Curlin Colt Takes the Lead at Kentucky October Yearlings

The second session of the 2024 Fasig-Tipton Kentucky October Yearlings sale was held Tuesday in Lexington, Kentucky, producing results that continued to track well in comparison to the 2023 edition of the sale. The average rose nearly 11% over the sale’s Monday session average and currently tracks approximately 10% higher than last year’s full-sale average.

A colt by Curlin (hip 801) topped the session when sold for $550,000 to Alistair Roden, agent for Mark Breen, from the consignment of Taylor Made Sales Agency, agent for Stonestreet Bred & Raised (video). The bay colt is out of the winning Harlan’s Holiday mare Sass and Class, whose two winners to date include Grade 2 winner and multiple graded stakes winner Royal Charlotte (Cairo Prince). Hip 801 was bred in Kentucky by Stonestreet Thoroughbred Holdings.

The $550,000 purchase is currently the highest price of the sale.

“It was a tremendous second session,” said Fasig-Tipton President Boyd Browning. “There was really spirited bidding from the very beginning of the (session) to the very end of the (session).”

Other top hips from the session included:

• A colt from the second crop of Vekoma (hip 510), sold for $360,000 to Ryder Finney, agent for Woodford Thoroughbreds, from the consignment of Machmer Hall Sales, agent for HREH Raised at Springhill Equine (video). Out of the Arch mare Monarchia, the bay colt is a half-brother to three winners, including stakes winner Unifying (Union Rags). Hip 510 was bred in Kentucky by Haymarket Farm.
• A Tapit filly (hip 492), sold for $350,000 to DJ Stable, Kim Valerio, agent, from the consignment of Gainesway, agent. The bay filly is the first foal out of Miss Jessica J (Empire Maker), a half-sister to six winners, including champion juvenile filly Jaywalk and stakes winner Danzatrice who, in turn, produced Grade 1 winner Tapit Trice. Hip 492 was bred in Kentucky by Al Shira’aa Racing Limited & Gainesway Thoroughbreds Ltd.
• A Constitution filly (hip 620), sold for $350,000 to Red White and Blue from the consignment of Woods Edge Farm, agent. The bay filly is the first foal out of the stakes placed Super Saver mare Panthera Onca, a half-sister to two stakes winners and to the dam of Grade 1 winner Mo Town. Hip 620 was bred in Kentucky by Narola LLC.
• A Tapit colt (hip 757), sold for $350,000 to Becky Thomas, agent for Chester Broman, from the consignment of Gainesway, agent. The gray or roan colt is out of Canadian champion River Maid (Where’s the Ring), already the dam of Grade 1 stakes placed winner Cocktail Moments (Uncle Mo). Hip 757 was bred in Kentucky by Mark Stansell & Tapit Syndicate.
• An Uncle Mo colt (hip 769), sold for $350,000 to Stonebridge Farm from the consignment of Vinery Sales, agent. The bay colt is out of Roughing (Eskendereya), herself a half-sister to Grade 1 winner Diplomat Lady and to Grade 2 winner Dream Play who, in turn, produced Group 2 winner Zulu Land. Roughing is already the dam of three winners, including this colt’s full brother, graded stakes winner Mo Mosa.

“We’re really delighted with the look and the feel and the energy that’s on the grounds,” added Browning. “We’ve got two more days to go, but we’re very pleased halfway through the sale.”

Through two sessions, 544 yearlings have sold for $28,753,000. The running average for those session is $52,855, up 10% over last year’s four-session average of $48,045. The median held steady at $20,000. The RNA rate through the first two sessions was 21.1%.

Full results are available online. The Kentucky October Yearlings sale resumes Wednesday, October 23, at 10 AM.