By Sarah Mace
New York-breds made a strong showing at the 2024 Fasig-Tipton Kentucky Winter Mixed Sale, which was held on Monday and Tuesday, February 5 and 6, in Lexington, Kentucky. Boosted by the dispersal of Lothenbach Stables’ breeding stock and yearlings, and anchored by three seven-figure horses, this last mixed sale before the start of the breeding season posted record highs for gross, average and median.
Against this competitive backdrop, the New York-bred median price of $21,500 outperformed the overall sale median of $17,000. The New York-bred topper was a Maxfield colt who brought $240,000 near the end of the opening session.
Buyers were obviously selective about their Empire State-breds overall. In all, 24 New York-breds sold of 36 offered, for a 33.3% RNA rate, greater than the sale’s buyback percentage of 14%. That said, along with the superior median price, New Yorkers also posted a robust $51,000 average price. The sale average for 2024 was $58,298, but a more instructive comparison is the 2023 average, which came in at $35,088.
The New York-bred topper was Hip 293, a dark bay or brown colt from the first crop of Maxfield who sports a wealth of black type through four generations, buttressed by some recent catalogue updates. Co-bred by Chesapeake Farm, Rockridge Stud et al. and foaled at Rockridge Stud on May 7, 2023, the youngster was purchased by Stony Pointe Bloodstock for $240,000 from the Vinery consignment. Virtual inspection.
The colt is the third foal out of Wajeeha, an unplaced runner by Medaglia d’Oro whose lone starter recently placed after two starts as a juvenile. Wajeeha is out of a winner and is a half-sister to three winners, including stakes winner Zainhom. The colt’s third dam Onaga produced multiple Grade 1 winner and sire Aragorn (IRE). His fourth dam is graded winner and multiple graded stakes producer Savannah Dancer. Wajeeha was purchased by Crown Chase, Chesapeake, Rockridge et al. at last year’s F-T Kentucky Mixed Sale for $90,000. Wajeeha was bred in 2023 to Mind Control.
The top-selling New York-bred in Wednesday’s second session was Hip 314 by Medaglia d’Oro, another dark bay or brown colt. A half-brother to a graded stakes performer, the youngster was purchased by Calumet Farm for $190,000 from Stuart Morris, Agent III. Virtual inspection.
Bred by Cypress Creek Equine and foaled at Sequel Stallions on May 14, 2023, the Medaglia d’Oro colt is out of a productive mare with a deep pedigree. His dam Acting Class is an unplaced daughter of Distorted Humor who has produced five winners from six foals to race. Leading her offspring are Grade 2 stakes performer Classy Act, an earner of over $320,000, and multiple stakes performer Gold Lightning. Acting Class last changed hands when purchased by Bluewater for $180,000 at the 2020 Keeneland November Sale. She is presumed in foal to Keepmeinmind.
The colt’s second dam has produced a stakes performer and is a half-sister to juvenile filly champion Tempera and group winner Equerry. His third dam Color Chart was a group winner as well. Fourth dam Rainbow Connection was a Sovereign Award winner at two and three.
The top New York-bred female to sell during the two-day auction was Les Bon Temps (Hip 420), who sold as a broodmare prospect to Todd Frederick from Four Star Sales for $160,000. A daughter of Laoban, Les Bon Temps won the Maid of the Mist Stakes and a division of the New York Stallion Stakes Series as a juvenile. At three she went on to collect an additional New York Stallion Stakes victory and additional stakes placings, earning $610,010 before graduating to broodmare duty. Les Bon Temps’ dam Winsanity has produced another stakes performer and is a half-sister to stakes winner Ready Signal. Her second dam, Marwood, is a stakes winner and fourth dam Wood So is a graded winner and prolific producer.
With the mixed sales in the books and breeding season about to get in full swing, the attention of the Thoroughbred bloodstock market will turn to juvenile sales. Next up is OBS March on March 12-14, where New York-breds have historically enjoyed great success. Click here for a listing of New York-bred hips with registration statuses.
