The Fasig-Tipton Midlantic winter mixed sale enjoyed increases of 75.7% in gross revenue and 21.6% in average price Monday at Timonium in Maryland. The median price of $4,000 was the same as a year ago, and the buy-back rate dropped below 20%. Mezzo, a racing or broodmare prospect, brought the top price of $90,000.

"It was a pretty good sale for this segment of the market," said Fasig-Tipton president Walt Robertson. "You're always happy when you're up and they lead a good horse in there and it sells well. Mezzo's price was nice, but we would have been up (in gross) without her."

The 65 horses that sold grossed $444,800 and averaged $6,843. Last year, the 45 horses that sold grossed $253,200, which was down 50.8% from 2006, and averaged $5,627. The buy-back rate decreased from 26.2% in 2007 to 19.8% this year.

Machmer Hall and Siena Farm purchased Mezzo from Bill Reightler, agent. The 4-year-old daughter of Broad Brush has not won in three career races, but she is a half-sister to 1998 Santa Anita Derby (gr. I) winner and successful stallion Indian Charlie  . Mezzo and Indian Charlie's dam, Soviet Sojourn (by Leo Castelli), captured the Junior Miss (gr. III) and Sorrento (gr. III) Stakes at Del Mar in 1991.