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.