by Jessica Martini & Christina BossinakisThe Fasig-Tipton Saratoga Sale, which only a year ago surpassed $100 million in gross for the first time in its history, smashed through that barrier and recorded high-water marks in every category during an action-packed two days in the Humphrey S. Finney Pavilion. When the dust settled Tuesday night, 152 yearlings had sold for $118,215,000. The average of $777,730 rose 23.6% from last year's previous record mark of $629,469, while the median of $525,000 was up 16.7% from the record figure of $450,000 set in 2025.“I genuinely believe this was the greatest horse sale I've ever seen in my life,” said Fasig-Tipton President Boyd Browning, Jr. “I joined Fasig-Tipton in 1988. We've had some wonderful moments and some not-so-wonderful moments and last night and tonight were simply incredible. It shows you what happens when you are able to assemble a magnificent group of horses on the grounds, and that's really where it starts and really where it finishes because the finest judges of Thoroughbred yearlings in the world came on the grounds Friday. They looked Friday, and they looked Saturday, and they looked Sunday, and they looked Monday, and they looked again today in several instances. And they clearly decided that this was an exceptional group of horses, which validated the thoughts and the beliefs that our consigners and our customers had, and our inspection team had, and that's a very, very, very fulfilling and a rewarding experience, really for every member of our staff and for every customer that we've got.”Nearly eclipsing the record-setting auction was the buying performance of the Boersma family's Flying Dutchmen. After buying five yearlings, including a $2.3-million son of Into Mischief during Monday's opening session, the operation returned Tuesday and purchased an additional six yearlings for $16.4 million. Flying Dutchmen purchased five of the auction's top 10-priced yearlings, including the top two, a $4.2-million colt by Into Mischief and a $4-million son of Gun Runner.“There were a lot of horses we liked,” said Flying Dutchmen's Hunter Rankin. “And we decided to try to get as many of them as we could. We just went into it seeing where it landed.”Hunter Rankin | Fasig-TiptonRankin added, “We are trying to build a nice stable of colts. The market is so strong. And that's so cool for the industry. It's just been an awesome sale.”Flying Dutchmen was represented by its first GI Kentucky Derby runner this year when Owen Almighty (Speightstown) ran fifth in Louisville on the First Saturday in May.“For such a young operation, for how much these guys have bought and how much the family is a part of it–it really is a family thing–the fifth in the Derby was as cool as a Grade I for us. I think that kickstarted something.” $4.2 million Hip 136, an Into Mischief colt out of All American Dream that's a full brother to BARNES, sells for a #FasigSaratoga record of $4.2 million to @flyingdutchky from the @HeartwoodFarmKY consignment.Read more: https://t.co/M8ef92EeWi pic.twitter.com/HAA0j7QwKO— TDN (@theTDN) August 12, 2026A total of 35 yearlings sold for seven figures during the two-day auction, up from 25 a year ago.“The buyers bid with great determination, but they participated in this auction and this business with a smile on their face, with cheerfulness and happiness, even when they got outbid, which was pretty often for a lot of them,” Browning said. “It was a vibrant atmosphere. It was kind of a celebration of all the things that everybody does right. I hope in 2028 and 2029 we have to use a catalogue cover that's twice the size of this one to put all the pictures of the great graduates. Because I'm telling you, mark my words on Aug. 11, 2026, you're going to look up two years from now, three years from now, and see some of the best horses in the world are graduates of this horse sale.”Flying Dutchmen Dazzles on Day 2Day 1 at the Saratoga sale was productive for Travis Boersma's Flying Dutchmen, with the operation's Hunter Rankin signing for a quintet of yearlings, headed by a $2.3 million Into Mischief colt out of Stellar Sound (Hip 91), for gross expenditures of $5.225 million.And while that might sound extravagant to many, Flying Dutchmen returned Tuesday evening to blow the doors off the Humphrey S. Finney Pavilion when landing six yearlings–five colts and one filly–for an aggregate of $16.4 million. Chief among them was the 2026 Saratoga sale topper, Hip 136, a colt by Into Mischief who realized $4.2 million.Out of All American Dream (American Pharoah), the colt is a full-brother to dual graded stakes winner and Grade I-placed Barnes. From the extended family of GISW Dream Supreme, the Mar. 9 foal was bred by Jeff Drown and Don Rachel. He was consigned by first-time consignment Heartwood Farm.