Trio of Medaglia d'Oro yearlings bring seven figures at Fasig-Tipton Saratoga

While yearlings from the first crop of Triple Crown winner American Pharoah highlighted the first session, Tuesday night's final session of the 2018 Fasig-Tipton Saratoga Sale was dominated by offspring of the Darley stallion Medaglia d'Oro, who accounted for all three of the seven-figure purchases.

Leading the way was Hip No. 196, a colt that sold for $1.35 million to West Point Thoroughbreds, Rob Masiello, Chris Larsen, and Siena Farms. Produced by stakes-winning Coco's Wildcat, by Wildcat Heir, the March 2 Kentucky-bred's female family has notably produced dual champion filly Songbird. The sale-topper was consigned by Taylor Made Sales Agency, agent.

Bringing $1.3 million from Phoenix Thoroughbred was Hip 204, a half-sister to 2016 Preakness (G1) winner Exaggerator, who also counted the Haskell Invitational (G1) and Santa Anita Derby (G1) among his five graded stakes wins. Produced by the stakes-placed Vindication mare Dawn Raid, herself a half-sister to Canadian champion Embur's Song, the March 7 Kentucky-bred was offered by Warrendale Sales, agent.

Sold to Lael Stable for an even $1 million was Hip 143, a filly out of the Distorted Humor mare Veracity, a half-sister to Grade 2 winner Yell. The latter, herself a daughter of noted broodmare Wild Applause, is the second dam of multiple Grade 1 winner and recent Delaware H. (G2) heroine Elate. The February 25 Kentucky-bred was consigned by Indian Creek, agent.

Across-the-board gains were realized at the second session. Tuesday night, 87 yearlings sold for $33,829,000, a rise of 18.4 percent over last year's corresponding session, when 81 horses sold for $28,570,000. The session average was up 10.2 percent, from $352,716 to $388,839, while the median was up 16.7 percent, from $300,000 to $350,000.

The two-day auction saw rises in gross and average while the median remained flat at $300,000. Receipts reached $62,794,000 from the sale of 170 yearlings, up 18.5 percent from the 2017 figure of $52,995,000 from the sale of 156 head. The average increased 8.7 percent, from $339,712 to $369,376.

Full results can be found at fasigtipton.com.