Breeding

Saratoga New York bred sale set records across the board

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August 13, 2025

By Staff Writers

SARATOGA SPRINS, N.Y.--The first session of the 2025 Fasig-Tipton New York Bred Yearlings sale, conducted Sunday evening, Aug. 10 echoed the momentum from last week’s record-breaking Saratoga Sale, and then the second and final session  Monday afternoon established new sale records for gross, average, and median.

Saratoga NY-bred sales topper, a filly by Early VotingOver the two sales, two yearlings sold for $525,000, a colt by Practical Joke and a filly by Early Voting.

The opening session was marked by increases in gross, average, and median, and featured several historically significant prices among the offerings.

"There was plenty of money and not enough horses" said top sales agent Russell Jones of Unionville, Pa.

A filly from the first crop of G1 Preakness Stakes winner Early Voting (hip 331) topped the session when sold for $525,000 to Jones/Everett, agent for Sabby and Gargon Racing .

The price is the second highest paid for a filly at the New York Bred Yearlings sale, second only to a Malibu Moon filly sold in 2019. 

“It was an outstanding opening session of the 2025 New York Bred Yearlings sale,” said Fasig-Tipton President Boyd Browning. “The quality of the New York-breds that we’re exposed to in our inspection process continues to improve each and every year and that was indicative of the results tonight.”

Also among the top prices for the first session was a filly by Practical Joke (hip 329) sold for $500,000 to Repole Stable from the consignment of Hunter Valley Farm, agent.

The price tied the third most expensive filly in this sale’s history, tied with an Outwork filly sold in 2019. T

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Lizzie Merryman's colt out of Zeezee Zoomzoom sold for $1.4 million at Saratoga Yearling Sale

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August 5, 2025

By SARA CAVANAGH

SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y.--Elizabeth M. (Lizzie) Merryman bred the Justify colt out of her mare Zeezee Zoomzoom, and on Monday, Aug. 4 she sold the colt for $1.4 million to Sheikh Fahad Al Thani’s Qatar Racing at the Saratoga Selected Yearling Sale..

Lizziie Merryman Merryman got Zee Zee Zoomzoom for free, and the mare has turned out to be a gold mine.

Zeezee Zoomzoom has had eight foals, including this colt, and a foal at foot by Nyquist, five of which are winners and two pf then major stakes winners.

"She was recommended by a friend of mine,  Kim Brette," said Merryman. "She was out of a really nice mare, and she broke her maiden at Saratoga on Travers Day. I was looking for a brood mare at the time, so I took her."

Zeezee Zoomzoom's first foal was Caravel, whose 15 wins included the Breeders' Cup Turf Sprint.

Another was Witty, who, trained by Merryman, has won won 10 races so far with his most recent win being the Jim McKay Turf Sprint at Pimlico on May 17.

Merryman almost sent Zeezee Zoomzoom, in foal to Justify, to a sale in late 2024 but finally decided against it. and the foal was born in 2024.

The foal grew up on Buffalo Run farm in Coatesille, Pa., owned by Merryman and her husband Bill Rubin.

Rubin raises buffalo on the farm while Merryman raises thoroughbreds.

The yearling was sent to Hunter Valley Farm to prep for the sale and was sold at Saratoga by Hunter Farm as agent for Merryman.

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Saratoga Selected Yearlings Sale broke all records and sold 12 $1 million yearlings

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August 7, 2024

By Staff Writers

SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y.--The Saratoga Selected Yearlings Sale set new records across the board for the third year in a row, finishing its second session on Tuesday, Aug. 6 with six yearlings selling for over $1 million.

$2.4 million sales topper Tuesday evening
The two session sale had 12 yearlings sell of over $1 million and established new records for gross, average, and median, and posted the lowest RNA rate since 2015.

“We almost went back-to-back with million dollar horses with the first two horses to go through the ring," said Fasig-Tipton President Boyd Browning, Jr. "And that momentum carried throughout because of the quality of horses.

The first three through the ring sold for $975,000, $1.5 million and $900,000, only to be followed up with a pair that sold for $650,000 and $425,000.

It would be hard to find another sale that began like than.

