner Justify (USA) realised US$775,000 (AU$1.2 million) from the consignment of Hunter Valley Farm, agent, while a daughter of Munnings (USA) out of Ghoul's Night Out (USA) (Ghostzapper {USA) offered as Hip 54 by Darby Dan Farm brought US$600,000 (AU$920,000). Bred by Hill 'n' Dale, the 2 April foal was purchased for US$120,000 (AU$180,000) at Keeneland last November.

At Day 1's conclusion, Stewart secured a total of five yearlings for gross receipts of US$5,425,000 (AU$8.3 million), with an average of US$1,085,000 (AU$1.6 million) and a median of US$850,000 (AU$1.3 million).

Coolmore buy first million yearling of the sale

A colt by Into Mischief (USA) (Hip 30) became the first yearling to hit seven figures during Monday's opening session of the Fasig-Tipton Saratoga sale when bringing a final bid of US$1 million (AU$1.54 million) from Coolmore's M.V. Magnier, in partnership with Peter Brant's White Birch Farm. The colt is out of Distorted Music (USA) (Distorted Humor {USA}) and is a half-brother to Graded winner She Can't Sing (USA) (Bernardini {USA}).

“Into Mischief is a very good stallion and his son Practical Joke is absolutely flying at stud at the moment,” said Magnier. “The mare has bred a good horse before and Distorted Humor is a nice broodmare sire. Peter Brant and all the guys really liked the horse.”

The colt was consigned by Darby Dan Farm and the farm's Renee Logan signed for him for US$650,000 (AU$1 million) on behalf of an undisclosed client as part of the Lothenbach dispersal at the Fasig-Tipton Winter Mixed Sale in February.

On Monday, he became the third seven-figure offering from the mare this year. She Can't Sing was purchased for US$1.1 million (AU$1.7 million) by Hill 'n' Dale at Xalapa at Fasig-Tipton.

Distorted Music, who was purchased by the late Bob Lothenbach for US$190,000 (AU $293,000) at the 2011 Keeneland September sale, sold for US$375,000 (AU$578,000) to Springhouse Farm at the Winter Mixed sale.

“We will bring him back to Ashford and we will probably leave him in America, I would think,” Magnier said of plans for the yearling.

Robert Clay, standing out back alongside Alex Solis and just feet from the Coolmore team, were among the underbidders on the colt.

The colt's successful sale marks yet another high-profile acquisition for Coolmore and White Birch Farm, who continue to solidify their presence in the North American market.

Son of Tapit lights up the ring

The Boersma family's Flying Dutchmen got into the million-dollar action at Fasig-Tipton Monday with the US$1.5 million (AU$2.31 million) purchase of a colt by Tapit (USA) (Hip 97) out of graded winner Mopotism (USA) (Uncle Mo {USA}). The yearling was consigned by Lane's End, as agent for his breeder Don Alberto Corporation.

“We wanted to buy a really nice colt here or at Keeneland and we didn't know if we would get him. That was kind of our limit,” said the farm's Hunter Rankin.

Travis Boersma, co-founder of the Oregon-based coffee chain Dutch Bros., had been racing under the Boardshorts Stables banner, but the operation has been rebranded Flying Dutchmen.

“We just bought a farm in Lexington,” Rankin said. “We are trying to buy nice horses. We are trying to buy fillies that will fit a broodmare band and try to buy a few nice colts. We are not going to buy anything close to him any time soon, probably, but we wanted to buy one or two really nice colts this year to have something to race for next year. We will do our best with this guy and see what happens.”

Of potential trainers for the colt, Rankin said, “We haven't decided yet. We have horses with Brian Lynch, Brendan Walsh, Graham Motion and John Sadler, so it will probably be one of those four guys.”

While a trainer is yet to be determined, the yearling is expected to have a name within hours.

“He will probably have a name by tomorrow,” Rankin said. “The family will vote on it tonight.”

All totalled, Flying Dutchmen bought three horses, including Hip 62, a Nyquist (USA) half-sister to GI Derby City Distaff victress Vahva (USA) (Gun Runner {USA}).

Don Alberto purchased Mopotism, winner of the 2018 G2 La Canada S., for US$1.05 million (AU$1.62 million) at the 2019 Fasig-Tipton November sale. The mare's first foal, a colt by Curlin (USA), was purchased by Eclipse Thoroughbred Partners for US$825,000 (AU$1.27 million) at last year's Fasig-Tipton Saratoga sale.

West nabs Curlin filly late

Late in Monday's session, bloodstock agent Jacob West was still running full tilt, seen switching camps throughout the evening to buy several of the evening's top yearlings. Among them was Hip 85, a filly by Curlin (USA) who ended the session as the second-highest overall price and the top-priced filly on Day 1 when going to Robert and Lawana Low for US$1.9 million (AU$2.92 million).

“We loved her right from the start,” said Robert Low. “She had the physical, the pedigree, really all of the parts, so we were hooked. And that cross is wonderful, so we are very excited to own her.”

Low confirmed the filly will initially go to J.J. Pletcher in Ocala, Florida, before heading to the Lows' regular trainer, Todd Pletcher.

According to West, seated next to Low throughout the bidding process, the filly reminded him of another stalwart filly that has already proven herself on the track.

“She was a little bit of a collector's item to be quite honest,” West said. “First time I saw her on the sales grounds on Friday, I actually texted Mr. Low and told him that I think we found the next Nest (USA) (Curlin). I hate to put a comparison like that on such a young horse, but if I'm being honest, she reminded me of her. Mr Low said if I love her that much, we could try to buy her.”

Nest annexed a trio of Grade I stakes in her racing career and over US$2 million (AU$3.08 million) in earnings. She sold for US$6 million (AU$9.24 million) at Fasig-Tipton in the fall of 2023.

The bay, who is the first foal out of the stakes-winning and graded-placed mare Matera (USA) (Tapit {USA}), was consigned by Gainesway, acting as agent for her breeder Don Alberto Corp. Matera was purchased by Don Alberto for US$1.4 million (AU$2.16 million) at Keeneland September in 2018. The 7-year-old mare is out of Grade 2 winner Miss Macy Sue (USA) (Trippi {USA})), who notably went on to produce dual Grade 1 winner Liam's Map (USA) (Unbridled's Song {USA}) and leading sire Not This Time (USA).

“It's such a live family,” West continued. “She comes from Don Alberto, and you have a lot of faith in them. They do their matings right and they raise them the right way. Led by Carlos Heller and Reed Ringler, their whole staff does a great job and we have confidence in buying off them.”

For the Lows, West also signed for Hip 4, a colt by Liam's Map (USA) out of Capture (USA) (Curlin {USA}) on Monday. Consigned by Summerfield on behalf of Stonestreet, the colt was secured for US$100,000 (AU$154,000).

The Lows, seen on occasion at the Saratoga sale and during Book 1 at Keeneland, made a productive appearance at Fasig-Tipton on Day 1.

“They want to be there for the big Saturday races but they only come to a couple of the sales,” said West. “But they really love the game. They are such great owners. I can't say it enough. They take bad news better than they take good news. They are incredibly patient with their horses. They are just great people.”

“He was such a lovely horse, I didn't know what to expect,” admitted consignor Kim Nardelli, basking in her highest sale to date. “We knew he was a million-dollar horse, but how many we didn't know. It was a wonderful experience.”

“I was on the phone with the owner Bill Casner, he's in Africa now with his family and couldn't be here,” Nardelli continued. “He was so excited. It was very surreal for everyone.”