As Maryland goes, so goes – or will go – the Fasig-Tipton Midlantic fall yearlings sale, which is slated to take place October 2-3 at the fairgrounds in Timonium. The sale kicks off at 3:00 p.m. Monday and then again at 11:00 a.m. Tuesday.

More than 400 hips are entered prior to outs, with 180 of them foaled in Maryland. The next states by numbers are New York, with 77, and Pennsylvania, with 61.

What’s more, Maryland sires figure to play a critical role in the sale. The top six sires by hips offered prior to outs all are Maryland sires. That list is topped by Holy Boss, sire of 14 horses entered in the sale, and Hoppertunity, sire of 13.

Those two are followed by Golden Lad, Great Notion, Divining Rod, and Mosler. The first four of those stand at Northview Stallion Station; the last two stand at Country Life Farm. The six top sires account for 54 of the Maryland-breds, along with 13 horses bred elsewhere.

How vital will those sires be to the success of the sale? Put it this way: Mosler, with eight hips on offer, has as many offspring in the sale as the top 10 sires nationally – combined.

The top sire on the national rankings represented is Gun Runner, whose only offering is Hip 303, to sell on the second day. The bay colt is out of the unplaced Constitution mare Senorita Guzman. His female family includes millionaire and multiple graded stakes winner Sharp Samurai, as well as Academic, the champion filly in Canada, and other black-type horses. He is New York-bred and Virginia certified.

Some other facts and figs:

Hips by color:

Hips by sex:

Hips by state bred

Top 10 sires (by hips offered)

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