Fasig-Tipton Saratoga Selected Yearlings Sale - Day 1

Seven yearlings went through the ring at $500,000 or more, 2 of which went for 7 figures. Hip 69, a filly by Dynaformer who is a half sister to turf runner and near millionaire Optimizer, went for a session topping $1,225,000. This filly had generated a ton of buzz being evaluated by her consignor, Bluegrass Thoroughbreds, as a 7 (top grade for a yearling) and one of the most impressive lookers they'd ever seen.

Second by price was the $1,000,000 Distorted Humor filly from the family of Rags to Riches and Jazil. (On that note, I always forget that Rags and Jazil are 1/2 siblings that both won the Belmont). But with Rags and Jazil both being out of this filly's 3rd dam, it certainly is an enviable female family, however, it seems a bit distant in the pedigree to unload the wallet over.

Overall, without final numbers being released, it looks like the exact same total number sold as 2012, but the gross was $13,590,000 last year contrasted against this year's total of $15,670,000 for at 15.3% increase. Not bad. Additionally, Average was up nearly 20% and median up over 30%. Impressive showings. Let us hope that the strength carries over through tomorrow's second and final session.

Oh, and from the pictures I saw of the Dynaformer filly, she really was that spectacular. Worth every penny.

I'll chime in again tomorrow with the final numbers, but all indicators are positive at first glance of the first of two days.