"The success of the sale is completely dependent on the quality of the horses that our consignors give us the opportunity to sell," said Browning. "We felt very confident that the quality of horses in this catalogue was the best we ever had. I think that the buyers proved us right. Buyers have a tremendous level of confidence when they come to Saratoga. They feel like they will come find some of the best-conformed yearlings in the world. And now we get some of the best pedigrees in the world.”

“It's a rewarding and fulfilling situation where there is a tremendous level of confidence in the marketplace." he said. "And there is a tremendous level of confidence in Saratoga. It's a magical place. It's unbelievable racing. Unbelievable community support. It's a great feeling.

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A colt by Not This Time topped the Saratoga Yearling Sale at $3.4 Million

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August 6, 2024

By Staff Writers

SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y.--Opening night of the Saratoga Selected Yearling Sales on Monday, Aug. 5 had six yearlings sell for over #1 Million, topped by the fifth most expensive colt offered in the history of the Sale,  and posted gains over the previous year's first session in gross, average, and median, as well as an RNA rate of just 20.6%.

3.4 Million Saratoga Selected Yearlings sales topper (Photo by Fasig-Tipton)
A colt by Not This Time (Hip 72), consigned by Nardell Sales topped the session when sold for $3,400,000 to Donato Lanni, agent for  Amr Zedan's Zedan Racing.

The colt is out of Kayce Ace, a stakes placed full sister to multiple G1 winner Colonel John and is a half-brother to multiple G1 placed graded stakes winner Comical and to the dam of stakes winner Sweetlou'sgotaces.

"It was obviously a really strong start to this year's Saratoga Sale," said Fasig-Tipton President Boyd Browning. "There was lots of competition, lots of energy, lots of excitement. Just a tremendous start."

"We won the first half," he said. "AIt was a really strong start to the opening session of the sale. We averaged over $500,000 tonight and the median was $400,000. Our RNA rate at an elite sale at 20% is pretty remarkable. We always aim for zero, but that's certainly encouraging. It was a very, very encouraging start to this sale."

"Since we were over $500,000 tonight, I hope we are over $500,000 for the entire sale because it has a really good ring to it," Browning said. "$502,000 sounds a whole lot better than $498,000, but the key is to deliver as good a result as we can for the men and women who brought quality products to the sale."

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Colt by Nyquist topped the Fasig-Tipton Midlantic Fall Yearling sale

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October 4, 2023

By Staff Writers

TIMONIUM, Md.--A colt by Nyquist (Hip 160) topped the second session and the sale, selling for $205,000 at the Fasig-Tipton Midlantic Fall Yearlings sale on Tuesday evening, Oct. 3 at the Maryland State Fairgrounds in Timonium.

The sales topper at the Fasig-Tipton Yearling sale inTimonium The colt by Nyquist sold for $205,000 to Thorostock LLC & Seth Morris Thoroughbreds from the consignment of Becky Davis Inc., agent.

Out of the winning Not For Love mare How My Heart Works, the dark bay or brown colt is a half-brother to graded stakes placed Monday Morning QB, winner of last year’s Maryland Million Classic, and a full sibling to Asawer, second runner up in this year’s G3 U.A.E. Oaks and was bred in Maryland by Bowman & Higgins Stable.

Over the course of two days, 289 yearlings sold for $7,078,000, good for an average of $24,491.

The median was $12,000, and the RNA (reserve not attained) rate was 21.4%.

"Could it have been a better sale, yes," said Marshall Silverman of New Freedom, Pa., who sold a number of yearlings as agent, including the second highest price colt in the opening session. "But the way things are going it was not too bad."

"It wasn't as crowded as usual, but a lot of the right people were there," he said."A lot of people want only Kentucky sired horses."

Siverman said the Timonium being sandwiched between the Keeneland sale of thousands of yearling and the Keeneland sale of 12,000 horses meant that some buyers didn't bother to go to Maryland.

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$925,000 Twirling Candy Colt Sets Mark Tuesday at Keeneland September Yearling Sale

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September 21, 2023

By Staff Writers

LEXINGTON, Ky.--Pin Oak Stud on Tuesday abought the most expensive horse sold during the eighth session of the Keeneland September Yearling Sale since 1999 when it paid $925,000 for a colt by Twirling Candy on Tuesday, Sept. 19.