“I thought he was the fanciest horse in the sale, if that makes any sense,” admitted Rankin. “Not saying that means he's the best, but he definitely showed himself really, really well. And [Heartwood] prepared him great as they always do. So we just thought he would be very expensive, especially with that pedigree.”As for the competition on the sale's topper, Rankin explained, “He's such a nice horse and we just kind of thought there would be a couple that we would really try for and he was one of them.”And the Flying Dutchmen team wasn't messing around.“That was our only bid on our last bid,” he confirmed. “We just said we would see where it stopped or where we thought it might stop. And I hit it and they gave me $4.2 [million] because there was a bid that beat us inside. It was great that we got him.”Rankin confirmed that the topper would go to trainer Brian Lynch.The 4-year-old colt's brother Barnes sold to Zedan Racing for $3.2 million at the 2023 edition of the Saratoga Sale. Hip 121 c. INTO MISCHIEF o/o Vault sells for $2,600,000 at The 105th Saratoga Sale! Congrats to the connections:B: Delta Squad Racing, @whisper_hill Farm, @SpendthriftFarmC: @WarrendaleSales, agt for Stonestreet Bred & RaisedBr: @StonestreetFarm pic.twitter.com/xOlzd27y2v— Fasig-Tipton (@FasigTiptonCo) August 11, 2026“They look pretty similar, the two,” said Heartwood's Sarah Sutherland. “Barnes was probably a little bit more forward physically. Maybe a little bit, some of that American Pharaoh influence coming through. This colt is a really lovely, stretchy, scopey Into Mischief.”Later in Tuesday's session, Flying Dutchmen purchased another colt by the Spendthrift sire for $3 million. Offered as Hip 154, the Feb. 22 foal is out of Beyond Perfection (Curlin). Also consigned by Heartwood Farm, the bay is a grandson of GSW Above Perfection (In Excess {Ire}), the dam of GI Kentucky Derby hero Always Dreaming, purchased by Steve Young for $350,000 at Keeneland September in 2015. Additionally, Above Perfection is responsible for GISW Hot Dixie Chick (Dixie Union), who in turn produced GISW Pauline's Pearl (Tapit).Late in the sale, Rankin extended to $4 million for Hip 200, a colt by Gun Runner out of MGSW and GISP Four Graces. Consigned by Gainesway, the colt is the second foal out of the 9-year-old Majesticperfection mare, who is a half-sister to MGSW and GISP McCraken (Ghostzapper). Hip 200 c. GUN RUNNER o/o Four Graces sells for $4,000,000 at The 105th Saratoga Sale! Congrats to the connections:B: Flying Dutchmen @flyingdutchkyC: @Gainesway, agtBr: @whisper_hill Farm@Three_Chimneys pic.twitter.com/DtNsTWfIjs— Fasig-Tipton (@FasigTiptonCo) August 12, 2026“The cream has been rising to the top,” said Gainesway's Brian Graves. “In our early inspections this year, I though he was one of the top colts that I'd seen, obviously by one of the top stallions and by a proper young mare.”He continued, “It's a quality breeding program at [Mandy Pope's] Whisper Hill. We couldn't be more thrilled for her to get a result like that. And I wish the Flying Dutchmen the best of luck. We're really grateful to him and I think he's a super colt. He's one of the best I've seen this year.”On Tuesday, Flying Dutchmen also secured Hip 140, a colt by Into Mischief out of Anacapa (Tiznow), for $2.8 million; and Hip 119, a colt by Constitution out of GSW and GISP Valadorna (Curlin), for $1.45 million. The latter two were consigned by Four Star Sales, agent for Spendthrift and Gainesway, agent for Stonestreet.