Strong Mandate’s $825,000 yearling that sold during Tuesday evening’s session of the Aug. 7-8 Fasig-Tipton Saratoga Select Yearlings sale was the top-priced filly of the prestigious two-day auction.
More impressively, the figure represents the highest paid for a yearling filly at auction this year by a First-Crop Sire, and the second-highest for all North American sires.
Strong Mandate’s yearling sales average of $263,400, from 23 sold, is also second-best for Freshman Sires, behind only fellow Three Chimneys stallion Will Take Charge, at $274,444.
The $825,000 filly, hip No. 198, was consigned by Baccari Bloodstock, agent for breeders Three Chimneys and Besilu Stable, and went to Live Oak Plantation.
“I just thought she was magnificent and what a mare,” said trainer Mark Casse, who sat next to Live Oak’s owner Charlotte Weber during the bidding. “When you see a mare who produces stakes winner after stakes winner and top-class horses–Mrs. Weber and I talked about it and that’s the kind of mares that later on she wants in her broodmare band.”
Casse was referring to the dark bay filly’s dam, Graeme Six, a graded stakes winner who has already produced two graded winners herself in Cali Star and Delightful Joy, as well four winners from as many starters overall.