Keeneland sale Consigned by Paramount Sales, agent, the colt is out of the winning First Defense mare Hiking and from the family of English highweight Logician, Group 1 winner Cityscape and Grade/Group 2 winners Didina (GB), Bated Breath and Equilateral.

Paramount was the day’s leading consignor with sales of $2,529,000 for 26 horses.

“He was a beautiful colt,” Pat Costello of Paramount said. “Everyone on the grounds was on him. We loved him from Day 1. We’re thrilled for the buyer (Pin Oak Stud) and I’m delighted for the breeder (Lady Bamford), a lovely lady. He was a special colt.”

Pin Oak Stud spent $1.03 million for two horses to lead buyers.

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Keeneland Sales had a $900,000 sale on Sunday and a $700,000 sale Monday

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September 20, 2023

By Staff Writers

LEXINGTON, Ky.--Steady trade during Monday, Sept. 18's seventh session of the Keeneland September Yearling Sale was headlined by a colt by Good Magic from the family of G1 winner and sire Pioneerof the Nile that sold for $700,000 to Donato Lanni, agent for SF/Starlight/Madaket.

Keeneland September sale ringAt $700,000, the colt is the highest-priced yearling to sell in the seventh session since 2015.

A total of 306 yearlings sold through the ring during the session for $24,681,500, for an average of $80,658 and a median of $65,000.

The total is 10.39% below the $27,544,000 from the corresponding session in 2022 when 314 horses sold.

The average dipped 8.05% from $87,720 in 2022, and the median is 3.70% under last year’s $67,500.

Cumulatively, Keeneland has sold 1,505 yearlings for $344,546,500, 3.07% lower than the $355,453,500 for 1,556 horses sold during the same period last year.

The average of $228,935 is slightly above $228,441 from 2022, and the median of $150,000 is 6.25% below last year’s $160,000.

The session topper, who is out of the Bernardini mare Beauty Buzz, was consigned by Gainesway, agent. Gainesway led all consignors Monday with sales of $3,715,000 for 30 yearlings.

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$875,000 Authentic yearling topped Keeneland Sales, Saturday session

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September 17, 2023

By Staff Writers

LEXINGTON,Ky.--Keeneland’s September Yearling Sale resumed Saturday after a one-day hiatus with the first session of the two-day Book 3, which recorded nearly $47 million in sales and was led by the purchase of a colt from the first crop of Horse of the Year Authentic for $875,000 by Donato Lanni, agent for SF/Starlight/Madaket.

Keeneland Sales, $875,000 coltby AuthenticThe session topper, who was consigned by Eaton Sales, agent, is out of the multiple graded stakes-placed Street Sense mare Sweetgrass.

He is from the family of champion Althea.

Donato Lanni, agent for SF/Starlight/Madaket, was the session’s leading buyer by purchasing three yearlings for $1,735,000.

St. Elias, Talla Racing and Spendthrift Farm paid $775,000 for a colt from the first crop of G1 winner Vekoma.

Consigned by Legacy Bloodstock, agent for Spendthrift Farm, he is out of stakes winner Summer of Fun, a daughter of Include who was third in the G1 Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies Turf.

The colt is from the family of G1 winner Louis Cyphre (Ire) and Grade/Group 2 winners Psychobabble (Ire) and Mekong Melody (Ire).

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Two $ million colts sold at Keeneland's Thursday sale

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September 16, 2023

By Staff Writers

LEXINGTON,, Ky.--The 80th Keeneland September Yearling Sale week one ended Thursday ,, Sept. 14 with a session highlighted by steady trade among a number of major buyers and the sale of colts by Curlin for $1.1 million and by Not This Time for $1.05 million.

The 30 million-dollar horses equals the number sold last year and is the highest for the September Sale since 2007.

 For an undisclosed buyer, Lauren Carlisle, agent, paid $1.1 million for a colt by Curlin out of G2 winner Miss Sunset, by Into Mischief.

Taylor Made Sales Agency, agent, consigned the colt, who is from the family of Grade 2 winner Prayer for Relief.

“He looks really fast and hopefully he proves that,” Carlisle said. “He has a really good walk and looks very athletic. We’re looking for a nice two-turn colt, and hopefully he can be that horse. I was worried that the price would be that high; I did not want it to be, but that is how it is right now.”

