Cherokee Run Mare Sells For $270,000 as Fasig-Tipton Sale Concludes

Feathers, a broodmare prospect who was a graded stakes winner in Canada, brought $270,000 on Monday to top the final session of Fasig-Tipton Kentucky's winter mixed sale at the Newtown Paddocks near Lexington. Pharmaceutical executive and Florida farm owner Eugene Melnyk purchased the 6-year-old daughter of Cherokee Run from Three Chimneys Farm, agent for Tooth and Nail Stable. Feathers was produced from the winning Rollicking mare Cool Chase, who is a half-sister to Italian champion Heart of Groom (Blushing Groom).

The sale concluded with 285 horses selling for a gross of $3,160,900, an average of $11,091, and a median of $5,000. Compared to a year ago, the number sold and gross were up by 14.9% and 11.7%, respectively. The average and median were down by 2.8% and 3.8%, respectively. The buy-back rate of 26.7% represented a significant increase from last year's comparable figure of 18.2%.

On the second and final day of the auction, which began on Sunday, 223 horses were sold for a gross of $2,645,200, an average of $11,862, and a median of $5,500.