Led by an impressive looking son of Storm Cat, which fetched a final bid of $2 million, the 2008 Fasig-Tipton Saratoga select yearling sale, held Aug. 4-5 at the Humphrey S. Finney Pavilion in Saratoga Springs, N.Y., saw an increase in average, while the median held steady and the gross took a slight slip compared to last year’s figures.

“We came in here hopeful that we would equal last year with the economy and different things going on in the world, and I didn’t know if it was attainable, but I am tickled to death that it was,” said Walt Robertson, president of Fasig-Tipton. “By the middle of the sale tonight, this thing was a lot of fun. Of course the sale topper was in that group, but it was still a lot of fun.”

Fasig-Tipton reported 122 horses sold for $36,080,000. The average was $295,738, and the median $227,500 The buy-back rate was 26%.

Compared to last year, the number of horses sold decreased 14.1% and the gross fell 12%. The average increased 2.2% and the median remained even with last year.

“We’ve seen in July (Kentucky sale), the upper part of the market did well,” Robertson said when explaining why the upper level of the market has remained healthy despite a downturn in the economy. “There was still plenty of market for the right horse and when you add pedigree in, it was electric here.”

Last year, 142 horses sold for $41,082,000, to average $289,310. The median was $227,500. The buy-back rate was 24.5% (46 horses not sold).

The sale-topping son of Storm Cat was purchased by Michael Vincent Magnier of Coolmore Stud from the consignment of Ben Walden’s Gracefield and represented the Kentucky-based breeder and consignor’s lone Saratoga offering. He was bred in Kentucky by the partnership of Walden, Philip Steinberg, and Racehorse Management.

“The lads thought he was a very good horse, and we have supported Storm Cat for a very long time. He has been a sire of sires over here and in Europe for a long time,” said Magnier, who added it was too early to determine whether the colt would remain in the United States or would be sent to Europe. “We just loved the horse and he has a fantastic pedigree.”

The colt was produced from the stakes winning Mr. Prospector mare Get Lucky and is a half-brother to grade II winner Daydreaming, grade III winner Accelerator, and stakes winner Harborage. He is also from the family of grade I winner Bluegrass Cat.

Walden and Steinberg purchased the Phipps family-bred Get Lucky, in foal to Monarchos, for $300,000 at the 2002 Keeneland November mixed sale from the consignment of Claiborne Farm, agent. Walden and Steinberg still own Get Lucky, who has a 2-year-old A.P. Indy colt, owned by Darley that is currently in training at Saratoga with Kiaran McLaughlin. She produced a full brother to the sale topper this year and is not in foal for 2009.

When asked why he chose to bring the colt to Saratoga instead of waiting for the Keeneland September yearling sale, Walden said, “I just felt he had a special quality, and there are a lot of nice horses that go to the September sale. I just thought he had a chance to shine up here.”

Walden said the colt has always been a standout. “He was an absolute star the way he handled things,” Walden said. “He was really a pure Storm Cat from day one and he has really evolved into a bigger Storm Cat. He looks so much like his sire and he is a true Storm Cat without some of the disposition issues.”

For the session, the 62 horses sold grossed $17,920,000, to average $289,032. The median was $227,500 and the buy-back rate was 22%. During the second and final session of the 2007 sale, 66 horses sold for $21,215,000. The average was $321,439 and the median was $235,000.

In addition to the sale-topper, trainer Nick Zito went to $750,000 to secure a son of Mr. Greeley for Robert LaPenta’s Whitehorse Stable. The dark bay or brown colt was consigned by Eaton Sales, agent.

Olin Gentry originally purchased the colt for $350,000 at the 2007 Keeneland November mixed sale.
(Source: The Blood-Horse)