“We loved the cross, but we really loved the horse,” said Rankin of the Constitution yearling. “He comes off a great farm. [Stonestreet's] Barbara [Banke] does a great job. It just kind of was what we were looking for.”According to Rankin, the colt is also going to Lynch.Rounding out the operation's purchases on Day 2, Rankin signed for Hip 229, a filly by Gun Runner who brought $950,000. Consigned by Taylor Made Sales Agency, the filly is the second foal out of Justa Warrior (Justify).“We followed a bunch of fillies up here and we just couldn't get [most of them],” said Rankin. “We were looking for both [colts and fillies]. It just happens to be that we've had a little more money for the colts that we've gotten than the fillies that we've been on.”–CBossFasig-Tipton is Where the Heart IsAt the conclusion of Monday's session, Sarah Sutherland and Juan Aguilar's Heartwood Farm had produced healthy returns. However, it may not have been realistic that the fledgling operation would blow those results out of the water on Day 2.Hip 136, a full-brother to MGSW and GISP Barnes–out of All American Dream (American Pharoah)–was knocked down to Flying Dutchmen for a staggering $4.2 million. The Saratoga sale topper was bred by Jeff Drown and Don Rachel.Offering another colt by Into Mischief–this one out of Beyond Perfection–about a dozen hips later, Heartwood stood in the spotlight once again when bidding quickly escalated past the seven-figure mark. With each volley, Sutherland–already overwhelmed by the Heartwood team's earlier homerun–fought back raw emotion as Fasig's Boyd Browning, Jr.–who struggled to keep his own emotion in check–offered a warm embrace of congratulations. “To bring them here and have them received the way they were, it's very fulfilling.”Sarah Sutherland of @HeartwoodFarmKY discusses the consignment of the current sale topper, Hip 136 for $4,200,000, and Hip 154 for $3,000,000, two Into Mischief colts. @spendthriftfarm pic.twitter.com/sPGMocFGmV— Fasig-Tipton (@FasigTiptonCo) August 12, 2026Slowing down after reaching the $2.5 million mark, bidding finally topped out at $3 million, once again going the way of Flying Dutchmen. Hip 154, a son of Beyond Perfection (Curlin), was bred by Santa Rosa Partners–Sutherland's father, bloodstock agent Mike Ryan. The latter colt's family includes Kentucky Derby winner Always Dreaming, who was bred by Santa Rosa Partners, launched by Mike Ryan and the late Gerry Dilger.“That's a family that [Ryan] developed and owned with Gerry Dilger,” said Sutherland. “So it's very special to our families, both us and the Dilgers. It's a feel good outcome all the way around.”She added, “This just is a full-circle moment. I think these are clients and mares that are just so special to us. I don't know how to describe it.”Of the consignment's two top sellers this week, Sutherland explained, “They're two extremely special animals and I think it was really fascinating the last few days to watch them. They complimented each other and sort of I think they even strengthened each other. They were so different, but so nice. And I don't know that anybody could really separate the two. And it was amazing to see them both thrive in that way, separate but together. I don't know how to describe that. It was just very, very interesting.”Asked about Flying Dutchmen's decision to extend to purchase both of Heartwood's top offerings, Sutherland explained, “I think they wanted to buy both of them because they couldn't decide which one to pick over the other. And they truly were equally special horses. So we never worried about having them here together, bringing two Into Mischiefs in a smaller consignment. But I could never have dreamed for something like this to happen.”She added, “Both colts just stepped up and they thrived here. They loved it. They did everything right every day. And I think they were better every day, and with people, that resonates. When you see horses improving in the short time they're here, I guess that's what makes it happen like this. ”On Day 2, Heartwood also sold Hip 141, a filly by Nyquist for $850,000. The daughter of Anything Goes (Speightstown) was purchased by John Angelos.During Monday's session, Heartwood sold a trio of yearlings for $1.125 million.