Mo Diddley, a son of Uncle Mo   from the family of champion Bear Now, became the highest-priced yearling ever sold at the Fasig-Tipton New York-bred preferred sale when he was bought Aug. 14 by Everett Dobson’s Cheyenne Stables for $450,000.

The price for the colt consigned by McMahon of Saratoga Thoroughbreds, as agent, highlighted the auction that was held on a single day after the first session Aug. 13 was postponed due to a severe thunderstorm that struck in Saratoga Springs, N.Y. just as the sale began. Instead of the consecutive night sessions that are designed not to conflict with the afternoon racing program at nearby Saratoga Race Course, Fasig-Tipton opted for a single 7 1/2-hour session that began at 3 p.m. EDT.

Fasig-Tipton reported 177 horses were sold for gross receipts of $13,672,500, down 8.1% from the 2015 gross of $14,876,500 for 182 horses sold. The average declined 5.5% from $81,739 to $77,246 and the median fell from $65,000 a year ago to $60,000.

Last year’s top price of $350,000 was paid for a Tiznow   filly.

At the end of the day, the results mirrored those seen in other Thoroughbred auctions this year: stiff competition at the top of the market and lesser demand in the other price ranges.

“There was great demand and competition for the upper segment of the marketplace and less competition and demand than you would hope at the bottom half of the catalog,” said Fasig-Tipton president and CEO Boyd Browning Jr. “You’re always thrilled with a record price. At the top end of the market, the selectivity continues.

“At the upper echelon, many, many horses exceeded their reserves.”

Also, a high buyback rate indicated that sellers held their yearlings in higher esteem than did the marketplace and are willing to race them in New York where they qualify for lucrative purses and other incentives as part of the New York Thoroughbred Breeding and Development Fund.

“The breeders are also running for the same lucrative purses the buyers are and want to make sure their horses are running in New York, so they can be a little more aggressive in setting their reserves a little higher than other folks,” Browning said, adding this year’s RNA rate of 32.7% was consistent with previous years and that the 2015 figure of 27.8% was an anomaly.

Browning said he did not see any positive or negative effect of the altered one-day sale schedule.

“I don’t think there was any impact from the rearrangement of the schedule due to the weather event last night,” the sale executive said. “I think horses sold about as expected. I have not heard any feedback from buyers or sellers about a negative or a positive impact.

“You don’t want to against racing at Saratoga, but you do what you have to do.”

The sale-topping colt, consigned by McMahon of Saratoga Thoroughbreds, was bred by Andy Beadnell and was produced from Miss Bodine, a stakes-placed daughter of Vindication. Second dam Guilded Times, a Crafty Prospector mare who earned more than $85,000, is the dam of Del Mar Futurity (gr. II) winner Icecoldbeeratreds and multiple stakes winner Controlled. Controlled is the dam of 2008 Canadian champion older female Bear Now, who was victorious in seven of 12 starts.

“I just liked his presence,” Dobson said. “Obviously Uncle Mo is maybe the most exciting new sire we’ve had in this sport in many, many years, and it’s a New York-bred and I like that. I race up here a lot. I’ve been a New York (sale) buyer for many, many years.”

Dobson, who has 15 horses in training, said the price was about what he expected to pay. He said the colt will be sent to Randy Bradshaw in Florida to be prepped for racing.

Trainer Linda Rice and her major client Sheila Rosenblum were among the most active buyers at the upper end of the market, buying a City Zip   colt for $375,000 a Mineshaft colt and half brother to millionaireUpstart for $335,000, the second- and third-highest priced yearlings.

The City Zip colt, Hip 385, was bred in New York by John Lauriello and produced from the unraced Tale of the Cat   mare Flaunted, a half sister to multiple stakes winner Lady Melesi, the dam of stakes winners Roman Emperor and Seruni.

“I really liked him,” said Rice, who trained City Zip and has not been reticent about buying the stallion’s offspring. “City Zip has had an incredible year. This horse is a City Zip that looks like he’ll get two turns; he’s really a stretchy horse.” 

The Mineshaft   colt, consigned as Hip 490 by Frances and Barbara Vanlangendonck’s Summerfield, as agent, was produced from the unraced Touch Gold mare Party Silks and bred by Mrs. Gerald Nielsen.