West Point Thoroughbreds and Talla, LEB, agent, spent $1.05 million for a colt by Not This Time from the family of G2 winner Cowtown Cat and Grade/Group 3 winners Crafty But Sweet and So Perfect.

St George Sales, agent, consigned the colt, who is out of winner Foreign Affair, by Exchange Rate.

“I thought he was just a dude,” West Point’s Terry Finley said. “He walked around the back ring like he owned it. He had that presence about him. When I looked at him, he was like ‘Hey, I’m the man.’

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Fasig-Tipton's October Yearlings sale set new records

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November 15, 2022

By Staff Writers

LEXINGTON, Ky.--Fasig-Tipton's Kentucky October Yearlings sale concluded Thursday, Oct. 27 with new sale records for gross, average and median.

Filly by Gun RunnerEvery sale but one in 2022 has established new records, and that sale in Timonium was plagued by terrible weather and the loss of buyers from Florida due to a hurricane.

A filly by leading second-crop sire Gun Runner (Hip 1364) topped the final session and sale when sold for $700,000 to Wesley Ward from the consignment of Claiborne Farm, agent.

The chestnut filly is the second foal out of the Speightstown mare No More Parties, an unraced full sister to Grade 1 winner Force the Pass.

The filly hails from the immediate family of Grade 1 winners Perfect Drift and Wonder Wheel and was bred in Kentucky by Colts Neck Stables.

She was the third most expensive filly ever sold at the Kentucky October Yearlings sale.

“Another remarkable sale concluded tonight,” said Fasig-Tipton President Boyd Browning. “We were optimistic coming in because we knew the consignors and sellers had supported us with better quality horses than in the past. It’s thrilling to set records for gross, average and median, particularly considering the 2021 sale had such a dramatic increase from prior years as well.”

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Cold, rainy weather hurt the Fasig-Tipton Midlantic Fall Yearling sale

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October 6, 2022

By Staff Writers

TIMONIUM,Md,--Fasig-Tipton's Midlantic Fall Yearlings sale, Oct, 3,4, was down from previous years, with the average dropping from $29,578 to $26,597, and the median dropping from $20,000 to $15,000, while 79 of the 386 yearlings not sold this year as opposed to 75 of 381 not sold last year.

The sale certainly suffered from the rain from hurricane Ian that reached Maryland and Pennsylvania on Friday and hung on for five days.

"The weather didn't help us any," said Marshall Silverman, who sold a large number of yearlings as agent.

Rain began the Friday before the sale,and it poured Saturday and Sunday, while also being unseasonably cold, meaning it was very difficult for people to assess the yearlings before the sale.

It also poured on both days of the sale, meaning a lot of people didn't go to the sale.

"There were a lot of people who are usually at these sales who weren't here," said Silverman. "Plus, with the hurricane in Florida, people couldn't get flights."

"The good horses by Kentucky sires sold well," said Silverman. "The horses by a good sire out of a young mare with some pedigree sold well."

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Fasig-Tipton's New York bred sale breaks all records, may bode well for Timonium

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August 16, 2022

By SARA CAVANAGH

SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y.--Fasig-Tipton's New York Bred Yearling Sale broke all records on Aug.15, with its sales gross of $20,175,000 eclipsing by nine percent the previous high.

Fasig-Tipton N.Y. bred sales topperThe record breaking New York sale followed a week after the record breaking Selected Yearling sale.

“Saratoga is a magical place,” said Boyd Browning, Fasig-Tipton president and CEO, reflecting on both the Saratoga Sale and New York Bred Yearlings. “It restores and invigorates the hope, the enthusiasm, and the love that we all have for the game.”

Pennsylvania and Maryland breeders are hoping the excitement generated by the two Saratoga sales will carry over to the Fasig-Tipton Midlantic Fall Yearling sale, Oct. 3,4 in Timonium, Md.

"Certainly, there’s market confidence and momentum that’s been created throughout the July and Saratoga sales, and it bodes well, I think, for the overall marketplace this year," said Browning.”