“You get to know these horses so well at home and we're fortunate to have an amazing group of people that help us, that we work together with at the farm,” she said. “And you get to know and love these animals. And when you have confidence in them and they come up here and show it to everyone else as well, anything's possible. We're just delighted for [the two colts] to get into such great hands. –CBossGoing Back to the Well for a Brother to MGSW BarnesThree years ago at the 2023 renewal of the Fasig-Tipton Saratoga Sale, a colt by Into Mischief out of All American Dream (American Pharoah) realized $3.2 million after going to Donato Lanni acting on behalf of Zedan Racing. Sent to Hall of Famer Bob Baffert, the colt was named a 'TDN Rising Star presented by Hagyard' before going on to win the GII San Vicente and GIII Perryville. Fast forward to 2026, the full-brother to Barnes raked in $4.2 million for his connections, including breeders Jeff Drown and Don Rachel. Hip 136 c. INTO MISCHIEF o/o All American Dream sells for $4,200,000 at The 105th Saratoga Sale! The colt is a full brother to MGSW Barnes. Congrats to the connections:B: Flying Dutchmen @flyingdutchkyC: @HeartwoodFarmKY, agtBr: Jeff Drown and Don Rachel, LLC… pic.twitter.com/W2j8IxXnE9— Fasig-Tipton (@FasigTiptonCo) August 12, 2026All American Dream is out of A. P. Dream (A.P. Indy), a full-sister to GI Hopeful winner Majestic Warrior.“We have the mother All American Dream and she's been great for us, producing some great colts for us,” said co-breeder Don Rachel. “And this colt was very hard for us to sell because we knew he was a sweetie, but it's just one of the things you got to do in the business. So I had plenty of tears for a 60-year-old guy, but it was all for good.”Rachel and Drown sold Barnes with Indian Creek, which was leased and renamed Heartwood Farm by Sutherland and Aguilar. A sister by Flightline brought $1.1 million at this venue last year.“We've been with them for a long time and they're great people, Juan and Sarah, and they've done a great job for us and they showed it tonight,” said Rachel. “We have a lot of confidence in Heartwood. We're looking forward to working with them in the future.”According to Rachel, he currently owns a half dozen mares which are boarded at Heartwood.Based in Minnesota, Rachel operates Rachel Contracting, founded in 2006. The company has grown into a multi-discipline construction firm serving both public and private sectors.“We're plenty busy and in the whole renewable world with wind and solar world, so that's a big part of our business,” he explained. “I got into racing with a good friend of mine who's been in it for a long time. I went all in.”“We love it. And it's a great hobby, but also a fun business. So it's good to have fun and the business at the same time. But racing is our excitement. And it's our fun.”–CBoss'Absolutely Beautiful': $3-Million Not This Time Colt to Winchell, Brant and MagnierThe Saratoga sale squeezed one last seven-figure yearling into its record-setting 2026 renewal when Ron Winchell, standing alongside White Birch Farm's Peter Brant, and Coolmore's M.V. Magnier, bid $3 million to acquire a colt by Not This Time (hip 227) from the Paramount Sales consignment late in Tuesday's session.“I was just trying to buy one tonight,” Winchell said with a smile. “It was getting a little tough out here.”Hip 227 c. NOT THIS TIME o/o Just Louise sells for $3,000,000 at The 105th Saratoga Sale! Congrats to the connections:B: Winchell Thoroughbreds, @WhiteBirchFarm_, MV MagnierC: @ParamountSales_, agtBr: Springhouse Farm@TMStallions pic.twitter.com/Mr17zebq7j— Fasig-Tipton (@FasigTiptonCo) August 12, 2026Of his partnership with Brant and Magnier, Winchell said, “I think when it gets to this level, partnerships are the way I go. I am surprised by how robust the sale is. Obviously, day two of this sale was more than day one. There were a lot of nice horses and a lot of big prices.”The colt was bred by Gabriel Duignan's Springhouse Farm and, while the breeder is plenty familiar with selling million-dollar yearlings through his Paramount Sales consignment, the $3-million result marked his highest sale as a breeder.