Lexington, KY — Trotting filly Exile, a daughter of Walner out of Swan Hot Mama, brought the top price at Tuesday’s opening session of the Lexington Selected Yearling Sale, going for $800,000 to Nancy Takter on a record-setting night at the Fasig-Tipton Sales Pavilion.

The winning bid for Exile established the record for a filly sold at auction. USTA/Mark Hall photo.

The winning bid for Exile established the record for a filly sold at auction, surpassing the $725,000 spent for Kadena during last year’s opening session of the Lexington sale. Kadena, now named Jaya Bae, won her career debut for trainer Marcus Melander in 1:54.2 on Saturday in a conditioned race at Red Mile. Jaya Bae also is a daughter of Walner, out of Mission Brief.

Overall Tuesday, the sale established records for both gross and average. A total of 115 horses sold for $18.5 million and $161,217 average, bettering the marks of $18.2 million and $154,288 for 118 horses in 2019, when Maverick and Damien became the first yearlings in history to reach $1 million.

In 2020, the gross was $15.2 million and the average was $129,127 for 118 horses. This year’s figures represent increases of 21.7 percent in gross and 24.8 percent in average.

Exile was one of 11 yearlings to sell for at least $400,000 on Tuesday. An additional five sold for at least $300,000.

Last year, five yearlings sold for at least $400,000 — led by Kadena/Jaya Bae — and another four yearlings sold for at least $300,000. Tuesday’s numbers also exceeded the previous record-setting opening session in 2019, when seven yearlings reached at least $400,000 and two more topped $300,000.

The New Jersey and Kentucky eligible Exile is a three-quarter sister to Grand Circuit winner Repentance and a half-sister to Altar, the 2020 New Jersey Sire Stakes champion and a 1:50.3 winner in a division of the Bluegrass Stakes on Sunday at Red Mile.

Takter, who trains the Muscle Hill-sired Altar, said Exile’s ownership group was yet to be determined.

“I wish it was a lot less; I wish it was $80,000,” Takter said with a laugh about Exile’s price. “I was expecting ($800,000). That was kind of my limit. Physically, she’s beautiful. She looks actually a lot like Altar, although she’s a Walner instead of Muscle Hill. She’s beautiful.”

Exile was bred and consigned by Diamond Creek Farm.

Takter also signed for the sixth-highest seller Tuesday, purchasing Cypress Hanover, a trotting colt by Muscle Hill out of Cedar Dove, for $475,000. His mom was a Dan Patch Award winner and his full sister When Dovescry captured the 2019 Hambletonian Oaks on her way to Dan Patch honors. She recently won the Miss Versatility Series final and Armbro Flight Stakes.

The New Jersey and Kentucky eligible colt was bred and consigned by Hanover Shoe Farms. Takter said Cypress Hanover’s ownership group would be SRF Stable, Brixton Medical, Caviart Farms, and Howard Taylor.

“He had a great video and is a really nice individual,” Takter said. “Obviously, the pedigree speaks for itself.

“I think good individuals are selling well, which they should. People are paying well for dual eligible horses, which they should too because that’s where you have an opportunity to make additional money.”

Second on the best seller’s list at $750,000 was Mandrill, a trotting filly by Chapter Seven out of Steamy Windows. USTA/Mark Hall photo.

Second on the best seller’s list at $750,000 was Mandrill, a trotting filly by Chapter Seven out of Steamy Windows, making her a full sister to multiple Dan Patch Award winner Gimpanzee and two-time New York Sire Stakes champion Iteration.

Marcus Melander, who trained Gimpanzee and trains Iteration, signed the ticket for Mandrill for owner SRF Stable. Mandrill, New York and New Jersey Standardbred Development Fund eligible, was bred by Order By Stable and consigned by Concord Stud Farm.

“Lennart (Agren of SRF Stable) was very excited about her,” Melander said. “She’s a great-looking filly. I’m very happy to get her home. We knew she was going to be expensive, but we think she’s worth it. She is probably a little bigger than (Gimpanzee) was as a yearling. She’s a gorgeous filly. It’s always a risk buying these expensive horses, but she looks great, she’s got a great pedigree, she looked good on the video, so I’m very excited about her.”

Earthquake Bi was purchased for $620,000 by Ken Jacobs. USTA/Mark Hall photo.

The third highest seller was Earthquake Bi, a colt by Walner out of Dream Child, who was purchased for $620,000 by Ken Jacobs. The New Jersey and Kentucky eligible trotter is a half-brother to Grand Circuit winner You Ato Dream. He was bred by M Biasuzzi Stable and consigned by Hunterton Sales Agency.

“The video sold me on him, as long as the conformation was there when I came down to see him,” Jacobs said. “But the video was outstanding. And when I came down to see him, I was going to take him home. He was perfect. He was all I could ask for. I knew I was going to have to pay a lot for him.”

Two trotters sold for $500,000 each, colt Detroit City and filly Cyberspace.

Detroit City, by Muscle Hill out of Danae, was purchased by Robert Lindstrom. He is a full brother to Grand Circuit winner Dream Together and Propulsion, who won races in the U.S. and Europe. He is a half-brother to Grand Circuit winner D’Orsay. Detroit City, bred by Fredericka Caldwell and Bluestone Farms, is New Jersey and Kentucky eligible. He was consigned by Cane Run Farm.

Cyberspace, by Walner out of Southwind Serena, was purchased by Buckstone LLC. She is a half-sister to multiple Dan Patch Award winner Mission Brief and Breeders Crown champion Tactical Landing. She was bred by Steve Stewart, Black Creek Farm, and Andrea Lea Racingstables and consigned by Hunterton Sales Agency. She is New Jersey and Kentucky eligible.

The top-selling pacer was Seashell, a filly by Captaintreacherous out of Aria Hanover, who sold for $450,000 to Tony Alagna. She is a full sister to Grand Circuit winners Blue Diamond Eyes, who topped the $1 million mark on Sunday, and Captain Kirk. Her family also includes O’Brien Award winner Caviart Ally and Breeders Crown champion All Speed Hanover.

The Pennsylvania and Kentucky eligible filly was bred and consigned by Brittany Farms.

For complete results from the opening session, visit the Lexington Selected Yearling Sale website here.

— Gordon Waterstone also contributed to this story