Quality Road, Into Mischief Colts Top Strong Opening Session of Kentucky October Yearlings

The opening session of the 2024 Fasig-Tipton Kentucky October Yearlings sale, held Monday in Lexington, Kentucky, produced results similar to the corresponding session from 2023, with average, median, and RNA rate tracking well with the overall results from last year. A pair of colts by established sires sold for $350,000 each to tie for top billing during Monday’s session.

The first of these through the ring was a colt by Quality Road (hip 39), sold for $350,000 to Novogratz Racing Stables from the consignment of Brookdale, agent (video). The dark bay or brown colt is out of the Pioneerof the Nile mare Evocative, she a half-sister to eight winners, including Grade 2 winner Justwhistledixie, who went on to produce Grade 1 winner New Year’s Day, Grade 2 winner Mohaymen, and graded stakes winners Enforceable and Kingly.

A colt by perennial leading sire Into Mischief (hip 241) matched the session’s top price when sold for $350,000 to BSW/Crow, agent, from the consignment of Blake-Albina Thoroughbred Services, agent (video). The bay colt is out of the unraced Pulling Punches mare Indy Punch, making him a half-brother to six winners, including millionaire Grade 2 winner United (Giant’s Causeway), graded stakes winner Harlan Punch (Harlan’s Holiday), and stakes winner and producer Tensas Punch. Hip 241 was bred in Kentucky by Newtown Anner Stud Farm.

“It was a very good start to the 2024 Kentucky October Yearlings sale,” said Fasig-Tipton President Boyd Browning. “There was a tremendous crowd here today.”

Rounding out the top five hips of the session were:

• A colt from the second crop of McKinzie (hip 298), sold for $340,000 to Bradley Thoroughbreds, agent, from the consignment of Gainesway, agent. The bay colt is out of the winning Tizway mare Katz a Dream, she a half-sister to Grade 1 performer Mississippi and to the dams of seven stakes performers. Hip 298 was bred in Kentucky by Whisper Hill Farm.
• A filly by Speightstown (hip 102) sold for $300,000 to Chad Summers, agent, from the consignment of Hill ‘n’ Dale at Xalapa, agent. The gray or roan filly is out of the winning Rockport Harbor mare Froyo Star, she a half-sister to 10 other winners, including millionaire Grade 1 winner and stakes winner producer Sweet Reason and Grade 1 placed graded stakes winner Don’t Forget Gil. Hip 102 was bred in Kentucky by Cypress Creek Equine.
• A filly from the first crop of Charlatan (hip 344), sold for $300,000 to Charlie Allen from the consignment of Eaton Sales, agent. The bay filly is out Grade 1 placed multiple graded stakes winner Late Night Pow Wow, whose first foal is a two-time winner this year at 3. Hip 344 was bred in Kentucky by Breeze Easy.

“We’re dealing with a wide variety of horses in a wide variety of price ranges at this sale. It was a satisfactory day, with lots of good horses left in the pipeline for the remaining sessions.”

During the first session, 265 yearlings sold for $13,198,000. The session average was $49,804, up 3.7% compared to last year’s full sale average of $48,045. The median for the session was $20,000.

Full results are available online. The Kentucky October Yearlings sale resumes Tuesday, October 22, at 10 AM.