“Happy as you've ever seen me,” Duignan joked after the sale. “He was absolutely beautiful. He was on all the lists. It's hard to imagine you'd make that, but you knew there was a chance.”The colt is out of Just Louise (Five Star Day), a mare Duignan purchased for $150,000 at the 2013 Fasig-Tipton November sale. She produced multiple graded stakes winner Forbidden Kingdom (American Pharoah) and stakes-placed Bibi Dahl (American Pharoah), who sold for $1.35 million at the 2024 Keeneland September sale. A full-sister to the $3-million colt sold for $950,000 at last year's Fasig-Tipton Saratoga sale.Just Louise died while producing the Not This Time colt“She was a sweetheart,” Duignan said. “Every foal was a good one.”Of Tuesday's result, Duignan added, “This is what you do it for is to someday breed a horse like him.” @JessMartiniTDN$2.6-Million Into Mischief Colt Kicks Off Session TwoSpendthrift Farm, Whisper Hill Farm, and new owner Josh Isner joined forces to secure a colt by Into Mischief (hip 121) for $2.6 million. The yearling, who was consigned by Warrendale Sales, as agent for his breeder Stonestreet, is out of graded stakes winner Vault (Jump Start). The mare, purchased by Stonestreet for $850,000 at the 2021 Keeneland November sale, is a half-sister to Grade I winner Mirth (Colonel John).“He's a really nice Into Mischief physical,” said Whisper Hill Farm's Todd Quast. “You hear it all the time, ticked all the boxes, but he ticked all the boxes.” Hip 121 c. INTO MISCHIEF o/o Vault sells for $2,600,000 at The 105th Saratoga Sale! Congrats to the connections:B: Delta Squad Racing, @whisper_hill Farm, @SpendthriftFarmC: @WarrendaleSales, agt for Stonestreet Bred & RaisedBr: @StonestreetFarm pic.twitter.com/xOlzd27y2v— Fasig-Tipton (@FasigTiptonCo) August 11, 2026The three partners had to fend off another powerful bidding partnership in the St. Elias, Woodford Racing, Belldonna Racing, and West Point Thoroughbreds buying axis to acquire the youngster.“With these colts, you better do it,” Quast said of partnering up at auctions. “We used to not do it and we'd get outbid. So it's better to do it, and if they hit, you only need a leg anyway.”Josh Isner's Delta Squad Racing is just past its first year in business and already has a Grade I win on its resume following Baby Vino (Vino Rosso)'s exploits in the July 18 GI Haskell Stakes.“Yesterday night a year ago was the first time I bought a horse, we bought a Maclean's Music,” Isner said. “Since then, we've ramped up pretty quick. We have about 30 horses in the stable now. We've met some great people along the way, including Ned [Toffey] and the [Spendthrift owners] Gustavsons over here. It was very nice that Mrs. Pope was able to join as well, so it all worked out. Obviously, he's a very nice colt and we are excited about him.”Asked if his partners had prepared him for the colt's potential price tag, Isner said, “Last night prepared me for the price tag of the horse. I am not sure what has happened to the rest of the crop, but apparently we are bidding on them like these are the only 200 that exist this year.”Spendthrift and Delta Squad Racing teamed up later in the evening to purchase a colt by Not This Time (hip 129) for $1.7 million from the Taylor Made Sales Agency consignment.Quast summed up the market in Saratoga in one word.“Crazy,” he said. “We hope it stays this way. We've got one selling later.”Quast had nothing to worry about. Whisper Hill's Gun Runner homebred (hip 200) sold for $4 million to Flying Dutchmen. @JessMartiniTDN$1.75-Million Gun Runner Colt to WardWesley Ward just missed winning the 2010 GI Florida Derby with Pleasant Prince (Indy King), but the trainer hopes to go one better with a colt who is out of a half-sister to that chestnut. Ward went to $1.75 million to acquire the yearling by Gun Runner (hip 194) who was consigned by Bridie Harrison, as agent for breeder Peter Blum. The yearling is out of Etiquette (Tapit) and is a full-brother to multiple Grade I winner Society. Hip 194 c. GUN RUNNER o/o Etiquette sells for $1,750,000 at The 105th Saratoga Sale! Colt is a full brother to MG1SW Society. Congrats to the connections:B: Caitlin Dunne, agt for Asagi StablesC: Bridie Harrison, agt for Peter E. Blum ThoroughbredsBr: Peter E. Blum… pic.twitter.com/A30awVOKbb— Fasig-Tipton (@FasigTiptonCo) August 12, 2026“Pleasant Prince got beat half a thumbnail In the Florida Derby,” Ward said. “And this horse looks almost identical to that horse. We are going to win it this time.”Ward purchased the colt on behalf of Roger Tovar's Asagi Stables.