SARATOGA SPRINGS, NY – The Fasig-Tipton New York-Bred Yearling Sale kicked off its two-day auction Sunday evening at the Humphry S. Finney Pavilion in Saratoga with an abbreviated session that featured competitive bidding from start to finish.

“It was a strong start for the 2024 Fasig-Tipton New York-Bred Yearling Sale,” said Boyd Browning, Jr., president of Fasig-Tipton. “From start to finish, there was very consistent trading. I think the most encouraging thing tonight was probably the buyback rate. At this sale, the buyback rate has traditionally been a little higher because breeders have so many opportunities to get these horses raced themselves, so it’s often more important for them to run a horse in New York than to sell it and move to another state. It was very encouraging to see a very manageable RNA rate tonight.”

From a catalogue of 100 yearlings, 87 crossed the ring on Sunday for a total of $6,860,000. The average for the session was $103,939 and the median was $89,000. With 21 horses not sold, the buyback rate was 24.1%.

During last year’s opening session, 53 horses sold for $5,999,000, for an average of $113,189 and a median of $100,000. The buyback rate was 34.6%.

“We’re not making any bold predictions or comparisons on just one night,” Browning said. “We’ve got 200 to go (Monday) – we’re a third of the way through the sale. Tonight’s business was very, very good and we’re looking forward to tomorrow.”

Eddie Rosen and Jacob West | Fasig-Tipton

Earlier in the session, Jacob West and Eddie Rosen, on behalf of Mike Repole, paid $300,000 for a colt by Constitution out of the Elite consignment. That top price of the session was matched again later in the day when trainer Christophe Clement purchased a son of Vekoma out of the Taylor Made Sales Agency consignment.

A total of 29 horses earned $100,000 or more during the session – the same number as last year’s inaugural session.

“There were no ‘breakouts’ tonight, but a lot of horses sold for over $100,000,” Browning said. “We’re happy with the start and look forward to continuing the positive momentum tomorrow.”

The Fasig-Tipton New York-Bred Yearling Sale continues with a final session on Monday, with bidding beginning at noon.

Constitution Colt takes the lead early

A colt by Constitution (hip 315) got the Fasig-Tipton New York-Bred Yearling Sale off to a strong start when he sold to Mike Repole for $300,000 at the start of Sunday’s session. Consigned by Elite, the yearling was bred by Ten Strike Racing and is by See the Forest (Forestry) and is a half-blood of stakes winners Whittington Park (Midnight Lute), Critical Value (Bodemeister) and Looms Boldly (Goldencents).

Hip 315 | Fasig-Tipton

“Mike has been a big supporter of the (New York breeding program),” Repole’s agent Eddie Rosen said, sitting next to Thoroughbred agent Jacob West. “We breed here, we have stallions housed here. We also hope in this case that he is a horse that will compete in open competitions. Since he is by Constitution, you can hope that he will be more than a New York stud.”

Marshall Gramm, founding partner of Ten Strike Racing, won See the Forest for $12,500 in 2010. Looms Boldly won the John Morrissey Handicap just three days ago in Ten Strike’s colors.

Commenting on the process that led the team to make an offer on the yearling on Sunday night, West said: “As we worked it all out further, he was at the top (of our list).”

West returned 40 hips later to purchase a first crop colt by Galilean (Uncle Mo) (hip 350) for $220,000 from the Eaton Sales consignment. The yearling is by Three AM Tour (Ire) (Strategic Prince) and is a half-brother to stakes winner Set (Oscar Performance).

Clement strikes late for Vekoma Colt

Trainer Christophe Clement got in late on Sunday in the first session of the New York Yearling Sale, buying a colt by fast-starting youngster Vekoma (hip 386) from the Taylor Made Sales Agency consignment for $300,000. The chestnut is by unraced Alana’s Allure (Shackleford) and is a half-brother to multiple stakes winner Allure of Money (Central Banker). The mare’s two-year-old Leon Blue (Mo Town) was a late second-place finisher on his debut at Saratoga on July 24.

Hip 386 | Fasig-Tipton

“He looked fast,” said Clement when asked about the yearling’s appeal. “It was probably too much money, but we’re keeping the dream alive. I liked him very much. He looked very athletic. My son Miguel told me about him. At the moment I bought him on a whim, so I need to find some owners who will help me and support me and then we’ll see. He’s a great horse.”

In addition to his 13 winners, Vekoma’s first crop of two-year-olds includes stakes winner Louisiana Jess and stakes-placed Bella Sorella and Fortuna Mia.

“I train a Vekoma that I like,” Clement said. “But this is a very lively family. A horse from the same family just won very well. And that’s the way it is, unfortunately. You always have to pay too much for what you like.”

Good Luck Farm purchased the yearling last year at the Fasig-Tipton New York Mixed Sale for $100,000.