‘Quality’ Shines at The Saratoga Sale

Monday, August 7, 2023
hip 77
Fasig-Tipton Photo

The 102nd Saratoga Sale opened Monday evening at the Humprey S. Finney Pavilion in Saratoga Springs, New York, with a spirited session that produced numbers on par with last year’s record-breaking renewal.

Elliott/McElroy, agent for Amo Racing, went to $1,100,000 to secure the session topper, a colt by Quality Road (Hip 77) from the consignment of Gainesway, agent for Stonestreet Bred & Raised (video). By the sire of this year’s Preakness S. (G1) winning Saratoga Sale graduate National Treasure, Hip 77 is out of the graded stakes winning Henny Hughes mare I’m a Looker. The bay colt hails from the immediate family of Eclipse Champion Lakeville Miss and Grade 1 winners Dortmund and Mogambo. Hip 77 was bred in Kentucky by Stonestreet Thoroughbred Holdings.

“It was a tremendous start to the 2023 Saratoga yearling sale,” said Fasig-Tipton President Boyd Browning. “The numbers are essentially on par with last year’s opening session, which was a remarkable, even historic evening.”

The session’s top filly was a daughter of Curlin (Hip 87) sold for $1,050,000 to David Lanigan, agent for Cindy Heider (Heider Family Stables), from the consignment of Denali Stud, agent (video). The chestnut filly is the first foal out of the graded stakes winning Justin Phillip mare Lady T N T. Hip 87 was bred in Kentucky by Scott and Evan Dilworth.

Rounding out the sessions top five prices were:

  • Hip 118, a Constitution filly sold for $900,000 to Mick Wallace for Rocket Ship Racing/Ghandarvi from the consignment of Hunter Valley Farm, agent. The dark bay or brown filly is a half-sister to three winners out of the Borrego mare Nina Fever, including Frizette S. (G1) winner Nickname (Scat Daddy). Hip 118 was bred in Kentucky by Newstead Corp.
  • Hip 56, a colt from the first crop of Authentic sold for $875,000 to Donato Lanni, agent for SF/Starlight/Madaket, from the consignment of Four Star Sales, agent for Spendthrift Farm. The chestnut colt is out of the graded stakes placed Quality Road mare Golden Domer, from the immediate family of Kentucky Derby (G1) winner Mine That Bird and Grade 1 winners Bolo and Dullahan. Hip 56 was bred in Kentucky by Spendthrift Farm.
  • Hip 33, a Gun Runner filly sold for $850,000 to Lauren Carlisle, agent, from the consignment of Gainesway, agent. The bay filly is a full sister to a winner in Scarlet Stripe, out of the Grade 2 placed Divine Park mare Divine Dawn, herself a full sister to Grade 2 winner Divine Miss Grey. Hip 33 was bred in Kentucky by International Equities Holding, Inc.
  • Hip 103, a colt by Justify sold for $850,000 to West Bloodstock, agent for Robert and Lawana Low, from the consignment of Bluewater Sales, agent. The chestnut colt is a half-brother to three winners out of the winning Stormy Atlantic mare Marketplace, including stakes winner Dreamer’s Disease (Laoban). Hip 103 was bred in Kentucky by Cypress Creek Equine LLC.
  • Hip 106, an Into Mischief colt sold for $850,000 to BC Stables LLC from the consignment of Mulholland Springs, agent. The bay colt is the first foal out of the Grade 2 placed Malibu Moon mare Meal Ticket, from the immediate family of Grade 1 winner Try Something New. Hip 106 was bred in Kentucky by Mulholland Springs LLC and Tom Grether Farms, Inc.


“I’m ecstatic with the first night,” added Browning. “I can’t wait to start selling again tomorrow… I feel confident it’ll be a strong second half tomorrow. We’ve got another really good group of horses.


During the session, 74 yearlings sold for $30,785,000, a 6.4% increase over last year’s first-session gross when 69 sold for $28,930,000. The average was $416,014, just below the comparable session average of $419,275 in 2022. The median held steady at $350,000.

Results are available online. The Saratoga Sale resumes Tuesday, August 8 at 6:30pm ET.