Ten years ago, a filly who got into The Saratoga Sale more as a favor than for her pedigree or looks went through the Fasig-Tipton sales ring without a reserve. She was out of a mare with an insignificant race record, by a decent sire standing for $40,000, but her strong-willed breeder insisted that Saratoga was where she be sold.
“It was like bringing a 13-year-old, immature girl,” says consignor John Stuart of Bluegrass Thoroughbred Services.
The filly would not stand still on the few occasions that she was brought out of her stall to be shown. She had obvious sesamoiditis, and no potential buyers were interested enough to scope her. When she went for $40,000—the lowest-priced yearling of the 2013 select session—the buyer was a small pinhooking group led by one of the bid spotters.
That filly would be named Stellar Wind , and she would go on to win six grade 1s and earn more than $2.9 million. The stallion, Curlin , caught on, to say the least, and now stands for an advertised fee of $225,000. The breeder was Peggy Augustus, who died last week at 90.
READ: Lifelong Horsewoman Augustus Dies at 90
Stellar Wind is just one recent graduate of The Saratoga Sale to develop into a millionaire race mare or even a Hall of Famer. Other instantly recognizable names include Songbird , a new Hall of Fame inductee, as well as Tepin , Rushing Fall , Stellar Jayne , and Plum Pretty . While none were as affordable as Stellar Wind, plenty of them were available for below the sales averages. And the ones that weren’t obvious made their sale prices seem like bargains after delivering not only huge monetary rewards but priceless moments in racing history.
Tepin went for $140,000 in 2012 and ended up with six grade/group 1 wins on two continents, including at the Breeders’ Cup and Royal Ascot. The daughter of Bernstein was a two-time Champion Grass Mare (2015 and 2016), amassed $4,437,918 in earnings, and later sold for $8 million. She is now in the Hall of Fame.
Tepin in the post parade for the 2016 Breeders’ Cup Mile
Songbird sold for $400,000 in 2014 at Saratoga and went on to win 13 of 15 with two seconds, one of which was a legendary throwdown with another future Hall of Famer Beholder in the 2016 Breeders’ Cup Distaff (G1). The Medaglia d’Oro filly earned $4,692,000 on track before being sold to Mandy Pope for $9.5 million.
Rushing Fall was purchased there for $320,000 before a racing career with 11 wins from 15 starts, including six grade 1 victories. The 2020 Champion Turf Female then sold as a broodmare prospect for $5.5 million.
Rushing Fall at the 2020 Fasig-Tipton November Sale
Stellar Jayne was pinhooked to The Saratoga Sale for just a $20,000 increase from what she brought the November prior, $150,000 to $170,000. The Wild Rush filly’s three grade 1 wins helped her secure earnings of more than $1.5 million before being sold for $3.6 million.
Plum Pretty, meanwhile, RNA’d when she didn’t bring more than $100,000 in 2009. The following year she went for $130,000 at another auction. The Medaglia d’Oro filly went on to win the 2011 Kentucky Oaks (G1) and the following year’s Apple Blossom (G1) while earning $1,688,746. She then sold for $4.2 million.
“It just shows you the exceptional quality the owners and breeders entrust us with,” said Fasig-Tipton president and CEO Boyd Browning. “But one of the things that makes the sales game and the racing game so wonderful is nobody knows for sure, whether they sell for $40,000 or $4 million, if they’re going to be great racehorses. Everyone has an opportunity whether you’re a one-horse stable or a racing dynasty.”
