The men of the night were Roger King of King World Productions and his trainer Wesley Ward, who walked out with the session's most expensive lot, a $1.4 million Storm Cat filly out of champion Jewel Princess.

The pair bought the filly in partnership, with King bidding via telephone to Ward, who was in the pavilion.

Eaton Sales, agent, sold the filly, who was bred in Kentucky by Barnett Enterprises. The night's two other million-dollar yearlings were a $1.15 million Unbridled's Song colt out of the Dehere mare Mesmerized that new buyer William B. Haines bought from Paramount Sales, agent, and a $1 million Storm Cat--Gone to Venus colt, a full brother to Grade 2 winner Saudi Poetry, that Bob and Beverly Lewis bought from the Three Chimneys agency.

The sale's three sessions sold 150 yearlings this season for $45,705,000, down five percent from last year's three-day gross of $48,257,100. Average price dropped three percent, from $313,357 to $304,700. Median declined by 12 percent, from $240, 000 to $212,500. But sellers accepted the downturn, and buybacks stayed almost level, rising slightly from last year's 21 percent to 22 percent in 2004.

A $1.85 million Giant's Causeway colt, a three-quarters brother to Grade 2 winer Keats, was the sale-topper. The colt sold Wednesday night to Team Valor. Gainesway Farm agent., was the consignor.

Team Valor's Barry Irwin outdueled Sunland Park owner Stan Fulton and Roger King, the flamboyant owner of King World Productions, for the colt, who is a three-quarters brother to Grade 2 winner Keats and a half-brother to Grade 3-placed Grand Score.

Irwin got the receipt only after Fulton capitulated and a long hesitation from King, who seemed to abandon the bidding when he walked out of the pavilion doors. Standing astride the threshold of the open doorway, King was tempted to rejoin the battle for the colt. Auctioneer Walt Robertson tried to convince him to return and up Irwin's $1.85 million bid, but ultimately King said, "I'm out."

The purchase represented an unusual pricey auction buy for Team Valor, a public partnership which generally purchases less expensive horses at auction or privately from foreign markets. After signing the ticket, Irwin explained that the partnership's goal is to buy horses with Triple Crown races in their futures, and the group has come to the conclusion that it can best obtain those potential stars by stepping up and paying retail prices at yearling sales.

Gainesway, agent, sold the son of Alaska Queen, by Time for a Change.

The session sold 50 yearlings for $14,510,000, down 17 percent from last year's second night, when 49 sold for $17,440,000. Average price slid 19 percent, from $355,918 to $290,200, but median climbed four percent, from $200,000 to $207,500. Fifteen horses failed to reach their reserves, as compared to 16 at last season's second session.

In explaining the session-to-session comparative downturn, Fasig-Tipton officials pointed out that last year's second night included three major horses, including the sale-topping $2.7 million Unbridled colt.

As at Tuesday's opening session, there was only one seven-figure yearling at the Tuesday night session. The evening's second-highest price was the $900,000 that Fulton paid for Grand Slam colt out of Bisbee. Three Chimneys, agent, sold the colt, who is a half-brother to stakes-winners Taste the Passion and Bisbee's Prospect.

The auction continues Thursday night at Fasig-Tipton's Finney sale pavilion, beginning at 7:30 p.m.

$1.5 mil A. P. Indy filly tops day one

Will Farish, owner of the Lane's End Farm in Kentucky that stands A. P. Indy, bought the filly from Derry Meeting Farm, agent. Derry Meeting, a Pennsylvania operation, sold the filly on behalf of breeder George Strawbridge. The A. P. Indy filly, a daughter of the Group 3-winning Danzig mare Seebe, was the night's only million-dollar lot. She is from the family of Grade 2 winner Annie Edge and English champion Selkirk.

The evening's second highest-priced yearling was a $900,000 Kingmambo-Sweet and Ready filly that Gainesway, agent, sold to Japanese interests represented by the Narvick International bloodstock agency.

Buyers generally commented that the market was strong, especially at the upper levels. But overall the 2004 opening session's financial returns dipped from last year. The 2004 edition sold 50 yearlings for gross receipts of $14,225,000, down 14 percent from last year's opener, when 54 lots brought $16,547,000. Average dropped seven percent, from $306,426 to $284,500, and median slipped four percent, from $250,000 to $240,000. Buybacks climbed slightly, with 15 horses failing to reach their reserves this year, as compared to 11 last year.

The auction continues through Thursday, with sessions beginning each night at 7:30 p.m. in Fasig-Tipton's Finney sale pavilion in Saratoga Springs.