Storm Cat Colt Tops Second Saratoga Session

A colt by Storm Cat produced from the Alydar mare Beacci was purchased by Irish bloodstock agent Demi O’Byrne for $775,000 to top Wednesday’s second session of the Fasig-Tipton Saratoga select summer yearling sale. Consigned by Lane’s End as agent, the Virginia-bred colt is a half-brother to grade III winner Rare Rock and to multiple stakes-placed horses.

The session’s second-highest price was the $750,000 bid from Anne and Satish Sanan’s Padua Stables for a Capote--Angel Kisses colt consigned by Eaton Sales. The Pennsylvania-bred colt is out of a full sister to millionaire grade I winner and sire Corporate Report.

Niall O’Callaghan, representing Donna Moore, went to $700,000 to acquire an A. P. Indy colt from the Lane’s End consignment. The colt is a half-brother to stakes-placed Gold Streamer and was produced from the Danzig mare Banner Dancer, a half-sister to champion and stakes producer Sacahuista.

With 46 horses sold for a gross of $11,699,000, the $254,326 average represented a 7.3% gain over the $237,019 average for the 53 horses that sold for a total of $12,562,000 during the comparable session one year ago. With the final session tonight, Fasig-Tipton has sold 91 horses for an aggregate $23,731,000 and an average price of $260,780. During last year’s record-breaking sale, 102 yearlings had been sold through the first two sessions for $27,032,000 and an average of $265,020. The 25 horses not sold so far this year represents 21.5% of those through the ring. The buyback rate after two sessions in 1999 was 27.1%.