Son of Grand Slam Tops Opening Session of Fasig-Tipton Kentucky Fall Yearling Sale

A son of Grand Slam topped the opening session of the three-day Fasig-Tipton Kentucky fall yearling sale at the sale company's Newtown Paddocks near Lexington.

The bay colt, consigned by Mill Ridge Sales, agent, was purchased by Legend Inc. for $145,000.

For the day, Fasig-Tipton reported 216 horses sold for $3,017,800. The average was $13,971. The median was $7,000. The sale company reported 97 head (30.9% of the number offered) as not being sold.

Including the session-topping colt, the day saw three horses top the six-figure mark.

Last year's opening session saw 192 head sold for $3,267,700, to average $17,019. The median was $8,750. Ninety horses failed to find new homes during 2005's opening session.

This year the gross was down 7.6%, the average was down 17.9%, and the median dipped 20%.

"We didn't have the breakout horse today," said Walt Robertson, Fasig-Tipton president. "We'll see how it goes over the course of the next two days."

The session-topping colt was previously offered as a weanling at the 2005 Keeneland November mixed sale by Hunter Valley Farm, agent, where he failed to meet his reserve and was bought back for $115,000. He was then offered during the 2006 Fasig-Tipton Saratoga August yearling sale by Taylor Made Sales, agent, and again failed to meet his reserve. He was bought back for $190,000.

Finsbury Bloodstock bred the colt in Kentucky from the unraced Storm Cat mare Dalia Cat, who is a half-sister to Irish group III winner Lermontov (by Alleged) and is from the family of Italian group II winner Vidalia and 1979 champion older mare and stakes producer Waya.

Dalia Cat produced a Johannesburg filly this year.

The sale continues through Oct. 25, with sessions beginning daily at 10 a.m.