Fastig-Tipton Saratoga kicks off tonight
SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. » For those desiring the complete thoroughbred racing experience, there’s nothing like the “one-stop shopping” available at Saratoga. Not only can one watch and wager on what is reputedly the finest racing in the country, plus see the best of these athletes enshrined across the street in the Hall of Fame, but those who want to get in the game at the ground level can purchase prime horseflesh at Fasig-Tipton’s Saratoga Selected Yearling Sale just down the block on East Avenue.
While the numbers for 2016 were down somewhat compared to 2015, and while there naturally have been fluctuations along the way, last year’s indices were remarkably similar to the average for the past decade. Last year’s average sale price of $292,115 represented only a three percent drop over the decade-long figure of ap-
proximately $300,000. The 2016 median of $237,500 was less than one percent lower than the average for the past ten years. Last year’s buy-back rate of 23.1 percent was only a shade higher than the decade-long average of 22.8.
There were 227 yearlings catalogued this year, representing a 9.9 percent drop from 2016. As far as individual sires are concerned, Uncle Mo, whose first crop of 3-year-olds had a sensational year on the track in 2016, tops this year’s list with 16 yearlings. Top international sire Scat Daddy, who died unexpectedly in 2015, is next with an even dozen. Tied at ten yearlings each are three-time leading sire Tapit, 2013 Kentucky Derby winner Orb, and multiple major stakes winner Will Take Charge, whose first foals are yearlings this year.
Next is More Than Ready with nine offerings. Another successful international sire, most of this 20-year-old stallion’s success has come in the Southern Hemisphere. In 14 crops to race in the U.S, More Than Ready has a total of three Grade 1 winners: Verrazano, Room Service and Buster’s Ready.
Will Take Charge’s ten yearlings make him by far the best-represented of this year’s first-crop sires. Six other young stallions have a total of ten between them, with Cairo Prince, Fed Biz, Strong Mandate and Verrazano tied with two apiece. Among the first-year stallions not represented at The Saratoga Sale are Saratoga Grade 1 winners Alpha (Travers) and Cross Traffic (Whitney), as well as Breeders’ Cup Classic winner and $5.6 million earner Mucho Macho Man.
Yearlings offered this year include foals out of Grade 1 winners Rigoletta (foal is by Medaglia d’Oro, hip no. 44), River’s Prayer (Curlin, hip no. 45), Sweet Lulu (Tapit, hip. No 75) and Appealing Zophie (Speightstown, hip. no. 124). The latter yearling is a half-brother to Tapwrit, this year’s Belmont winner.
Hip no. 89, a colt by Distorted Humor, is out of Unacloud, by Unaccounted For, who has also produced Grade 1 winners Overanalyze (by Dixie Union)) and Meadow Breeze (Meadowlake).
Hip no. 200, a filly by the Into Mischief stallion Can the Man, is out of Halo River, by Irish River, who has also produced Grade 1 winner Catch a Glimpse (City Zip).
Hip no. 207, Bad Dude, is a full brother to Mor Spirit, by Eskendereya, whose graded wins include this year’s Met Mile (G1).
As of Sunday noon, 23 catalogued yearlings had been withdrawn from The Saratoga Sale, reducing the total offerings to 204.
As usual, The Saratoga Sale will run Monday and Tuesday evenings. The first yearling is scheduled to be led into the ring today at 6:30 p.m.