Fasig-Tipton KY October Yearlings Sale Smashes Records

The Fasig-Tipton Kentucky October Yearlings Sale concluded Oct. 23, breaking records across all metrics while bringing the 2025 yearling sales season to a close. A total of 1,097 yearlings changed hands for a gross of $71,843,500, including private sales, smashing the previous record of $58,940,500 set in 2024 by 22%. The average price of $65,491 also broke last year's record of $52,392, showing an increase of 25%. A strong median of $30,000 broke the previous record of $25,000 set in 2022, and was up 50% on last year's median of $20,000. An 18% RNA rate represented the 240 horses who failed to meet their reserve. "Certainly, the top of the market was very strong, but there was tremendous participation, a dramatic increase in the average, a dramatic increase in the median, and a dramatic increase in the gross," said Fasig-Tipton president and CEO Boyd Browning Jr. "It's a nice way to cap off the 2025 yearling sales season with a record-breaking sale by a large margin, and all metrics as well. It's been a pretty significant increase if you chart the growth of this sale over the last 10-15 years, and we're thrilled. It has solidified its place on the calendar as an important sale for both buyers and sellers alike." Seven horses sold for $500,000 or more during the four-day sale. "It's very rewarding, very encouraging, to the breeders to be able to come to this sale, and have outstanding results," Browning said. "We're very appreciative of the support of both buyers and sellers alike. We expect the sale to continue to produce top-quality racehorses around the world, and if that happens, we'll continue to see continued growth and continued interest in the sale." The top buyer of the sale was Kenny McPeek, who purchased 19 horses for $2,799,000. Taylor Made Sales led the consignors, selling 125 from 148 offered, for a total of $7,808,000. A filly (Hip 1542) by leading freshman sire Yaupon topped the final session of the October Yearlings Sale, selling to Dixiana Farms for $400,000. "Physically, we thought she was one of the standouts for a filly in the sale," said Dixiana's farm manager Robert Tillyer. "And, obviously, the half brother (Reb Five) just won really impressively. (Trainer) Mark Casse ran him in a stakes in his first start, so he thinks a lot of him. He (Reb Five) came back and won. We hope he goes on and gets some black-type. Long term, we're thinking a broodmare." Her half brother Reb Five, by Vekoma, broke his maiden Oct. 19 by five lengths at Woodbine. Hip 1542 is the second foal of the Palace Malice mare Ill Will, who is a half sister to grade 1-placed Indian Gracey. She was bred and consigned by Stone Riggs Farm. Tillyer said he expected the price for the Yaupon filly to be strong. "She (Hip 1542) just had a beautiful frame, and she was very, very popular. She showed a lot. And every time we saw her, she was just very consistent. She seemed like she was very, very classy, and she moved very well." Dixiana Farms bought two other fillies during the sale—Hip 394, by Not This Time, for $260,000, and Hip 972, by Nyquist, for $300,000. The top-priced colt (Hip 1576) of the fourth session went to McPeek. The colt by Army Mule was bred by Hill 'n' Dale Equine Holdings, out of the Harlan's Holiday mare J La Tache, a daughter of 2008 Miss Preakness Stakes (G3) winner Palanka City. Hip 1576 was consigned by Blake-Albina Thoroughbred Services, agent. Three colts brought $350,000, two of them by Tapit—Hips 1435 and 1549—sold to McPeek and Brollic Racing, respectively. Both were from the Gainesway consignment. Hip 1449, a colt by Justify, sold to Novogratz Racing Stable. "Actually, for a Tapit, he (Hip 1435) looked more like a Ghostzapper," McPeek said. "I'm a big fan of Deputy Minister, and he was inbred Deputy Minister on the bottom line. I'm a huge fan of Deputy Minister. I could give you a list of horses that I've handled that have a lot of Deputy Minister in them, and the Tapit's just a bonus." McPeek said he thought the $350,000 price tag was very reasonable. "It's been very tough in some spots," McPeek said of the market. "We're aggregating as many young horses as we can right now, because, historically, I don't work the 2-year-old sales, so we've been trying to get our work done now. We've got a lot of really great clients that we'll be able to put these in front of. This colt (Hip 1435) in particular is probably going to a partnership between a few different guys. "There's some horses you really had to pay for, that you thought might bring a little more value, and there's horses that we feel like we stole." Fasig-Tipton will now set its sights on its November Sale Nov. 3 in Lexington. The boutique breeding stock sale will be held the Monday after the Breeders' Cup World Championships in Del Mar. "We've seen a very, very strong yearling marketplace this year. The trends that made a positive yearling sale should continue through the November Sale," Browning said.