TIMONIUM, Md--The Fasig-Tipton Midlanic Yearling Sale, Sept. 30 and Oct. 1, concluded with an increase of 12 percent for the average price, which rose to $24,253 from $21,653 last year.

The sales topper, hip 237 Eleven yearlings by 11 different sires sold for six figures or more, and the sale topper was Hip 237, a colt from the second crop of Freshman Sire Honor Code, which sold for $190,000.

 "It was a really good sale," said Marshall Silverman of New Freedom, Pa., who, as agent, was one of the largest consignors at the sale. "It was stronger the first day, but it drew a pretty good crowd."

One of the yearlings that he sold was a half-bother to stakes winner Call Paul, bred by Beezie Paterston and Vicky Schowe, that brought $55,000.

"He's a nice horse," said Silverman of the colt, hip number 22 by Bullsbay out of Avani Force. "He's a good mover."

"It's the same old market," said Silveman, referring to the fact that the horses with the best combination of pedigree and conformation brought the highest prices. "It's not that the other horses are bad horses. A lot of those lesser priced horses are still going to be good race horses."

 

"THE PA-BRED and Md-bred breeding programs are showing good progress," said Silverman. "A nice horse might bring a fair amount of money, but if he's a Pa-bred or a Md-bred that will add money to what he sells for."

Silverman as agent had 13 Pa-breds, including hip number 150, a colt by Jump Start out of Gritty Gal that sold for $130,000.

Overall, 45 Pa-breds sold for an average of $23,600.

"It was an interesting sale said Cynthia McGinnes whose Thornmar Farm of Chestertown, Md., sold 16 yearlings for a total of $405,000 for an average of a little over $25,312.

"We're seeing results for the Pa-bred and Md-bred breeding programs," said McGinnes. "The sales are better for Pa-breds and Md-breds. Trainers in Maryland are buying from Maryland breeders to get the awards."

"I'd rather sell a horse that's going to a Maryland trainer for $15,000 and reap the Breeder's Awards for the next few years than sell a horse out of state for $25,000," McGinnes said. "I was thrilled that we sold 12 of our 16 horses to Maryland trainers."

"What Maryland and Pennsylvania are doing is great," she said. "Horses by Pennsylvania stallions are bringing more money. And we're getting more good stallions coming to stand in Maryland."

Overall, 300 yearlings changed hands for a total of $7,275,900, slightly down from when 338 sold last year for $7,318,700 out of a larger catalogue.

The average rose 12 percent to $24,253 from $21,653 last year, while the median was $14,000.

The RNA rate was 21 percent.

Eleven yearlings sold for $100,000 or more, up from 10 sold at or above that figure last year.

Sales of $50,000 or more rose 30 percent to 44 yearlings from 34 in 2018.

The sales topper, a bay colt, was purchased by Tim Hills, agent for Seagull Capital from the consignment of Bill Reightler, agent.

Hip 237 is out of the winning Citidancer mare Mrs. Vanderbilt, making him a half-brother to five winners, including G2 Delaware Oaks winner Dancing Afleet and multiple stakes winner Tujoes.

The sale topper was bred in Kentucky by Barbara Brown.