An Empire Maker colt out of Nonsuch Bay was sold for $320,000 at the Fasig-Tipton Kentucky October Yearling sale, which began Oct. 22 with increases in average and median prices and a low buyback rate.

During the first of two sessions being held at the Lexington sales pavilion, the Empire Maker colt was purchased from the Warrendale Sales consignment by Preston Madden, who bred Kentucky Derby (gr. I) winner and Horse of the Year Alysheba. Warrendale had previously consigned the colt on behalf of Stonewall Farm at this year’s Keeneland September yearling sale but the yearling was bought back for $370,000.

The dark bay or brown colt is the first foal out of the Mr. Greeley mare Nonsuch Bay, whose seven career wins included the grade I Mother Goose Stakes and the grade II Nassau County Breeders’ Cup Handicap. Juddmonte Farms' Empire Maker, who won the Belmont Stakes (gr. I) and ran second in the Kentucky Derby (gr. I), is off to a good start at stud, with a Darley Alcibiades (gr. I) winner Country Star from his first crop to race. 

Boyd Browning, Fasig-Tipton's executive vice president and chief operating officer, said the first session was a solid horse sale with few surprises.

“The sale was good, It was just a solid marketplace with the average and median up and a very low buyback rate,” said Browning, noting that the session-topper was not a surprise. “That was not a shock. That is what a good horse should bring. That was a fair price. He is by a sire who is doing a good job with his first crop.”

Nonsuch Bay has also produced a 2007 filly by Medaglia D'oro and is scheduled to be bred to Stonewall Farm's A. P. Warrior for 2008.

Stonewall Farm would like to especially thank Kitty Taylor, all of her staff at Warrendale Sales, Preston Madden and everyone associated with the colt at our farm.