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Saratoga Sale's huge first day, with four selling for a $1 million or more

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August 9, 2022

By SARA CAVANAGH

SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y.--Fasig-Tipton's opening session of its Selected Yearlings Sale on Aug. 8 broke all records, including selling four yearlings for over $1 million.

Sales topper Uncle Mo colt (Photo by Fasig-Tipton)One of those was a Pa-bred, bred by Blackstone Farm, hip number 78  by Justify out of Slews Golden Rule, by Landfuhr, consigned by Warrendale Sales and bought by M.V. Magnier for $1.1 Million. 

Roy and Gretchen Jackson's Lael Farm of Unionville, Pa., bought two fillies, hip 71, by Vino Russo out of Shaken, by Uncle Mo, for $550,000, and hip 86, by Flatter out of Splash Hit, by Flower Alley for $375,000.

David Wade, agent, had two bred by Northview Stallion Station of Chesapeake City, Md., go through the ring Monday evening, with hip 31, a filly by Mendelssohn out of Munny Spunt, by Munnings, bred in Kentucky, selling or $425,00 to Ken McPeek, agent fo Walking L. Thor, while hip 90, a colt by Bernardini was not sold, having not met his reserve of $135,000.

"You know what, I don’t do that very often, but I felt good. I felt good yesterday," said Boyd Browning, Fasig-Tipton President and Chief Executive Officer. "I feel good tonight and I think I’m going to feel good tomorrow night at this same time."

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Record sale in Maryland as Bernardini colt sells for over $3.5 million

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May 25, 2022

By Staff Writers

TIMONIUM, Md--A new record price for a thoroughbred sold in Maryland was set at the Fasig-Tipton two-year-olds in training sale at Timonium when a Bernardini colt sold for $3,550,000.

Hip 385This was almost double the previous highest sale in the state.

The 2022 Midlantic Two-Year-Olds in Training sale ended Tuesday in Timonium with an exciting day of sales, featuring early fireworks and robust trade throughout.

But like all sales of late, there seems to be no price too high for the top of the market, but there is little or no interest in the lower part.

"Everyone was there for the big gun horses," said Marshall Silverman, an agent. "There were a lot of nice horses in the sale.But a lot of horses should have sold for more than they did. Overall, it was a good sale, but a lot of people didn't have a good sale.

"I had eight horses at the sale, and I sold one through the ring. Two others I sold after the sale. A couple of the owners race horses, so they kept theirs to race.

"Bernardini was just crazy money," said Silverman. "When you get two people on a horse they just get into a bidding match. Baffert was at the sale, and a lot of out of town trainers. But there were a lot of trainers that I thought would be there that weren't. But it was overall a good sale. People were pumped."

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Strong support for first crop sires at Timonium sales on opening day; record $3.5 million sale on day two

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May 24, 2022

By Staff Writers

TIMONIUM, Md.--The 2022 Midlantic Two-Year-Olds in Training sale opened Monday in Timonium with strong trade and enthusiastic support for first-crop sires.

Hip 88 sold for $725,000The big news of the sale was the record setting sale of a Bernadini colt for $3,550,000 on the second day of the sale. Complete story on the second day sales tomorrow.

The top Pa-bred on the first day of the sale, hip 280, was sold for $525,000 and was a colt  that was bred in Pennsylvania by Blackstone Farm.

Five of the top 10 sold during the opening session were from their sire's first crop of two-year-olds.

The gross and average were comparable to last year's first session, while the median rose more than 11 percent over the same period.

Donato Lanni, agent for Michael Lund Petersen, paid $725,000 to buy the session topper, a filly from the first crop of the G1 Haskell Invitational Stakes winner Girvin.

Consigned as Hip 88 by Paul Sharp, agent, the bay filly worked an eighth in 10.1 during the Tuesday session of the under tack show.

Dam Sweet Pistol, by Smart Strike, has already produced a winning filly in Kirtan, who is by Cairo Prince.

Sweet Pistol is out of multiple Grade 2 winner Pomeroys Pistol, making her a half-sister to Los Alamitos Futurity winner Thousand Words.

Hip 88 was bred in Kentucky by Brereton C. Jones.

Bet Racing purchased the filly for $90,000 at last year's July Sale, where she was consigned by her breeder as Airdrie Stud.

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