By Jessica Martini
Action returns to the Humphrey S. Finney Pavilion Saturday evening with the first session of the Fasig-Tipton New York-bred Yearlings Sale in Saratoga. A total of 305 yearlings have been catalogued for the two-day auction.
With a robust breeders rewards program and slots-infused purses in the state, the New York-bred program has blossomed in recent years and that development is reflected in the offerings in this year's sale.
“The book is really good–the sire power in the catalogue is really good,” said Francis Vanlangendonck, whose Summerfield consigned last year's $350,000 sale-topping filly by Tiznow.
“Over the last 10 years, the quality here has gotten better and better,” he continued. “The prepping of the horses, the New York breeders have gotten more educated on how the horse should look at the sale. I think since the first time I came here in maybe 1977, they have progressed immensely.”
Vanlangendonck, who offers a half-sister by Curlin to last year's topper said action was brisk at the sales barns Friday.
“We've showed a world today,” he said. “It's been very busy. A lot of people want to come and see these New York-breds. The breeding awards and the owners awards are tremendous. There have been a lot of trainers, end-users and a lot of pinhookers–it's been across the board. Basically, almost the same crowd we had for the first [select] sale. I think it's going to be a good sale.”
Lane's End's Sales Director Allaire Ryan agreed the New York sale has progressed significantly in recent years.
“I think the sale has changed a lot over the years,” said Ryan. “You see more Kentucky-sired yearlings here which gives it a lot of depth. And you see horses who are better physicals now than maybe five or 10 years ago. So people are putting in the effort to bring the right kind of product to the sale.”
The Lane's End draft features yearlings by The Factor, Union Rags and More Than Ready.
“We have put some effort into bringing horses here who were physically forward and able to stand up to the scrutiny and hopefully have some appeal for not just end-users and trainers, but pinhookers and everyone who is here,” Ryan added.
The two-day auction follows on the heels of Fasig-Tipton's Saratoga Select Sale, which produced steady results over two days at the beginning of the week, and consignors are expecting more of the same when bidding begins again Saturday evening.
“I think in this market, you've got to have a good horse who vets,” said Craig Bandoroff, whose Denali Stud has catalogued 17 yearlings to the New York sale. “That's not going to change now, it's not going to change in September. It's a good market, but like I said the other night, they are bidding with restraint. They are being careful. I think the nice horses in this sale will do fine, but the ones that aren't up to standard are going to have a hard time.”
Of this year's New York catalogue, Bandoroff added, “A lot of them are by Kentucky stallions and they come back here [to New York] and there is going to be increased demand for the right ones. They aren't here looking for Finger Lakes horses. They are here looking for NYRA horses. So the ones that they look at and think can be competitive on that circuit I think will do well.”
Paramount Sales' Pat Costello sees reasons to be positive as the New York sale opens.
“New York-breds are running well and the pots are good,” Costello said. “The first sale opened up not too bad. There are stronger sires coming in and this sale is definitely getting stronger throughout.”
During last year's New York sale, 182 horses sold for $14,876,500. With results largely in line with the 2014 renewal, the average was $81,739 and the median was $65,000.
Bidding gets underway Saturday at 6:30 p.m and the sale concludes with a Sunday evening session also starting at 6:30 p.m.
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