Medaglia d’Oro keys big closing night of successful sale

SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. » With most of the half-dozen American Pharoah yearlings being offered scheduled to be bid on later in the evening, Tuesday’s closing session of The Saratoga Sale might have been expected to get off to a slower start than Monday’s.

American Pharoah was hardly the only engine behind Monday’s success, however, and with dozens of yearlings being offered by top commercial stallions Candy Ride, Curlin, Into Mischief, Medaglia d’Oro and Tapit, there was no reason to think Tuesday would be any less successful than Monday.

As it turned out, Tuesday was even more of a success than Monday’s opener. The $33,829,000 gross was 19.1 percent higher than last year’s $28,570,000 and the average of $388,839 was an improvement of 10.2 percent. The median was $350k compared to last year’s $300k. The buyback rate declined slightly from 20.6 percent to 20.2.

Combining both days, The Saratoga Sale grossed $62,794,000 and averaged $369,839, improvements of 18.5 and 8.9 percent, respectively, over the figures for 2017. [The record average of $385,259 was set in 2001.]

Medaglia d’Oro was Tuesday’s poster boy, accounting for all three seven-figure purchases recorded on the evening. His average for five yearlings sold was $957,000, easily the best of any stallion

The first 14 yearlings through the ring Tuesday all found new homes, including a pair of Tapit fillies that brought $875k (hip no. 130) and $850k (hip no. 137). Then came hip no. 143, a Medaglia d’Oro filly out of Veracity, by Distorted Humor, who sold for an even $1 million. Indian Creek, Agent, consigned the filly, who was purchased by Lael Stable.

The sale-topping yearling, also by Medaglia d’Oro, came later in the evening with hip no. 196, a dark bay or brown colt out of Coco’s Wildcat, by Wildcat Heir. The foal, the dam’s first, was purchased after a high bid of $1,350,000 by West Point, R. Masiello, C. Larsen and Siena. Taylor Made Sales Agency, Agent, was the consignor.

Seven offerings later, Medaglia a’Oro struck for his third seven-figure yearling of the night: hip no. 204 out of Dawn Raid, by Vindication. Phoenix Thoroughbreds purchased the dark bay or brown filly for $1.3 million. Warrendale Sales, Agent, was the consignor.

Tapit was well-received in the closing session, with all six offerings selling for a gross of $3,775,000 and average of $629,167. American Pharoah ranked third by average on Tuesday, his six yearlings selling for a total of $2,325,000 and average of $581,250.

Honor Code had the second-best night of first-crop sires, with four yearlings purchased for a total of $1,885,000 and average of $471,250. Hip no. 241, the ninth foal out of multiple Grade 1 winner Hollywood Story (by Wild Rush), went for $850k. CRK Stable was the high bidder.