by David Carr

Lexington, KY — The Lexington Selected Sale Company kicked off its yearling sale with an encouraging first session on Wednesday night (Oct. 7). A total of 104 yearlings passed through the sale ring, selling for an average of $78,125, with 25 reaching the $100,000 level.

USTA/Mark Hall photo

Ultimo Dolce was the Wednesday sale topper at $270,000.

Trotters dominated among the elite youngsters, with 15 hitting the $100,000 mark. Of the seven yearlings to sell for at least $200,000, five were trotters, including the top trio. The sale topper was Ultimo Dolce, a Glidemaster colt out of Pizza Dolce, the dam of last year’s price leader in Lexington. Blair Burgess, who trained 2006 Horse of the Year Glidemaster, signed the $270,000 slip for Ultimo Dolce, who was consigned by Hunterton Sales Agency.

The leading pacer, and top filly, in Wednesday’s session was Someheartsomewhere, by Mach Three out of Wheres The Beach. John Carver and Ron Michelon partnered to acquire this full sister to 2008 Horse of the Year Somebeachsomewhere for $210,000 from the Spring Haven consignment.

The fascination with first crop sires was again evident this year, as each of the sires making their debut in Wednesday’s session, Glidemaster, Chocolatier, and American Ideal, had a yearling sell for at least $200,000. Chocolatier had a sweet sale, with nine foals selling in the first session, averaging $95,000. He had two surpass $100,000, including sale runner-up Marquis Lindy, hammered down for $250,000. Tony Alagna cast the winning bid for this first foal colt out of Classic N Lindy, a half sister to the outstanding trio of Cayster, Giant Hit, and Program Speed.

American Ideal had a single yearling in the opening session, making the most of that opportunity. Lexarts, the first foal out of Art’s Temptress, a stakes winner of more than $380,000, sold for $200,000. Tony Alagna was the winning bidder for this Brittany Farms-bred colt.

Alagna was not the only buyer of two $100,000 yearlings. The ranks included John Carver, Dustin Jones, Greg Peck, and Adam Victor & Son. Peck, currently top of the hill with likely Horse of the Year Muscle Hill, hope to dominate both gaits next year, signing for pricey colts by Rocknroll Hanover and Yankee Glide.

Just as Blair Burgess was drawn to a foal by former pupil Glidemaster, other buyers returned to families that provided them with great success. Jimmy Takter signed for Flirt With Fortune, a full sister to a pair of former Takter trainees, including most notably Ken Warkentin. Anderson Farms had the final bid for Southwind Amiga, a filly out of a half sister to Southwind Allaire, a great filly that had been owned during her racing career by Bob Anderson.

Although most of the excitement and attention belonged to the elite yearlings selling for big prices, sale management was also heartened by the other end of the market, noting that only two yearlings sold for less than $20,000, compared to six a year ago.

Overall, although the average price represented a decline of about 13 percent compared to last year’s record-setting opening session, management stated that the sale had gotten off to a good start under far less favorable economic conditions than a year ago.

The Lexington Selected Yearling Sale continues through Sunday at the Fasig-Tipton sale arena.

First Session Averages
Gait-Sex-Number Sold-Ave. Price-$100K
Pace-Colts-25-$89,440-9
Pace-Fillies-22-$61,273-1
Trot-Colts-34-$78,559-9
Trot-Fillies-23-$81,304-6
All-104-$78,125-25

Sale leaders
Yearling-Sire-Dam-Gait-Sex-Price-Buyer
Ultimo Dolce-Glidemaster-Pizza Dolce-T-C-$270,000-Blair Burgess
Marquis Lindy-Chocolatier-Classic N Lindy-T-C-$250,000-Tony Alagna
Manofmanymissions-Yankee Glide-Armbro Vanquish-T-C-$215,000-John Carver
Someheartsomewhere-Mach Three-Wheres The Beach-P-F-$210,000-John Carver & Ron Michelon
Lexarts-American Ideal-Art’s Temptress-P-C-$200,000-Tony Alagna
Flirt With Fortune-Yankee Glide-Jambo-T-F-$200,000-Jimmy Takter
Angelina Chip-Andover Hall-My Favorite Chip-T-F-$200,000-Per Henriksen
Magnus Deo-Rocknroll Hanover-Little Miss K-P-C-$180,000-Josh Green
Southwind Amiga-Chocolatier-Southwind Agnes-T-F-$180,000-Anderson Farms
Legendofthefalls-Yankee Glide-Armbro Niagara-T-C-$175,000-Greg Peck