Curlin Colt Tops Record First Session of Kentucky October Yearlings

The first session of the  2025 Fasig-Tipton Kentucky October Yearlings sale set a single session record gross of $16,864,500. The sale’s opening session, held Monday at the Newtown Paddocks in Lexington, Kentucky, also realized session-record average and median.

A colt by Curlin (hip 268) topped the session when sold for $900,000 to Legion Bloodstock from the consignment of Mill Ridge Sales, agent (video). The price was good for third most expensive in this sale’s history, eclipsed only by a Storm Cat filly (sold 1999) and a Street Sense colt (sold 2021), which brought $925,000 each. The Curlin colt is the first foal out of Canadian champion Munnyfor Ro (Munnings). The immediate family includes Grade 1 winners Little Belle and Dickinson. Hip 268 was bred in Kentucky by Alpha Delta Stables.

“It was  great start to the 2025 Kentucky October Yearlings sale,” said Fasig-Tipton President Boyd Browning. “All the statistical categories showed pretty significant increases. There was really tremendous demand from more levels than we’ve seen in recent years. It was certainly a great start and we’re looking forward to the next three days.”

Other top hips included:

• A filly by Vekoma (hip 296), sold for $425,000 to Love’s Equine, agent for Linton Thoroughbreds, from the consignment of Eaton Sales, agent. The chestnut filly is out the unraced Eskendereya mare Nest Egg, whose three winners to date include multiple stakes placed Thanks Mr. Eidson (More Than Ready) and stakes placed Love to Run (Connect). The immediate family includes European champion Muhtarram.
• A colt by Gun Runner (hip 48), sold for $400,000 to Gerard Butler as agent from the consignment of Denali Stud, agent. The dark bay or brown colt is out of multiple graded stakes winner and Kentucky Oaks (G1) placed Lady Apple (Curlin). That mare is the dam of current two-year-old winner Malus (Into Mischief). Hip 48 was bred in Kentucky by Three Chimneys Farm & Phoenix Thoroughbred.
• A colt from the first crop of Horse of the Year Flightline (hip 198), sold for $400,000 to Pedro Lanz, agent for Kas Stables, from the consignment of Denali Stud, for the Complete Dispersal of Woodford Thoroughbreds. The bay colt is out of the graded stakes placed stakes winning Warrior’s Reward mare Message. He hails from the immediate family of multiple Grade 1 winner and millionaire Win. Hip 198 was bred in Kentucky by Woodford Thoroughbreds.
• A filly from the first crop of champion Epicenter (hip 289), sold for $400,000 to Mo Speed Racing from the consignment of Lane’s End, agent for Coteau Grove Farms. Out of the winning Street Sense mare Naive Enough, the filly is a half-sister to three winners from as many to race, including multiple graded stakes winner Tumbarumba (Oscar Performance). Hip 289 was bred in Louisiana by Coteau Grove Farms.
• A filly by the late Uncle Mo (hip 365), sold for $400,000 to Fergus Galvin, agent, from the consignment of Anderson Farms, agent. The bay filly is out of the stakes placed Bernardini mare Pearl Turn, dam of four to race, all winners, including this filly’s stakes winning full sister and champion Gretzky the Great, by Uncle Mo’s son Nyquist. Hip 365 was bred in Ontario by Anderson Farms.
• A filly by Curlin (hip 381), sold for $400,000 to Diversified Pedigree Acquisitions Inc. from the consignment of Zen Equine, agent. The gray or roan filly is the second foal out of multiple Grade 1 stakes placed multiple stakes winner Piedi Bianchi (Overanalyze). Hip 381 was bred in Kentucky by Oringer, Bick, AL Bianchi Racing & ABB Stables and Maturo.

During the first session, 266 yearlings sold for $16,864,500, a record session gross and a 26.8% increase over last year’s first session gross of $13,298,000 for 265 sold. The average rose 26.3% to $63,400 from $50,181 opening session average in 2024. The median rose 50% to $30,000 from $20,000 last year. The RNA rate was 24.6%.

Session 1 results are available online. The Kentucky October Yearlings sale continues Tuesday at 10 AM.