The North American yearling sales season that began in earnest Sept. 9 with the Fasig-Tipton Selected Yearlings Showcase was in new territory, with the normal schedule having been disrupted by the COVID-19 pandemic.

While the sale was new—effectively replacing three Fasig-Tipton sales that were canceled—unchanged was the vibrant demand by buyers for the best offerings in the catalog, a continuation of trends seen in all markets in recent years, topped by a $1.5 million daughter of Quality Road.

The session-topping Quality Road filly, the only seven-figure sale of the day, was purchased by Robbie Medina, agent for Joseph Allen.

Consigned by Hill ‘n’ Dale Sales Agency, agent, as Hip 232, the bay filly is out of the Galileo mare Marvellous, the winner of the Etihad Airways Irish One Thousand Guineas (G1). Marvellous, a full-sister to 2000 Guineas winner and promising sire Gleneagles, is out of English group 2 winner You’resothrilling, who was a full sister to European Horse of the Year and multiple champion sire Giant’s Causeway.