Six yearlings promoting for seven-figures and a modest buy-back charge helped ship strong outcomes in the course of the Aug. 5 opening session of the two-day The Saratoga Sale, Fasig-Tipton’s premier yearling sale in Saratoga Springs, N.Y.
The sale held on the Humphrey S. Finney Pavilion produced a $505,325 common from the 77 yearlings bought, which grossed $38,910,000. The typical was up 23% from final 12 months’s opening session.FTSAUG, Hip 72: yearling, c, 2023, Not This Time – Kayce Ace, by Tiznow; Breeder: Susan Casner (KY)
Sale Worth: $3,400,000
Purchaser: Donato Lanni, agent for Zedan Racing
Consignor: Nardelli Gross sales
Regardless of some unhealthy climate, the gross sales grounds have been packed and filled with power, particularly for Hip 72, a colt by Not This Time   that topped the session at $3.4 million, promoting Donato Lanni, agent for Zedan Racing.Â
“A extremely, actually sturdy begin to the opening session of the 2024 Saratoga Yearling sale. We averaged over $500,000 tonight, the median was $400,000, RNA charge at an elite horse sale at 20% is fairly outstanding,” mentioned Boyd Browning Jr., president and CEO of Fasig-Tipton.
WATCH:Â $3.4M Not This Time Colt Tops The Saratoga Sale Day 1Sign up for BloodHorse Day by day
In 2023, The Saratoga Sale grossed $31,195,000 on day one (together with non-public gross sales), with a median of $410,461Â and a median of $337,500. Seventy-six yearlings have been bought from 103 provided.Â
Lanni prevailed in a protracted bidding battle for Hip 72, a Nardelli-consigned colt out of the Tiznow mare Kayce Ace .Â
Photograph: Fasig-Tipton PhotosDonato Lanni
“We got here right here to attempt to purchase a horse you could get to the Derby,” coach Bob Baffert mentioned after the sale, emphasizing the final 4 phrases. “That is why we purchased him.”
“Mr. Zedan and Bob Baffert actually wished this horse,” mentioned Lanni. “He is a ravishing horse and the sire has performed very effectively. He is only a very lovely horse and so they wished him.”
Neither consignor Kim Nardelli of Nardelli Gross sales nor the client thought that the darkish bay brown/colt would carry the worth he did.
“We did not anticipate that, however we knew he was a stunning horse,” mentioned Nardelli. “He is been beautiful for the reason that day he was born. He is all the time had such class, and he bought right here and by no means missed a beat.”Â
The colt was bred by Susan Casner, whose household is touring overseas and listened by cellphone because the bidding rose.Â
“Invoice Casner was simply beside himself,” mentioned Nardelli. “He by no means bought a horse like that on his personal.”
A former coach, Casner co-founded WinStar Farm with Kenny Troutt. He bought his curiosity within the farm in 2010, the identical 12 months {that a} colt bred and owned by WinStar, Tremendous Saver , gained the Kentucky Derby (G1).
The colt’s dam is a full sibling to a number of grade 1 winner Colonel John , who retired with earnings of $1.8 million, and to Mr. Scorching Stuff , grade 1-placed on grime and a grade 1-winning steeplechase horse.
Resolute Racing’s John Stewart was the main purchaser of the session, securing 5 yearlings for a complete of $5,425,000. He was second by common at $1,085,000 to Lanni for 2 purchased averaging $1,975,000. Apart from the sale-topper, Zedan Racing acquired a Gun Runner  filly (Hip 39) for $550,000 from Zach Madden’s Buckland Gross sales. The filly is out of the A.P. Indy winner E.T. Indy.
Stewart’s prime buy was a $1.7 million Gun Runner colt (Hip 75), who’s a half brother to Clark Handicap (G1) winner Leofric  . The grey or roan colt is out of the unraced mare Girl’s Godiva (Unbridled’s Track). Girl Godiva is a half sister to grade 1 positioned, a number of graded stakes winner A number of Selection.Â
West Bloodstock was additionally energetic, signing the ticket on 5 purchases for a complete of $3,300,000.
Hip 85, a Curlin  filly out of the graded stakes-placed mare Matera , bought for $1.9 million to West Bloodstock, agent for Robert and Lawana Low. The bay filly was consigned by Gainesway.
Photograph: Fasig-Tipton PhotosHip 85, a Curlin filly within the ring at Fasig-Tipton’s The Saratoga Sale
Taylor Made Gross sales Company reigned supreme, promoting 11 of the 14 yearlings provided, for a complete of $3,975,000. Its common was $361,364.Â
“A really, very encouraging begin to this sale, a lot of competitors, a lot of power, a lot of pleasure,” mentioned Browning.
WATCH:Â Boyd Browning Displays on Opening Day of Saratoga Sale
The sale concludes Aug. 6, beginning at 6:30 p.m. ET, with hips 121-240. The primary providing of the night time will probably be a share in Airdrie’s main freshman sire Complexity  .Â
“We’re simply going to maintain enjoying the sport, the one method we all know how, 100% effort, 100% of the time,” he added.
