Doble Apuesta was the top price at the Vacacion Select Sale

The most important yearling sales of the season kicked off this Thursday at the Tattersall de San Isidro, with strong prices overall and an average exceeding US$ 40,000

Given the current expectations within a complicated moment for Argentine racing—marked by low purses, fewer races, fewer runners, and stud farms liquidating almost every week—the balance left this Wednesday by the Haras Vacacion2024 Select Yearling Sale showed a positive leap forward.

With a strong contribution from foreign buyers and a roster of colts and fillies that featured a majority by Fortify, one of the leading stallions in the country, the top price was reached by Doble Apuesta, a colt by that sire who was acquired for US$ 108,000 by Stud La Rosaura.

He is the second foal out of Linda Estadía (Equal Stripes), who was unraced, a half-sister to G2 winner Laima(Fortify) and from the highly coveted maternal family of Balada Sale (Not For Sale), Le Blues (Roman Ruler), and many other champions.

The same silks secured the second most expensive lot of the day, Abrir El Corazón, a filly by Fortify for whom Carlos Ezcurra—with the auction organized by Sales—dropped the hammer at US$ 104,000. Her dam is the G2 winner Ayra(Roman Ruler), a sister to the stakes winner Rebecci (Fortify) and part of one of the most important pedigrees from Haras La Irenita, that of Disy (Vervain).

The podium of top prices was completed by Touch of Heaven, another Fortify, though in his case acquired for US$ 102,400 by Luis Vidle. Out of the G2 winner Touch the Sky (Not for Sale), he is a grandson of the G1 winner Tarsilia(Roman Ruler).

There was a fourth yearling to reach six figures: Cinco Sentidos (Fortify and the stakes winner Cita di Luz, by Equal Stripes), who will defend the colors of Stud Las Monjitas after reaching an even US$ 100,000.

The Vacacion Select Sale included the first crop by the Japanese sire Satono Flag (Deep Impact), and among his offspring, the top price went to the colt Jet Flag (out of Joy Rosita, by Fortify), who was purchased for US$ 70,400 by trainer Nicolás Martín Ferro, acting on commission.

By the end of the proceedings, of the 60 yearlings that passed through the ring—2 were withdrawals—51 were sold for a total of US$ 2,066,000, with an average of US$ 40,510 and a median of US$ 37,093. It also drew attention that at least 9 other individuals failed to reach their reserve prices, despite all possessing strong genetics.