“He wants horses to go long,” Ward said.“There is a lot of room in my stable for them,” the trainer, known for his precocious 2-year-olds, added with a laugh. @JessMartiniTDNSt Elias, West Point, Woodford, Belladonna Partnership Busy at SaratogaPowerhouse partnerships featured heavily at the two-day Saratoga sale, perhaps none so active as the newly developed team of Vinnie Viola's St. Elias, Woodford Racing, West Point Thoroughbreds, and Belladonna Racing. The group purchased six yearlings for $4.5 million during the boutique auction and was underbidder on several of Tuesday's top-priced lots.“Vinnie Viola is the lead of the group,” said Bill Farrish of Woodford Racing. “It's a really fun group and we're looking forward to getting some colts.”Farrish added, “It's mainly colts. We will put a few fillies in, but it's mainly colts.”During Monday's first session of the auction. the partners purchased a filly by Yaupon (hip 25) for $875,000, and colts by Flightline for $850,000 (hip 103) and $775,000 (hip 17). They also acquired a colt by Forte (hip 69) for $600,000 and a colt by Dialed In (hip 109) for $400,000. Tuesday, the group purchased a colt by Constitution (hip 186) for $1 million.Hip 186 | Fasig-Tipton“We are trying to get more numbers-wise,” Farrish said, while confirming the partnership will continue purchasing at yearling sales through the fall. “We don't have a target number, but we have a target amount of money.”David Ingordo and St. Elias Stable's Monique Delk are shopping for the partnership and the purchases will be trained by Cherie DeVaux.“I think in this day and age, everyone is getting these power groups together,” Delk said. “Horses are more expensive and we want to be able to have the resources to acquire some of those. It seemed like [forming the partnership was] a logical thing to do.”St. Elias also had success as sellers during Tuesday's session of the Saratoga sale, with a colt by Gun Runner (hip 207) bred by Viola's operation selling for $2.3 million to the internet bid of RTM Racing.“It's always part of a business plan,” Delk said of the sale of the yearling. “We buy and sell. It's just part of our program. Nobody roots harder for them then we do. If they go on and do great things, it helps our mares. We put a value on them, we offer to stay in to be a partner on or, if they exceed that and they don't want to be partners, that's fine, too. It's just part of the whole business plan of the stable.”St. Elias's standout year on the racetrack has been highlighted by the victories as co-owner of GI Kentucky Derby and GI Belmont Stakes winner Golden Tempo (Curlin).Asked if that success on the track provides extra motivation in the sales ring, Delk said, “It never hurts, but St. Elias is always excited when sales season gets here. It's the prospect of new talent, it's like the combine. We are out here picking athletes. When it's in your soul, we are going to be here regardless, but having a great year obviously brings us in strong.” @JessMartiniTDNLiam's Map Colt Rewards PartnersA group of regular pinhooking partners enjoyed success in Saratoga Tuesday when selling a colt by Liam's Map (hip 143) for $500,000 to Robbie Medina, as agent for Snake River Stables. The colt had been purchased in the name of Tiago Bloodstock for $120,000 at the 2025 Keeneland November sale. He was consigned to the Saratoga sale by Eaton Sales.Hip 143 | Fasig-Tipton“I thought he was magnificent, actually,” said Eaton's Reiley McDonald. “I think the buyer got a really good deal. I would have thought with that topline, in this market, he might do $100,000 or $200,000 more. But we are always happy with a half-million dollars.”The colt is out of graded-placed Aqua Regia (Pollard's Vision) and he is a full-brother to graded-placed Jerry the Nipper.McDonald said he had been charting the colt's progress this year.“I didn't see him as a weanling, but I saw him as a yearling in March and June,” he said. “He has done nothing but get bigger and better. He turned into a tall, leggy horse.” @JessMartiniTDNThe post Records Smashed and Flying Dutchmen Make a Statement at Fasig-Tipton Saratoga Finale appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions.