Reality Returns At Saratoga
Wednesday, 4 August 2010: The buy-back rate rose to 35% from 19.8% in 2009.
It was a disappointing start to an auction that had bucked the prevailing negative trends in 2009 and posted significant increases.
However there was abetter start to the second session on August 3 when a colt by A.P. Indy out of G1 winner Maryfield sold for $1.2.
Trainer Todd Pletcher signed the sale ticket for Ben Leon's Besilu Stables of Florida. Pletcher trained stakes winner With Flying Colors for Leon.
The colt is the first foal out of Maryfield (Elusive Quality), 2007's champion female sprinter.
Mike Moreno's Southern Equine Stabbles bred the colt in Kentucky. Meg Levy's Bluewater Sales consigned him to the auction.
No horses commanded seven-figure prices during the sale's first evening in the newly renovated sale pavilion compared to four last year. The one bright spot was the median price, which increased 8.7%.
The 52 yearlings that sold, down 38.8% from the 85 that sold in 2009, grossed $14,120,000. The average was $271,538 and the median was $250,000.
“I don't think we were surprised,” said Fasig-Tipton president Boyd Browning of the results. “But I think we were hopeful that it might not be workmanlike, and it was workmanlike tonight.
“There isn't a whole lot of electricity in the world we live in right now and that includes the auction business.”
A handsome Street Cry colt, by the same sire as the sensational undefeated champion Zenyatta, topped the session, bringing $800,000.
Sheikh Mohammed's bloodstock manager, John Ferguson purchased the dark bay or brown yearling.
Taylor Made Sales Agency, agent, consigned the yearling, which was bred in Kentucky by Bill Casner and Kenny Troutt's WinStar Farm.
The colt is out of the unraced A.P. Indy mare Don't Tacha Me, who is a half sister to European champion One Cool Cat (by Storm Cat).
Ferguson spent $3,155,000 for eight yearlings. During last year's first session, he paid $5.5 million for six.
Sheikh Mohammed is attending the Saratoga sale for the second year in a row.
A $775,000 daughter of Street Cry was the highest-priced filly.
Consigned by Eaton Sales, agent, the Kentucky-bred filly is out of the winning A.P. Indy mare Alchemist.
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