b'salesW e a N L I N G S|within the yearling market.The weanling market was very com-petitive at the upper levels, said Fasig-Tip-ton president Boyd Browning Jr. We had a significant amount of end-users that continue to migrate and participate in the weanling marketplace that traditionally are used to buying yearlings, and the successful pinhooking groups were active again.Bob Elliston, Keenelands vice presi-dent of racing and sales, said one reason end-users are buying more weanlings is the strength of the yearling market, including Keenelands September sale, with the belief they can get the same quality at a lesser price in the foal market.We are seeing a lot of end-users buying weanlings because they probably understand how hard it is to buy in the September yearling market, Elliston said. Some of them tell us its like buying in the yearling market, with the prices some of these higher-end weanlings (are bringing).LEADING WEANLING SIRESleadiNg weaNliNg sires No. Sire Sold Average MedianAnne M. eberhArdtPioneerof the Nile6 $617,500$377,500Tapit5$516,000$400,000Medaglia dOro6 $368,333$427,500War Front2$355,000$355,000Curlin5 $325,000$350,000 A Tapit filly out of champion La Verdad brought the top weanling price of $800,000 at theInto Mischief 13 $281,692$250,000 Keeneland sale.Nyquist5$279,000$205,000Quality Road 11$265,000$220,000Uncle Mo4$237,500$225,000Empire Maker 3$235,000$240,000American Pharoah 15$225,000$200,000Speightstown9$224,444$200,000 when they are foals, why shouldnt they? Candy Ride (ARG) 10$212,500$195,000 Im sure theyll be buying yearlings as More Than Ready 7$192,143$175,000 well, but this is another avenue for them Frosted 10$181,500$167,500 to restock their stable.Malibu Moon 7$180,000$150,000 While the weanlings perceived as Ghostzapper4$168,750$157,500 being the best when they went through Blame2$155,000$155,000 the sale ring drew the most attentionAnne M. eberhArdtUnion Rags7$155,000$150,000 and highest pricesit doesnt necessarily Runhappy 15 $148,667$135,000 mean foals bringing lesser prices will not prosper going forward.LEADING FIRST-CROP There was tremendous demand for WEANLING SIRES Mandy Pope bought the top-priced weanlings atquality and less demand than you would leadiNg first-crop weaNliNg sires hope for on those horses that dont clickNo.both sales.Sire Sold Average Median at that point in time, Browning said.Nyquist 5 $279,000$205,000He added that there can be major Frosted 10 $181,500$167,500Bloodstock agent Mike Ryan said itsdevelopmental changes in weanlings as Runhappy 15 $148,667$135,000reasonable for owners to want to stockthey become yearlings.California Chrome 7 $116,714$130,000their stables with weanlings, especiallyThey may be successful in the Exaggerator 9 $116,333$100,000 considering the quality of horses pre- yearling marketplace, he said. Some of Peace and Justice 2 $83,500$83,500sented to the market this year. them mature earlier, some mature later. Tamarkuz 4 $82,500$80,000The foal quality was better thisThere are dramatic changes that take Air Force Blue 14 $81,500$67,500year, Ryan opined. If an end-user feelsplace with these horses over the next six Not This Time 18 $76,833$80,000they can buy at a more reasonable priceto nine months. 88 11_Sales_use.indd 88 3/20/19 4:47 PM'