Into Mischief Colt On Top in 'Magical' Conclusion of The 100th Saratoga Sale

The 100th Saratoga Sale continued Tuesday evening in the Humphrey S. Finney Pavilion in Saratoga Springs, New York. The final session of the selected yearling sale's centennial renewal yielded a sale record median and the second highest average in sale history.

A colt by two-time Leading Sire Into Mischief sold for $2,600,000 midway through the evening to top the session and the sale (video). M.V. Magnier purchased the sale topper, which was offered as Hip 168 by Gainesway, agent. The bay colt is the second foal out of Paola Queen, who won the 2016 Test S. (G1) at Saratoga, from the immediate family of Grade 1 winner Point Ashley. Hip 168 was bred in Kentucky by Don Alberto Corporation.

"You could feel the buzz growing on the sales grounds," said Fasig-Tipton President Boyd Browning. "All in all, [this was] a near-record sale in nearly every statistical evaluation… to accomplish that coming off a disruption in 2020 is frankly remarkable. I couldn't be any prouder."

First-crop sire Bolt d'Oro was responsible for the second highest priced colt of the session when Hip 132, a three-parts brother to Horse of the Year Rachel Alexandra, sold for $1,400,000 to OXO Equine (video). Hill 'n' Dale Sales Agency, agent, consigned the bay colt on behalf of Kentucky breeder Dede McGehee of Heaven Trees Farm.

The top filly of the session and the sale came in the form of a daughter of Quality Road, which sold for $1,000,000 to Kindred Stables (video). The bay filly was offered as Hip 160 by Indian Creek, agent. Out of graded stakes winner Above Perfection, the filly is a half-sister to eight winners, including Kentucky Derby (G1) winner Always Dreaming; Spinaway S. (G1) winner Hot Dixie Chick, dam of graded stakes winner Pauline's Pearl and multiple stakes winner Union Jackson; and Grade 2 winner Positive Spirit. Hip 160 was bred in Kentucky by Santa Rosa Partners.

Rounding out the top five hips of the session were:

• Hip 114, a filly by Quality Road, which sold for $800,000 to Maverick Racing from the consignment of Taylor Made Sales Agency, agent. The bay colt is a half-brother to Grade 1 placed stakes winner Brill out of the stakes winning Malibu Moon mare Hunt the Moon. Hip 114 was bred in Kentucky by OXO Equine.
• Hip 139, a filly by three-time Leading Sire Tapit, which sold for $800,000 to Mayberry Farm from the consignment of Gainesway, agent. The gray or roan filly is the first foal out of multiple Grade/Group 1 placed graded stakes winner Madame Stripes (ARG). Hip 139 was bred in Kentucky by Gainesway Thoroughbreds.

"This is a special place," added Browning. "We witnessed the magic of Saratoga tonight."

Over the course of the two-night sale, 135 yearlings changed hands for $55,155,000. The average was $408,556, less than a percentage point down from the sale record of $411,459 set in 2019. The median was $350,000, tied for first in the sale's history with the equal mark set in 2019.

Full results are available online.